About Us
Road Runner’s Retreat is a classic mid-century Route 66 stop in the Mojave Desert, about halfway between Amboy and Cadiz, California. Built in the early 1960s by Roy and Helen Tull, the site once included a café, service station, garage, and living quarters, all designed in the eye-catching Googie style that defined the Atomic Age. For years it served weary travelers crossing the desert, offering food, fuel, and a welcome rest before closing in the 1970s.
Today, the structures remain as weathered monuments to the golden era of Route 66, highlighted by the recently restored neon sign that continues to draw visitors for photos and roadside nostalgia. Efforts are underway to preserve and revitalize the property, with events like neon relighting ceremonies, live music, and community gatherings bringing the site back to life. Though no longer an operating business, Road Runner’s Retreat stands as a cultural landmark — a striking reminder of the days when the open desert highway was alive with travelers chasing the promise of the Mother Road.
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