Roy’s Motel and Cafe
Roy Crowl opened Roy’s gas and service station in 1938 on Route 66. At that time, Route 66 was the main interstate highway between Los Angeles and Chicago. In the 1940s the business expanded to include a cafe and auto court. In 1959, the iconic sign went up as the motel expanded with a more modernist look. At its peak, Amboy had nearly 700 residents, but the completion and opening of Interstate 40 in 1972 marked the beginning of the end for most residents. The current population of Amboy is 4 and the town has been owned by the Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain, since 2005. In November 2019, a new neon sign replaced the old, illuminating the area for the first time since the 1980s.
Amboy, San Bernardino County
Images by Ronan Murray