174. The Pile Up: Route 66 Turns 100
About this episode
The conversation traces Route 66 from its early days as a barely paved highway to its later decline and the impact that had on the towns along it. Along the way, the speakers swap memories and observations about roadside landmarks, restored buildings, and odd attractions like Cadillac Ranch. They also note how the route is often presented for east-to-west travelers, which shapes the guidebooks and the experience of driving it today.
Join us as we travel the road of route 66 which turns 100 April 30th, 2026
Recorded @iapdx
Recorded & mixed by Emdognightmare & Queen of the Vans
Editor: Emdognightmare
Production & research Queen of the Vans & Emdognightmare
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Hugs, thank you & high fives to Greg Meleney for the killer tunez!
Route 66 Turns 100
"Bill Cody, okay, here we go. The U drop in in Shamrock is one of the most recognizable Route 66 landmarks..."
This episode is about Route 66 celebrating 100 years. They talk about famous stops and what it’s like to drive the route.
The episode centers on Route 66’s 100th anniversary. The hosts discuss landmarks, history, and road-trip experiences along the route.
converted wagon roads
"...some of the notes that we got was that, uh, your early roads are converted wagon roads..."
Converted wagon roads were old routes that started out for horse carts. Later, people tried to use them for cars, so they weren’t always designed for modern driving.
Converted wagon roads are older paths originally built for horse-drawn wagons that were later adapted for automobiles. The episode uses this to explain why early driving routes could be rough or inconsistent compared with later purpose-built highways.
Good Roads Organizations
"...as cars became cool, grassroots organizations called Good Roads Organizations came about to improve motoring for early drivers."
Good Roads Organizations were groups of people who campaigned for better roads. The episode says they showed up when more people started driving cars and needed roads that worked better.
Good Roads Organizations were early advocacy groups that pushed for better roads to improve travel and commerce. In the segment, they’re described as grassroots groups that formed as cars became more common.
national highway system
"...the Secretary of Agriculture selected a board of state and federal highway officials to standardize a national highway system."
A national highway system refers to a coordinated network of major roads planned and standardized across states. In the segment, they mention officials working to standardize routes and highway planning so travel and infrastructure would be consistent.
Secretary of Agriculture
"...the Secretary of Agriculture selected a board of state and federal highway officials to standardize a national highway system."
The Secretary of Agriculture is a top government official. In this story, they’re mentioned because the government helped coordinate road planning at the national level.
The Secretary of Agriculture is a U.S. cabinet-level role that, in this historical context, is mentioned as being involved in highway planning. The episode says the Secretary selected officials to standardize a national highway system.
Ford
"Emily EP43: Probably encourage people to more people to get cars because then they could travel distances. Mm-hmm. And like also the proliferation of middle class cars. Yeah. With Ford. Sure. Who else was making middle"
Ford is a major car company. The hosts mention it because more people could afford cars, which helped make roads like Route 66 busier.
Ford is referenced as one of the automakers associated with the rise of the middle class and wider car ownership. In the Route 66 discussion, that matters because more drivers meant more demand for highways, towns, and roadside businesses.
works program administration
"Rose EP43: Yeah. And yeah, so, so like 33 to 38, the works program administration, the wpa, and the CCC, no p At the end of that, the Civilian Conservation Corps worked to improve the road, and by late 37 it was pretty much all paved."
The WPA was a government program that hired people to do big public works projects. Here, it’s being connected to road improvements along the Route 66 era.
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a New Deal agency created to provide jobs during the Great Depression. In the Route 66 context, it’s mentioned as part of the broader effort that helped improve roads and infrastructure.
CCC
"Rose EP43: Yeah. And yeah, so, so like 33 to 38, the works program administration, the wpa, and the CCC, no p At the end of that, the Civilian Conservation Corps worked to improve the road, and by late 37 it was pretty much all paved."
The CCC was a government jobs program that worked on nature and public projects. In this story, it’s linked to improving roads so travel became easier.
CCC refers to the Civilian Conservation Corps, another New Deal program that employed young men for conservation and infrastructure work. The episode ties it to road improvements that made long-distance travel along the Route 66 corridor more practical.
Conoco
"Rose EP43: Well, it was an old Conoco gas station, and then it was also, uh, as far as I can tell you, it was a hotel. But let me, let me get out this lovely book and I could read you a little bit more history. Let me flip. I'm in Oklahoma."
Conoco was a gas company. The episode is saying the place they’re talking about used to be a Conoco gas station, which is part of Route 66’s history.
Conoco is an oil brand mentioned as the origin of an old gas station on the Route 66 route. Gas-station brands like Conoco were a big part of the roadside identity and economy along the highway.
federal grant
"After extensive refurbishment that was funded with a $1.7 million federal grant and included restoration and replacement of the original neon trim."
They mention money from the federal government used to pay for repairs. That matters because many Route 66 landmarks need restoration to survive.
A federal grant is mentioned as funding for refurbishment and restoration work on the Shamrock property. This is relevant because Route 66 preservation often depends on public funding and restoration programs.
