The Route 66 bicentennial, the past, present and future. As we countdown to the end of this storied highways centennial year thoughts turn toward the Route 66 bicentennial. And that leads to thoughts about the roads past, present and future.

For me that train of thought becomes a bit personal. Since 1959 my life has been intertwined with Route 66. A central focus of Jim Hinckley’s America is inspiring people to discover America through road trips. And the quintessential American road trip is legendary Route 66. So, that highway will figure prominently in our work long after centennial celebrations fade from sight in the rear view mirror.

The Main Street of America

A promotional campaign launched in 1927 branded Route 66 as the Main Street of America. That was the kick off for a century of marketing and promotion. The success of these endeavors is made manifest in one simple fact. The most famous highway in the world, a highway with an international fan club doesn’t exist. Route 66 was decertified as an official U.S. highway in 1985.

But the popularity of Route 66 is not just as the ultimate road trip. It is the American story made manifest. And it is our past, present and future. So, as long as the American story inspires the world, Route 66 will remain popular. It will continue to be America’s longest small town. And that means Route 66 will continue to evolve.

Purists will bemoan the changes. They will argue about authentic experiences. But what is an authentic experience?

Authenticity or The Illusion

Does the modern road trip enthusiast want authenticity or do they want the illusion of authenticity? For the traveler driving Route 66 in 1960, there were elements from the 1930s. But there were also modern motels with swimming pools and air conditioning. So, again, what constitutes authenticity?

There are adventurers that climb the steep grades of Sitgreaves Pass and cross the Mojave Desert in a 1930 Ford. That is authenticity. And that is also as close as you can get to time travel. But even these hardy travelers prefer air conditioning in their room after a long desert crossing.

Here is a point to ponder. The Route 66 traveler in 2040 may view Lucille’s Roadhouse in Weatherford, Oklahoma as an authentic experience. But that restaurant didn’t exist before August 2006.

Things Change

Part of the allure of Route 66 today is that it is a blending of past, present and even future. And that will most likely be the case when people celebrate the Route 66 bicentennial. It will continue to be a manifestation of the American story. The Route 66 centennial is just one chapter in an amazing story.

Things change. Route 66 is not exempt from this truth. The Motel Safari in Tucumcari blends authenticity with the romanticised image of travel on Route 66 in 1960.

David Brenner’s Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari makes for an ideal study about authenticity, preservation, and perception. It also illustrates how an illusion of authenticity ca nbe created.

The Roadrunner Lodge Motel

The unrestored singles story motel on the west side of the property dates to the 1940s. Attached to it is the renovated two story section that opened in the mid 1960s as Leatherwood Manor.

In the mid 1960s the complex represented the future. But is was anchored in the past. And by the 1990s it mirrored the decline of Route 66 travel. Then it closed and was abandoned.

David and Amanda acquired the property, and with painstaking attention detail transformed the motel. Today the Roadrunner Lodge Motel provides the traveler with an “authentic epxerience” as well as modern amenities. It has become a destination for the Route 66 enthusiast.

An Authentic Experience

The authenticity of the Route 66 experience is found in the people. The traveler, the preservationist, the business owner, the author and photographer, and the historian. They provide the authenticity and ensure that Route 66 is celebrated a century from now.

They also provide the infectious enthusiasm and excitment. And they are why this linear community is viewed as America’s longest small town.

So, what wil constitue an authentic Route 66 experience 100 years from today? What do you see for the future of Route 66?