What is it about Route 66 that intrigues us? Today, 35+ years after the highway was decommissioned, enthusiasts still want to drive the 2451 mile road to California, following in the footsteps of America’s westward expansion. For some, the quirky, kitschy roadside attractions are the appeal. To others, seeing long-abandoned ghost towns draws them. The preservation of historically significant landmarks along Route 66 allows visitors to experience a living history/
The Cucamonga Service Station was restored in 2015, in time for its centennial anniversary, the building looks just like it did in the 1950s when it was a Richfield gas station.
The building could have been lost forever, having fallen into disrepair and weathered by the elements. The garage that once stood behind the gas station collapsed in 2005 after a strong storm. After the turn of the century, an advertising company bought the property with plans to demolish the building. But the historic designation by the Rancho Cucamonga city council prevented this fate.
In January 2012, Route 66 IECA (Inland Empire California) took over the building and resurrected it. Years worth of Street View images below show how a group of motivated individuals preserved a piece of motoring history.
Below is a brochure from the station picked up during a recent trip to California. It provides a detailed history of the station, and explains future plans to rebuild the garage that once stood behind the main building.
