Imagine driving along a deserted stretch of Route 66, and suddenly stumbling upon a neon beacon in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Welcome to Amboy, California, a ghost town once teeming with life, now experiencing a dramatic revival.
In its heyday, Amboy was a lively pitstop with Roy’s Motel & Café lighting the way for weary travelers. But everything changed with the opening of Interstate 40 in the 1970s, redirecting traffic and leaving Amboy to wither into silence.
“Amboy felt like a time capsule, a place lost in history, and that’s exactly why I wanted to save it.” – Albert Okura
That time capsule was brought back to life in 2005 by none other than Albert Okura, affectionately known as “the Chicken Man.” He didn’t just buy the town; he invested heart and soul, refurbishing neon signs and restoring buildings, turning it into an Instagrammable dream that evokes nostalgia for simpler times.
After Albert sadly passed in 2023, his son Kyle stepped into his father’s shoes, sparking new ideas for Amboy. With plans to enhance the experience by adding lodge accommodations and reopening Roy’s Café by 2026, the drive to rekindle Amboy’s charm continues. Kyle’s upgrades make this once-forgotten stop gradually rise again as a must-visit destination.
So, which slice of retro goodness will you explore first on your journey along Route 66?
