Route 66 part one
FRIENDS OF FOLKLORE
ch. 2 Route 66 part one
America's mother road. connecting Chicago to Los Angeles and passing through eight states. A road that represents freedom and the great migration west. The nutrients needed for small towns to grow along the way. We speak of course of route 66.
In the 1980s the road was decommissioned, a newer modern road built right alongside it to accommodate for the new cities and new routes for a more efficient drive. On America's main street however, unnatural events and creatures are sighted and reported even to this day. Hotels, caverns, ghosts, aliens, meteorological events, and much more tend to infest this road more than any other in the United States. On this first section of the road's mysteries, part one of two, we will reveal stories of ghosts and goblins that live in the shadows and lonely stretches of asphalt.
When it comes to ghosts on route 66, The road is not the only place haunted. Hotels and roadside attractions house spirits dating back to the days of Jesse James and possibly earlier.
Hotel Monte Vista is one such place. Dating back to 1927, celebrities such is John Wayne stayed at the hotel. It was John Wayne who even reported seeing a ghost in his hotel room during his stay. Room 210 apparently is the most haunted room in the hotel, with reports of knocking, orbs, and even being knocked to the ground by a phantom bellboy dating back to 1927, celebrities such as John Wayne stayed at the hotel. It was John Wayne who even reported seeing a ghost in his hotel room during his stay. Room 210 apparently is the most haunted room in the hotel, with reports of knocking, orbs, and even being woken in the middle of the night to knocks on the door by a phantom room service bellboy. But this is not the only place on the road.
The Rialto theater in California is another of those places. Starting it's business in 1924, this theater is an icon of Route 66 Inn California. With seats hosting 1200 people, the theater was a stage for trapeze and vaudeville acts. In 1978 it began screening independent movies and was added to the national register of historic places. The darker side to this place of entertainment is the story of a man who went insane in the projector room and who never left. His ghost is seen wandering the theater at unusual times. The stalls in the restrooms shake randomly on their own and strange noises are heard in the dead of night.
Not all ghosts on route 66 have tragedy attached to them. Bell Miller built a hotel in Illinois in the 1900s. The inn housed apartments which were later renovated into seven guestrooms. Bell Miller has been seen to this very day taking care of her favorite haunt!
Strange ghostly occurrences have happened as well. Phantom cars and motorcycles play chicken with drivers only to vanish before collision. Headlights not attached to anything have been seen in rearview mirrors. There is one story of a car completely on fire hurtling towards a couple who swerved to get out of its way only to see it vanish.
But the strangest supernatural phenomenon to occur in the ghostly tales of Route 66 is the occurrence of the Joplin ghost light. Also called the hornet light, it was first spotted the 19th century near the Missouri Oklahoma border. On Oklahoma's East 50 Road you may be able to see a ball of light dancing on the horizon. Researchers believe the light is caused by atmospheric gases or headlights, this hypothesis even being tested on History or Discovery Channels Unexplained Mysteries. Many others strongly believe that something supernatural is causing the light. In the 1960s it was a common occurrence for cars to park on the side of the road in hopes of seeing the light.
I hope you have enjoyed part one of Route 66. Remember you can email me at friendsoffolklore@gmail.com
with comments and story ideas.
part two of route 66 will deal with the more unnatural occurrences, delving into the undead, time slips, and UFOs.
