Capturing What Remains Along the Mother Road
Ghost Towns of Route 66 by Jim Hinckley,with photos by Kerrick James, takes readers on a journey down America’s most famous highway. The book pauses at towns left behind by time. At the height of its use, Route 66 carried travelers from Chicago to Santa Monica. This steady stream brought life to motels, cafés, and filling stations. However, when the interstates arrived, many communities were bypassed. As a result, businesses closed and towns began to dry up. The book shows those places, from empty main streets to abandoned gas pumps. It keeps alive the story of a roadside culture that once thrived.
A Guide and a Tribute
Hinckley is well known for his knowledge of Route 66. In this book, he supplies background and stories while James’s photography gives the towns a vivid look. Together, they highlight well-known stops such as Glenrio, Amboy, and Two Guns. In addition, they draw attention to lesser-known places that might otherwise be forgotten. The mix of writing and photos works as both a travel guide and a tribute. Readers can use it to plan visits or simply enjoy the images as a window into the past.
The book Ghost Towns of Route 66 by Jim Hinckley and Kerik James is available through Amazon.
Quiet Towns, Rich Stories
Not every ghost town is silent. For example, some still cling to life with a café, a trading post, or a restored sign. Others are nearly empty. As a result, weathered buildings slowly collapse back into the land. For photographers, the quiet is part of the appeal. Without traffic or crowds, the details stand out. Faded paint, rusting neon, and broken windows speak of both prosperity and loss. That is why books like this matter. They encourage us to stop, look, and remember.
Why It Resonates Today
For fans of roadside Americana, Ghost Towns of Route 66 fits well alongside books like Michael Karl Witzel’s The American Drive-In or Stephen Shore’s American Surfaces. It not only maps the road but also shows the cultural shift that came when the Mother Road lost its role. In contrast to glossy nostalgia, this book presents the raw remains of a highway once called America’s Main Street. Whether used for trip planning or as a visual record, it explains why Route 66 continues to inspire travelers, historians, and photographers alike.
Safe travels, RJ.
Ghost Towns of Route 66 by Jim Hinckley & Kerrick James is available on Amazon. Other books by Jim Hinckley include: Travel Route 66: A Guide to the History, Sights, and Destinations Along the Main Street of America, Route 66 Backroads: Your Guide to Scenic Side Trips & Adventures from the Mother Road, Ghost Towns of the Southwest: Your Guide to the Historic Mining Camps and Ghost Towns of Arizona and New Mexico, The Route 66 Encyclopedia, and Greetings from Route 66: The Ultimate Road Trip Back Through Time Along America’s Main Street.
You might also enjoy: Route 66 Lost & Found: Ruins and Relics Revisited — Russell A. Olsen, Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America — Candacy Taylor, The American Drive-In — Michael Karl Witzel, and The Negro Motorist Green Book — Victor Hugo Green,
