I freely admit that, when it comes to travel, the simplest of things can make me happy. Sometimes it's enough just to be somewhere cool. I have, for example, stood on that corner in Winslow, Arizona.
I'm not sure whether Glen Frey himself has blessed it as the actual corner from the famous Eagles song, but the locals would have you believe they've got it right. The corner has been made into a little park (official site), with a statue, and a mural cleverly depicting reflections in a store window, showing the girl (my Lord) in the flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at you. There is a real, red flatbed Ford parked out front.
The problem is that Winslow is a seedy little dump of a town, with run-down buildings, skeevy-looking motels, and roving hoodlums. It's not at all welcoming and not someplace you'd care to spend any time. Just driving through on old Route 66, you feel like you really ought to be leaving as soon as possible to ensure your own safety. It is, frankly, a bleeping bleephole.
But, of course, you have to stand on the corner. That's the whole point. The corner is near the center of town, on eastbound Route 66 and Kinsley Avenue. The road is split into two one-way streets, so if you're westbound you won't see any obvious indication of where to turn. You can just turn around eventually and find it that way.
Winslow is a guerilla operation: get in, stand on the corner, get out. Mission Accomplished. It's not clear where you're supposed to park, but the idea is to stay close, as you really don't want to leave your car alone for too long; parking on the street seems to be fine. My first time through (pictured above), I managed this by doing it before the sun even came up. Horrified by the slum I found myself in, and the fact that there were already roving hoodlums on the streets and people sitting in front of houses giving me dirty looks at 5am, I didn't stick around for long.
You will more likely do this during the day, though, as I did on this trip. There will be traffic, and you will not feel welcome. Someone will probably ask you for spare change while you're at the corner. You will be glad to get out of there – but you will be glad you came. You will, after all, have stood on that corner.
Winslow has three Interstate exits, Route 66, and a name that most people recognize. You would think they could turn that into some kind of success as a tourist haven; Tucumcari, New Mexico managed it with a name no one can even pronounce. Sadly, it hasn't worked out for Winslow.
Recent Comments