Fun Facts: Chambless
- A tiny stop on the Mother Road, Chambless today is essentially a ghost town along Route 66 in the Mojave Desert, with just a few buildings remaining including a grocery store and tourist cabins.
- 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 along the National Old Trails Road that became Route 66. When Route 66 was realigned in the early 1930s, the Chambless family sold their original store site and opened a new store and cabins along the newer path that Route 66 still uses today.
- Road Runner’s Retreat is a classic roadside stop just 1 mile west of Chambless. The iconic 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 fully restored, with a historical marker nearby.
POINTS OF INTEREST
- Road Runner’s Retreat Neon Sign
- GPS 34.561129, -115.574030
- Road Runner’s Retreat Googie Gas Station
- GPS 34.561001, -115.573445
- Chambless store and cabins
- GPS 34.561724, -115.544677