Thursday, 17 April

Journey from Paducah to St Louis

Today, we had to travel about 220 miles. We traveled I-24 N into Illinois which turned into I-67 N. We then took I-64 N into St Louis. In St Louis, with its iconic arch, we turned onto I-44. There was a lot of construction as road crews repaired the roads after the winter weather. We had light rain most of the morning, but it turned out to be a beautiful day in the afternoon. Except for the construction, the traffic was good but we were intimidated by the multi-lane roads and frequent highway splits in St Louis.

St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA Holiday

The campground was only a short distance from I-44 and on Historic Route 66. Like most Route 66 campgrounds, though, we had the disadvantage of being close to railroad tracks on one side and a busy highway on the other. It had 140 RV sites, cabins, and tent sites. One unique cabin was in an old train car. There were several amenities such as pedal go-karts and a jumping pillow.

We were assigned A21, a long pull-thru gravel site with full hookups. The site was level, and we were able to quickly set up and take off to see some Route 66 attractions.

Red Cedar Inn

The Red Cedar Inn, located 5 minutes away in Pacific, Missouri, was a historic restaurant and tavern that became a notable landmark along U.S. Route 66. Established in 1934 by brothers James and Bill Smith, the inn was constructed using logs from their family farm, reflecting the rustic charm of the pioneer era. It quickly gained popularity among travelers for its hearty meals, especially its renowned fried chicken, and its welcoming atmosphere. The inn also served cocktails, capitalizing on the recent repeal of Prohibition./ The restaurant operated until 2005, after which it closed its doors. Recognizing its historical significance, the City of Pacific acquired the building in 2017 with plans to preserve and repurpose it. Following extensive renovations, the Red Cedar Inn reopened in August 2023 as the Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitor Center.

Today, it serves as a museum, visitor center, children’s museum, and gift shop, offering visitors insights into Route 66 history, local heritage, and the inn’s legacy. Displays covered the wall providing information on Route 66 attractions in the Meramec River area. The Meramec Valley is one of Missouri’s most scenic and nostalgia-packed stretches of old Route 66, full of quirky roadside landmarks, natural attractions, and historic stops that capture the spirit of the Mother Road. One of the largest displays was about the Diamonds Restaurant in Villa Ridge, one of the largest and most famous roadside diners on Route 66.

There were even a few items related to the Civil War due to Pacific’s importance as a transportation hub. Ulysses S. Grant was briefly stationed in Pacific, Missouri, in July 1861, very early in the Civil War. At that time, he was a newly appointed colonel of the 21st Illinois Infantry. His regiment had been ordered into Missouri to help secure the state for the Union, and Pacific served as a temporary staging and training area. The town was a natural choice due to its location along the Pacific Railroad, which made it a key transportation and supply route for Union forces moving west from St. Louis. Grant used the time in Pacific to drill his men and prepare for field operations, but he was not there for long. Within weeks, he and his regiment moved deeper into Missouri, and shortly afterward, in August 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general.

We also enjoyed walking through the large gift shop that had lots of Route 66 souvenirs. We ended up buying a hoodie for Lisa. We then decided to walk next door to Jensen Point Overlook.

Jensen Point Overlook

Jensen’s Point is a historic scenic overlook located just a short walk from the Red Cedar Inn on the eastern edge of Pacific, Missouri, offering panoramic views of the Meramec River Valley and the town below. Built in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the overlook was part of the Henry Shaw Gardenway project, a beautification initiative along Route 66. It was named after Lars Peter Jensen, the first president of the Henry Shaw Gardenway Association and manager of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Shaw Arboretum .​

The site features native stonework, including steps, walls, and patios, characteristic of CCC craftsmanship. After being closed to the public for nearly 25 years, Jensen’s Point was restored and reopened in 2016 as a city park, thanks to efforts by the City of Pacific and local volunteers.

We took the 99 steps to the top and found several terraces to look out onto the area’s natural beauty. It was also a little windy, as our selfie shows.

Drive along Route 66

We drove west on Route 66, which ran parallel to I-44. Along the way, we passed remnants of the past—faded motel signs where the buildings had long since vanished. Some businesses proudly embraced the Route 66 legacy, incorporating the iconic phrase into their names. One such stop was a shop that specialized in restoring vintage cars. Out front, several beautifully renovated vehicles gleamed in the sunlight, and a peek into their garage revealed even more Route 66 memorabilia, including old-fashioned gas pumps that added to the nostalgic vibe. Further down the road, we passed another business with a large, vibrant mural painted on its wall, showcasing the colorful spirit of the Mother Road.

We made a brief stop at a small roadside park in Pacific, which featured a veterans memorial and a peaceful waterfall. The park’s setting was enhanced by the presence of several large caves nestled into the nearby cliffs, offering a striking example of the region’s unique karst topography. Over millions of years, slightly acidic rainwater had seeped into the limestone and dolomite, gradually eroding and expanding cracks in the rock to form caves. The Meramec River and its tributaries further shaped the landscape, carving deep valleys and exposing these natural cave openings, particularly along the Route 66 corridor.

While I could have easily kept going, lost in the nostalgia of the road, we decided to turn around after only a dozen miles. We stopped for gas and then headed back to the campground, content with the brief journey and the sights we had already taken in.

Evening

After dinner, I attended a lecture by John Drake Robinson back at the Red Cedar Inn. During the presentation he read excerpts from his book while a slide show displayed pictures he had taken during his travels. Though short, it was a fascinating presentation. ​John Drake Robinson is a Missouri-based travel writer and author celebrated for his deep exploration of America’s backroads and hidden locales. Dubbed the “King of the Road” by Missouri Life Magazine, Robinson embarked on a 13-year journey to drive every mile of every road on Missouri’s highway map, totaling over 250,000 miles in his 1999 Pontiac Sunfire. His writings blend humor, history, and personal anecdotes, capturing the essence of overlooked places and the people who inhabit them. Robinson’s notable works include A Road Trip Into America’s Hidden Heart, Coastal Missouri: Driving on the Edge of Wild, and Souls Along the Road: Villains, Saints, and Killer Cuisine. Beyond writing, Robinson has served as Missouri’s Director of Tourism and is an Emmy Award-winning writer and public speaker . He resides in Columbia, Missouri, and continues to share his insights through various publications and speaking engagements

Friday, 18 April

Today we will drive home about 250 miles, taking I-44 to MO-100 to I-70W. We put the trailer away in storage but we plan to be out exploring again by the end of next month.