Doors for Norm
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia
Mid Century Modern, Springfield, Missouri
Paris Springs, Missouri
Route 66
Bel Air, Maryland
Childhood home of John Wilkes Booth
Lowry City, Missouri
Thursday Doors: November 5
Tag Archives: route 66
Weekly Photo Challenge: Minimalist
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Daily Photo 28 August
Route 66 in Missouri
Devil’s Elbow on Missouri’s Route 66
Devil’s Elbow was named for an awkwardly bad bend in the Big Piney River. There was a large boulder in the river at this point that lumberjacks swore was put there by the devil just to annoy them. Lumberjacks would float logs down the river and they would seem to always jam due to the rock and the bend in the river.
The community of Devil’s Elbow started as a logging camp after the civil war. When Route 66 came through during the 1930s Devil’s Elbow was a resort community with cabins, canoes, and the famous Munger Moss Sandwich Shop which is now the Elbow Inn Bar and BBQ. 
The Elbow Inn Bar has acquired its own fame because of the hundreds of women’s bras that are hung from the ceiling. It also has great food and is a wonderful place to stop for lunch. 
Devils Elbow is located in Pulaski County about 25 miles west of Rolla. To get to there, take I-44 west to the Hwy J Exit (exit 169). Turn left on Hwy J and cross the interstate. Take an immediate right on Hwy Z. Follow Hwy Z,( a newer four-lane stretch of Route 66), for two or so miles until you get to Teardrop Road. Turn left here. Follow Teardrop Road for a quarter mile or so and you will arrive at the Elbow Inn Bar. The old truss bridge is next to the bar and the town of Devil’s Elbow is just on the other side of the river.
Paris Springs Junction, a Must See on Route 66
Not much is left of the town of Paris Springs. Just a church and a few houses. The town was settled before 1850. In the mid 1920’s, Route 66 was built less than a mile south of the town. One enterprising man decided to build a filling station, or gas station in today’s vernacular.
The station was built at the intersection where the road from Paris Springs met the new Route 66. He joined several other businesses that had already opened at that location, and the community of Paris Springs Junction was born.
The filling station was doing quite well until a fire destroyed the business in 1955 and shortly afterward Interstate 44 was built about 2 miles to the south. When I-44 bypassed Paris Springs Junction the community dwindled.
Many years later the property was purchased by Route 66 enthusiasts, Gary and Lena Turner. Gary rebuilt a new station with the character of a 1930’s Sinclair Station. He filled the area with a collector’s dream of memorabilia.
Not rusty old vintage things, but signs and items that look new enough that a visitor is transported back in time to the 1930’s.
Mr. Turner is known to sit in his office inside the station and talk to anyone who stops by. He doesn’t sell anything, he just gives away free information.
We have never met the owner because we take our drives at sunrise, way to early in the morning, however, we do plan on taking another drive to Paris Springs Junction on a Saturday afternoon this spring because we would truly like to meet Gary Turner and chat with him for a while.
This special little community is a Must See for any historian, Route 66 fan, or anyone just out for a drive. See it, you’ll be happy you did. (and don’t forget your camera).
Directions: Paris Springs Junction lies about 20 miles west of Springfield, Missouri, about 3 miles west of Halltown. The easiest way to get there is to get on I-44 at Springfield and head west to the Avilla/Hwy 96 exit. Travel west on 96 for about one and a half miles, turn right on Highway 266. Drive about 150 feet and turn left onto Route 66 road (turning right will take you to Halltown). Paris Springs Junction is only about one and a half miles down the road.
Wandering Iris 