Fun Facts: Chambless California
- A tiny ghost town on the Mother Road — Chambless today is essentially a ghost town along Historic Route 66 in the Mojave Desert, with just a few abandoned buildings remaining including an old grocery store.
- Named after a homesteading family — The town takes its name from James Albert Chambless and his family, who homesteaded here in the 1920s and opened a service station and store right along the old road that became Route 66.
- Roadrunner’s Retreat” — a classic roadside stop — Just west of town, the iconic Roadrunner’s Retreat restaurant, gas station, and cafe opened in 1962 to serve travelers. Though it closed after Interstate 40 bypassed the area in 1974, its distinctive sign survives and has been restored with a historical marker nearby.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- Road Runner’s Retreat Mural
- 34.561269 -115.573837
- Road Runner’s Retreat Neon Sign
- 34.561269 -115.573837
- Road Runner’s Retreat Googie Gas Station
- 34.561269 -115.573837