Route 66 is such an integral part of the City of St. Louis and surrounding areas as lifestyles changed throughout the 20th Century. There are amazing remnants of the colorful bygone days of Route 66 around us. You just have to find them!
Route 66 relocated several times on its journey from Chicago, Illinois, out to Santa Monica, California. This somewhat explains why pieces of the historic route can be found at numerous disjointed locations hroughout St.Louis and surrounding areas.
There are numerous Route 66 historic sites that can still be found in the St. Louis area, many of which are located along Chippewa and Watson Roads and heading west generally along Interstate 44. However, there was also at one time an “alignment” of Route 66 that followed Old Manchester Road (Route 100) out of St. Louis City and all the way out to Gray Summit. *
We followed the segment of Route 66 along old Manchester Road, zigzagging in broken segments along the newer stretch of Route 100, crossing Interstate 44 twice near the Missouri Botanical Gardens – Shaw Nature Reserve. And that’s where we found this site!
Gardenway Motel is still open for business with it's retro neon sign out front. It is now owned and operated by the Diamonds Travelodge located just down the road. The Gardenway Motel, established in 1945, was named for the Henry Shaw Garden Way Road when this old pathway once sported numerous native trees, shrubs, and plants.
Also, a little further to the east are two well recognized signs directing Route 66 travelers to the then relocated Diamonds Restaurant (sadly gone now) as well as the Gardenway Motel.
Permission to place this cache, as well as additional background information, given by Jason Kell, Front Office Manager for Travelodge Motel.
Please use stealth and replace container exactly where you found it. Be aware that there are extended stay residents at one end of the motel who maybe curious - current placement allows parking right at cache with view from motel blocked.
NOTE: As of 4/28/12 cache container was replaced and relocated. The cache can be accessed within a couple feet of parking on motel property (off the highway).
Optional Point of Interest: Coordinates N 38 28.968, W 090 49.363 -- Site with view of current location of both the larger and smaller signs for: Diamonds Restaurant/Inn/Motel and Gardenway Motel
Additional information about Historic Route 66 in Missouri can be found on numerous websites. Just search for "Route 66 Missouri".
* Reference: "The oldest Route 66 website: Where the Mother Road meets the Internet";
http://www.historic66.com/missouri/det-mo1.html
Congratulations to eravau
for being First to Find