National Register of Historic Places
"...led the property be listed in the National Register of Historic Places in September of 97."
They say the building was put on the National Register of Historic Places. That’s a government list for places considered important to history, which helps protect them.
The segment notes that the Tower Cafe property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That designation is a U.S. recognition for sites considered historically significant, which can help preserve them.
neon trim
"...included restoration and replacement of the original neon trim."
Neon trim is the decorative neon lighting you’d see on older diners and roadside stops. They restored the original neon look as part of the building’s renovation.
Neon trim refers to decorative lighting made with neon tubes, typically used on classic roadside businesses. The segment says the original neon trim was restored and replaced, which is part of keeping the landmark’s look authentic.
Cadillac Ranch
"I saw something about the Cadillac Ranch that was started by a architecture collective called the Ant Farm."
Cadillac Ranch is a famous Route 66 stop with old Cadillacs set up like an art display. It’s the kind of quirky roadside landmark Route 66 is known for.
Cadillac Ranch is a well-known Route 66 roadside art installation where multiple Cadillacs are displayed for visitors to see and photograph. In the segment, the hosts connect it to the Ant Farm architecture collective.
Ant Farm
"I saw something about the Cadillac Ranch that was started by a architecture collective called the Ant Farm."
Ant Farm is the group credited with creating Cadillac Ranch. They made it so visitors could add their own paint, so it changes over time.
Ant Farm is referenced as the architecture collective behind Cadillac Ranch. The hosts describe how people were encouraged to paint the cars, turning the installation into an interactive public artwork.
interstate
"It puts you on the interstate a lot, even if you turn interstates off."
They mention the interstate, meaning the modern highway network. It can affect how you drive Route 66 today compared to how people did back then.
The hosts discuss how Route 66 travel can involve the interstate system, even when someone tries to avoid it. This matters because modern highways can change how people experience the original Route 66 corridor.
Blue Swallow Hotel
"Tuum Kari is cool because that's where like the Blue Swallow Hotel is."
The Blue Swallow Hotel is a Route 66 landmark near Tucumcari. The hosts say it looks really damaged, which shows how some old stops have fallen into disrepair.
The Blue Swallow Hotel is mentioned as a notable landmark near Tucumcari on Route 66. The hosts also describe it as being in rough condition, emphasizing how some Route 66 sites have deteriorated.
Parkway
"The only other time I've driven Parkway was up north in, in New York..."
They talk about a “parkway,” which is a special kind of road meant to be scenic. They’re comparing it to other stretches they’ve driven.
“Parkway” is referenced as a type of road the speaker drove in New York. Parkways are often scenic, limited-access roads, and the hosts use it to compare driving feel and condition.
gout
"...made this perfect storm and really made his gout super bad. Like we were at a nationals and had to go get his gout medication..."
Gout is mentioned as a medical issue that flared up due to diet, affecting the person’s ability to travel and participate in events. While not automotive, it’s part of the lived road-trip story around Route 66.
Volkswagen Beetle
"...es. All these different, like a grasshopper and a beetle and like maybe a cockroach, I don't know, maybe ..."
The Volkswagen Beetle is a small car made by Volkswagen that’s famous for its rounded, bug-like shape. It’s known worldwide and has been produced for many years. People mention it because it’s an easy car to recognize.
The Volkswagen Beetle is a classic, air-cooled compact car known for its distinctive rounded shape and long production history. It’s often discussed because it became an iconic, widely recognized design and helped define what many people think of as a “simple, dependable” small car. In a podcast, it may come up as a reference point when describing unusual or memorable vehicle designs.
VW bug place
"...it was like the bug ranch, which is the VW bug place, which is along there..."
They mention a place themed around the Volkswagen Beetle. It’s the kind of quirky car attraction you might find along Route 66.
The “VW bug place” refers to a roadside stop themed around the Volkswagen Beetle (“VW bug”). It’s used as a Route 66 landmark example, showing how the route includes car-themed attractions.
diesel trains
"Rose EP43: Yeah, and then there was like the, you know, diesel trains are still going through there. And then there was like a couple of, uh, there was like a burn down auto shop and we, we wandered through that 'cause it had like gas pumps and stuff in it."
These are trains that run on diesel fuel. The engine provides power to move the train along the tracks.
“Diesel trains” are rail vehicles powered by diesel engines, typically using a diesel-electric setup where the engine drives generators that power traction motors. They’re mentioned here as still operating through the area.
MythBusters thing
"Rose EP43: That's a good MythBusters thing. Like, can you use, uh, stitch together goldfish bags as a space blanket? Oh, can you? No, can you? No. I was just thinking we, could bust that myth sometime. Nice. That looks fiery."
They’re talking about trying to prove or disprove a rumor by testing it. It’s like “let’s see if that actually works” instead of just guessing.
This refers to the idea of testing a popular claim with a controlled experiment. In car culture, that same approach is often used to verify myths about vehicle behavior or DIY fixes.
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