Gems of the desert, that was how early 20th century travelers described Topock, Arizona and Needles, California. This isn’t surprising as these communities nestled on the banks of the Colorado River were true desert oasis.
What is surprising is that both communities were referred to as gems. Topock’s glory days had passed nearly fifty years before the turn of the century. But even when it was an important ferry crossing the camp was mostly a collectiof rough and tumble shacks with a scattering of tents. Even in the early 1950s there was little more than a garage, service station, post office and cafe in Topock.
Needles was an actual town. There were hotels, and later motels, stores, and the amazing El Garces, a Harvey House and depot. And when Route 66 funneled traffic down Broadway, restaurants, service stations, garages, and auto parts stores were always busy.
Nestled along the banks of the Colorado River where California meets Arizona, the communities of Needles, California, and Topock, Arizona, are bookends for some of the most fascinating stretches of legendary Route 66.
A Storied Past Along the River
Founded in 1883 as a construction camp for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, Needles quickly evolved as a vital transportation hub for rail travelers. Years later motorists following the National Old Trails Road, predecessor to Route 66 in the desert southwest, fueled development of a modern service industry.
Louis Chevrolet was one of those early travelers. He made a pit stop in Needles during the 1914 Desert Classic auto race. And in July 1915, Edsel Ford stopped during his drive west to California. He noted that is was, “oppressively hot.”
After the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Depot burned in 1906, the railroad made decided to build a new facility that was fitting for a modern progressive community with a bright and shining future. The new complex would also stand in mute testimony to how important Needles was for the railroad.
THe El Garces
The El Garces was designed in a Classical Revival style and built of cast-concrete. The blocks long facade was accentuated with columns and shaded porticos. The new facility that was open for business by 1909 served as railroad offices, a freight depot, a passenger depot, and hotel and restaurant managed by the Fred Harvey Company.
The depot took its name from missionary Father Francisco Garces, known as the first European to cross the Mojave Desert. In 1776, Garces had chronicled an expedition up the Colorado River and along Native American trade route in the desert.
El Garces closed as a Harvey House in the fall of 1949. A dramatic remodel into Santa Fe Railway offices decimated much of the ornate interior.
Then, in 1988, the Santa Fe Railroad consolidated operations in Barstow. The historic El Garces closed, and after years of abandonment, was designated for demolition. In 1993 the Friends of El Garces nonprofit was formed, and as a result only a small section of the hotel complex was razed.
The group petitioned the City of Needles to purchase the station in 1999. In 2002 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2014, the facility opened as an Intermodal Transportation Facility, and in 2016, Amtrak opened a dedicated waiting room for passengers. Portions were also developed as an events center.
Topock
Topock, Arizona was initially established as a ferry crossing and river port. When the post office opened, the small community was named Needles. This was in reference to the distinctive rock formations to the south.
In the early 1880s, things boomed for a bit as Needles, Arizona Territory was a bustling railroad construction camp as a bridge was built across the Colorado River. With completion of the railroad, the ferry closed, businesses closed, and then the post office closed.
River related construction projects, and regional mining development, sparked a renaissance of sorts at the former ferry crossing. When the post office repoened attempts to revive the Needles name were rejected as that name was now in use on the California side of the river. And so a Mohave word for river crossing, Topock, was used.
In 1916 the Old Trails Road Bridge was built ot the south of Topock to carry National Old Trails Road traffic. From 1926 to 1947 the bridge served as the river crossing for Route 66. The graceful arched bridge made a cameo appearance in the 1940 film adaptation of THe Grapes of Wrath.
The bridge remains a popular photo op. But today it supports pipelines instead of carrying traffic.
Hollywood On The Highway
Needles and Topock have appeared in more than their share of films and TV shows. The shimmering desert light, vintage motels, and rugged desert that frame the river have provided a backdrop for a number of productions. The Grapes of Wrath (1940), Easy Rider (1969), Convoy, and even an episode of the cult classic Mission Impossible television program have scenes filmed in Needles and on the river.
Modern Developments & Revitalization
On the November 9, 2025 episode of our podcast Coffee With Jim, Needles Mayor Janet Jernigan joined me to talk community revitalization, the Route 66 Centennial, cultural and heritage tourism, and the importance of fostering development of a sense of community. The mayor highlighted several key initiatives. Downtown improvements, tourism, river-front enhancements, the Route 66 centennial, and the resurrection of the El Garces as a civic anchor topped the list.
We also talked about the importance of building a netowrk of cooperative partnerhships. That was also a topic of discussion on the November 2, 2025 episode of Coffee With Jim when Laura Misajet, Director of Museum Operations & Public Outreach at Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association in Goffs, California was outr guest. This fascinating museum complex is located about 30 miles west of Needles on Route 66.
Indicative of the dawning renaissance in Needles is Needles Smashed Burgers. Located at 2205 Needles Hwy Ste 102, this recently opened restaurant is a modern business rooted in the tradition of classic roadside diners.
Mark Your Calendar: The Route 66 Info Fair – February 14, 2026
One highlight on the horizon: the Route 66 Info Fair. This event scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the El Garces in Needles is a celebration of the Route 66 centennial and 250th anniversary of the United States.
This event will offer:
- Presentations by authors and historians
- Classic-car show
- Live music and entertainment
- El Garces tours and exhibits
- Route 66 travel-planning assistance (I’ll be there to tell people where to go!)
This will be an excellent opportunity to discover Needles, to celebrate America’s favorite highway, and to connect with preservationists, business owners, and enthusiasts from across the country. It will also be a marketing opportunity for Route 66 businesses and communities.
Brochures, visitors guides, and other promotional materials for the infor fair can be sent to:
JANET JERNIGAN, 920 W BROADWAY, NEEDLES CA 92363
These materials will be displayed at the Info Fair. And I’ll be using them to help travelers plan their next adventure along Route 66.
Coffee With Jim & The Jim Hinckley’s America Community
Each week on Coffee With Jim I invite listeners to share the adventure. Through conversations about the people, places, and stories that are at the heart of the great American road trip, we build a passionate community. Whether it’s a tour development tip fromr a tourism director, a historic district redevelopment idea, or just a fun chat with someone who loves the open highway, the podcast is designed to share America’s story and inspire you to hit the road.
Recent milestones worth celebrating: we just crossed 20,000 downloads of Coffee With Jim! Thank you!
Coffee With Jim and the broader Jim Hinckley’s America network are sponsored and supported by:
- Jim Hinckley’s America on Patreon
- Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico
- Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours
- Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri
- Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- RouteTrip USA
- Cactus Inn Motel, McLean, Texas
- Two Lane America
- Deana Nelson, State Farm Insurance, Kingman, Arizona
I want to invite you to come along for the ride. Subscribe and follow us across platforms: our website, the podcast (Coffee With Jim), our YouTube channel, Instagram, and Facebook. Share your comments, photos, questions, and road-trip inspiration. Together we’re creating a community of enthusiasts who are passionoate about road trips.
See You On the Road
Whether you’re chasing a picturesque sunrise along the Colorado River or standing beside the fountain at the El Garces watching the trains roll by, Needles and Topock are where the magic of Route 66 is tangible.
I look forward to meeting followers, fans, and members of the Jim Hinckley’s America community at the Route 66 Info Fair in February 2026. Until then, tune in to Coffee With Jim, and let’s inspire some adventures.
Safe travels—and remember: the best adventure is the adventure shared with friends.
Thank you. Shared adventures are the best adventures.