Back in the days before cars were air-conditioned, Barstow,
California was a popular stopover for travelers who arrived exhausted
and thirsty from crossing the Mojave desert. Chuck Berry included
Barstow in his homage to Route 66, and prior to that, it was a railroad
town.
Alas, Barstow fell on hard times when Route 66 was bypassed by the
Interstate highway system. You might think it could still lure some
guests, being located beside I-15 halfway between Los Angeles and Las
Vegas. But the drive to Vegas has become so easy, no one needs to
interrupt it anymore.
Consequently Barstow has become an elephants' graveyard for old
motels. I spent a couple of hours, recently, photographing the rows of
single-story cabins that used to be the default configuration for
American lodging. I was amazed to find that many of the old places are
still hanging on, offering rates for a mere $25 and up.
I have to admit, I stayed in a Best Western myself. But the next time
I drive in to Los Angeles from my home in Northern Arizona, maybe I'll
try a place with a little more history. I'm especially tempted by the
Stardust Inn, with its name and even its logo plagiarized from the old
Stardust hotel on the Las Vegas strip. That hotel was demolished in
2006, but the motel still survives as a source of memories of a time
that most of us never knew.
