In the middle of California’s Mojave Desert sits Amboy, a near-ghost town with a history tied closely to Route 66. Founded in 1858 as a stop along the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, Amboy grew modestly until the arrival of the highway in the 1930s brought steady traffic and new opportunities.
One of the town’s most enduring businesses was Roy’s Motel & Cafe, opened in 1938 by Roy Crowl as a gas and service station. His son-in-law, Buster Burris, helped expand the business into a full roadside complex with a café, motor court, garage, and iconic neon sign. By the 1950s, Amboy had about 700 residents, many of them working at Roy’s to serve the constant stream of travelers heading through the desert.
Amboy’s decline began in 1973, when Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66. Traffic vanished almost overnight, and with it the town’s livelihood. Businesses shuttered, residents moved away, and Amboy became one of the many desert communities left behind by the interstate. Over the years, the property changed hands several times and was even put up for sale on eBay.
In 2005, preservationist Albert Okura, founder of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain and known for purchasing historic California landmarks, bought the town. He reopened Roy’s gas station and gift shop in 2008, restored the site’s infrastructure, and worked to keep Amboy a destination for Route 66 travelers. Okura also planned long-term redevelopment, envisioning a restored motel and café that would bring Amboy back to life.
Okura passed away in 2023, and the torch was passed to his son, Kyle Okura, who continues to operate the gas station and souvenir shop and maintain Roy’s iconic neon sign. The site has also been marked by a mural tribute to Okura, honoring his role in preserving Amboy’s place on the Mother Road.
Today, Amboy is more of a roadside stop than a functioning town, but it remains a powerful symbol of Route 66’s history. Visitors can fuel up, browse souvenirs, see the abandoned motel cabins, and photograph the famous sign and the large Route 66 shield painted on the highway in front. The desert quiet, paired with the glow of the sign against wide skies, gives travelers a sense of what once was and why Amboy continues to capture imaginations.
Amboy, California Route 66 Attractions
Amboy, California is by all means a ghost town, with little to see and many deteriorated relics of the past. But recent efforts have been made to revitalize the town and even if there are few places to explore, the ones that are there are worth adding to your California Route 66 itinerary.
Guardian Lions of Route 66
About four miles east of Roy’s find a pair of solid marble Chinese guardian lions (the Guardian Lions of Route 66) at the side of the road watching over the Mojave Desert.
Roy’s Motel & Cafe
Roy’s Motel & Cafe is a Route 66 institution and one of the most photographed sites on the Mother Road. While it has fallen into disrepair over the years, the property is slowly being restored, with the giant neon sign brought back to life in 2019.
Albert Okura Mural and Monument
After Albert Okura passed away in 2023, a new monument and set of murals were installed at Roy’s to commemorate his lasting impact on Amboy. The centerpiece of the memorial mural is a towering 14-foot portrait of Albert Okura by artist John Cerney.
Route 66 Road Shields
On the road in front of Roy’s find two giant Route 66 shields painted on the asphalt. These are some of the most photographed road shields on the Mother Road as visitors flock to take photos with them at their feet with the sign in the background.
Amboy Post Office
The Amboy Post Office is a tiny self-standing post office located in Amboy. If you catch it open, it’s a great place to drop a postcard and send a little piece of the Mother Road back home.
Clothing Post
Just across the road from Roy’s Motel and Café, you’ll spot something unusual sticking up from the desert floor: the Clothing Post. Travelers over the years have decorated the pole with shoes, shirts, hats, purses, and other odds and ends, turning it into a totem of Route 66 wanderlust.
Amboy Crater
Amboy Crater is a dormant cinder cone volcano located within Mojave Trails National Monument. You can take a short hike to the top of the crater to admire the far-stretching views of Route 66.
Map of Amboy, California Route 66
Plan your visit to Amboy, California Route 66 by loading this map the your Google Maps app on your phone. Explore all the best attractions in Amboy on your Route 66 road trip through California. Want more? Check out our full map of California Route 66 attractions.
