Retro-inspired hotels, sweets, tours and brews blend history with modern appeal.
As Route 66 marks its 100th anniversary, communities across the country are reflecting on the highway’s cultural legacy. In Flagstaff, that means a new generation of businesses is keeping the spirit of the Mother Road alive, blending nostalgia with modern flair.
Take it Easy in a Retro Revival
After several years of renovations that kicked off slowly during the COVID pandemic, the iconic Whispering Winds Motor Hotel along Route 66 is set to reopen later this month. Newly designated as a National Historical Landmark, owners and brothers Karan and Kenal Patel put a lot of work and thought into bringing back its original 1960s feel.
From the outside, people will notice the bubblegum pink and electric turquoise colors true to that era and designed to attract travelers’ eyes back in the day. Once inside, a green wall and wood flooring complete the feel of the time period. Guests will be welcomed by a bar section that serves beer and wine, a pool table and a lounge area reminiscent of your grandmother’s living room. Each of the 25 guest rooms has all the necessary modern luxuries with a retro twist, including a Galanz mini-fridge with vintage-inspired curves and color.
To complete the look outside, the original historic neon sign has been fully restored with funding from the Historic Sign and Facade Grant Program through the City of Flagstaff. The sign overlooks a white brick wall bordering a completely renovated pool giving guests privacy from the bustle of passing traffic.
“The whole idea is bringing the retro Route 66 traveler vibe back. We want to bring history back to life,” said Emily Baker, sales manager for Ascend Capital Management, which owns Whispering Winds and six other hotel properties and four restaurants in Northern Arizona.
Those who are curious can check it out and expect big surprises during Flagstaff’s Route 66 100th Anniversary on June 6.
Serving Up Sweetness
Another local business going retro is the newly relocated Sweet Shoppe Candy Store. Moving from downtown Flagstaff to 102 E. Route 66 at the corner of San Francisco Street, the new location has the same footprint, with the addition of a 1950s soda fountain counter to make shakes, malts, sundaes and floats.
“We’re really trying to bring back the 40s and 50s,” said Blake Rolley, co-owner of The Sweet Shoppe with his wife, Jennifer. “We wanted to tie in Route 66 and thought a soda fountain would be a fun place for everybody to sit down and feel a little nostalgia.”
Vibrant pink LED lighting outlines the soda fountain, and true-to-that-era porcelain jars hold toppings, hot fudge and hot chocolate sauce. Guests can sit on the four stools at the counter and outdoor seating will soon be available.
Instead of black and white checkered tile flooring like in the 50s, Rolley said the floor is a pink and white checkered theme to match the pink in their logo.
The shop’s plate glass windows will reveal more than 200 freshly made caramel apples and a tower of brightly packaged cotton candy.
The location is the former home of the Corner Tavern, where two large signs hang along Route 66. Now the Sweet Shoppe will replace the word “tavern” with “candy” in big neon lighted letters.
“We are excited to be on Route 66,” Rolley said.
He added that one big benefit of the new space is the downstairs, where they can store gelato, which means they no longer expect to run out of this popular dessert on busy weekends.
Walking Flagstaff’s Route 66 Roots
Freaky Foot Tours started 11 years ago as a fun hobby, giving ghost tours around town. In anticipation of the Route 66 Centennial, this mother-and-son duo developed the Route 66 Centennial Walking Tour Flagstaff. They secured a grant from the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona to research and map a more complete picture of Route 66 through Flagstaff. The result is a 1.2-mile, two-hour walking tour that uncovers roughly two-thirds of the highway’s original path through town, stretching from the historic Southside to downtown.
The tour highlights the lesser-known story of how Flagstaff, not Phoenix, became a key stop along Route 66. In the early 20th century, three determined figures – Michael (Mike) Riordan, Percival Lowell and Father Cyprian Vabre – raised $1,800 and traveled across Northern Arizona, New Mexico and California, lobbying small towns to support routing the highway through Flagstaff. Their efforts helped secure the city’s place on the national roadway, shaping its economic future.
“What’s evolved is really neat,” said founder and Chief Ghost Officer Nick Jones, a Flagstaff native. “Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you know Flagstaff is on Route 66, but you may not realize how much the town influenced its path.”
Beyond the highway itself, the tour weaves in the layered history of Flagstaff’s Southside, including its late-1800s origins, working-class roots and red-light district. Guests explore the social contrasts between the Southside’s brothels and businesses and the Northside’s mill families and churches – adding depth and context to the Route 66 story.
Unlike traditional ghost tours, this experience focuses more on history than hauntings, though it still includes subtle nods to the company’s other themed offerings. Daylight tours also allow for more than a dozen photo stops, including murals, neon signs and historic landmarks, all features often missed after dark.
“We find that people are interested in history – they just might not realize it yet,” said Jones. “They come for something fun, but leave with a real connection to the place, its people and its past.”
The Tour is offered every day at 4 p.m., with private tours available upon request.
A Toast to Route 66
Mother Road Brewing Company created the special release beer Delgadillo Delight in celebration of Route 66 and the couple who helped keep its spirit alive. The crisp lager, infused with blood orange, pays tribute to Angel and Vilma Delgadillo of Seligman. Their efforts to preserve Route 66 in 1987 helped spark a movement that continues to support communities across all eight Route 66 states.
With a 5.0% ABV, Delgadillo Delight is meant to be enjoyed cold and straight from the can. “We wanted to create a beer that honors the people who helped keep Route 66 alive,” said Jackson Warner, marketing specialist. “Angel and Vilma Delgadillo represent the heart of the Mother Road and Delgadillo Delight is our toast to their legacy.”
The beer was released at the Mother Road Beer Garden during the Route 66 Celebration in Seligman last month.
Past and Present
Whether you’re local, visiting or hosting guests, these new experiences offer fresh ways to celebrate and rediscover the enduring spirit of Route 66. And don’t forget to stop by the free day-long Route 66 Centennial Celebration on Aspen Avenue at Heritage Square, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, June 6, for another special tribute. Highlights include a classic car show, live music, 3D street art and family activities, coinciding with the annual Hullabaloo Festival at Wheeler Park. FBN
By Mary Marini Para, FBN
Courtesy Photo: Sweet Shoppe Assistant Manager Jenna Hamm, mixing up a heavy batch of peanut brittle, says the popular store is preparing for even more business at its new Route 66 location.
