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Needles Historyby Maggie McShan

A Guide to Route 66 Through Needlesby Maggie McShan

Route 66-MAP

Needles, California

The City of Needles owns its own electric, water and wastewater utilities; consequently the City has the ability to offer unbeatable incentives to relocating business enterprises.

Natural Gas

Needles boasts 10.8 continuous miles of historic Route 66 between the two most outlying off ramps of I-40, except for one brief interruption. The general flow of traffic seems to be from east to west, so exit I-40 just past the California Plant Inspection Station (Five Mile Rd). Drive 1.4 miles to 5 Mile Station where US Hwy 95 separates to head toward Blythe. Continue straight ahead, passing Needles Riverview Cemetery on the left, for 4.5 miles to pass under I-40. Now you are on Broadway, the main street of Needles. Down the hill and to the left, note the ruins of Carty’s Camp, an old cabin court, and nearby the “66 Motel”, still in operation but for regulars only. Continue a short distance to another cabin court, 1930s vintage, once widely known as palms motel, now restored to a bed and breakfast and renamed “Old Trails Inn.” Here’s where Broadway forks with old Front Street. Continuing on Broadway, note historic Women’s Clubhouse on the left, and the Needles borax wagon.

Go on through the main business section, cross Santa Fe Railroad via the overpass, see the historic motel section, then drive beneath I-40 at ‘Q’ street. A few more historic motels will be noted.

Continue on to pass over I-40 at the West Broadway off ramp. This is where freeway construction brought a brief interruption of about .3 miles of the old road. Curve on what is now Needles Highway to where the road forks. Left is Route 66. Right goes to Laughlin, Nevada. At right you will see the river resort areas. Ascend up onto the mesa, pass the KOA Kampground and soon you are at the I-40 entrance.

The freeway (Interstate 40, heading west) covers the route for about 8 miles, but the old road may be resumed again at the exit for Las Vegas/US Hwy 95.

You have traveled 10.8 miles on Broadway, the newer portion of Route 66. The older portion is along Front Street.

Enjoy by entering Front Street at the “Old Trails Inn.” This will lead you past the historic Needles Transfer, the Fire Department and many other historic buildings including “El Garces”, the Harvey House, built in 1906. Train buffs will enjoy this section as it parallels the railroad. It also will take you right by the Needles Regional Museum, located at 929 Front St. Continue around Santa Fe Park past the turn of the century residences on the left and railroad exhibit on the right, to the cul de sac where an early 1960s overpass directed 66 traffic onto Broadway. This section is a total of .9 miles.

Historians realize that the old road was on other streets at other times and research is still in progress. The street officially named “Route 66” extends from in front of the old bowling alley to the KTOX radio station and is .3 miles in length (located on the west side on Needles). Add the Broadway, Front Street and Route 66 logs together and you have 12 miles of the Mother Road that can be claimed.

Route 66 Legend: Maggie McShan

Maggie McShan knows Needles and Route 66 in the Mojave, she should, she came to Needles almost 70 years ago as a young bride. When she got off the train at the El Garces Harvey House she got her first glimpse of Needles. What excited her the most? Why the palm trees of course! The Native Americans and fancy fountain at the depot were a close second. Maggie soon fell in love with the area. Throughout the years she has become quite involved with the historic preservation of our precious heritage. In fact to the roadies of Route 66 Maggie has become a Route 66 icon in her own right. Spending time with Maggie and listening to her stories takes one back to another time along the celebrated Mother Road. I know I relived the grandeur of the old El Garces listening to her words. I love this fine lady!

Route 66 Update: On September 28, 2004 Maggie McShan passed away. She will be solely missed by all who knew her. She did more to promote Route 66, the El Garces Harvey House and the fascinating history of the Needles area than anyone else I know of. Her legacy will live on through all the people she touched along life’s highway.

Route 66 is all about the people like Maggie.

SNOOPY’S BROTHER SPIKE

Route 66 logo
Photo album
Spikes road
Spike

LIVED IN NEEDLES

In the comic strip Peanuts, whose creator Charles Schulz lived in Needles as a boy, Snoopy’s brother Spike lived in the desert outside Needles. He frequently heads to Needles to partake of the town’s nightlife, often running afoul of the local coyotes.

Charles Needles
Snoopy to desert
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