Harvey Hotels & Restaurants on Route 66

The allure of Route 66, the "Mother Road," extends far beyond its ribbon of asphalt stretching across the American landscape. It encompasses a rich tapestry of history, culture, and innovation, interwoven with the rise of the automobile and the expansion of the railroad. Among the most captivating threads in this tapestry are the Harvey Houses, a chain of restaurants, hotels, and lunchrooms that, while predating Route 66, became inextricably linked with its legacy. For decades, these establishments offered weary travelers a haven of civility, delicious food, and impeccable service, becoming iconic landmarks along the historic highway.

The story of the Harvey Houses is one of pioneering entrepreneurship and the transformation of the American West. Founded by Fred Harvey in the late 19th century, the chain revolutionized dining and hospitality standards in an era when train travel was the primary mode of long-distance transportation. Harvey recognized the need for quality food and service along the railway lines, and his establishments quickly became renowned for their high standards, clean environments, and the famous "Harvey Girls" – the young, well-mannered waitresses who brought a touch of refinement to the rugged frontier.

Ironically, the very factors that contributed to the popularity of Route 66 – improved roads and affordable automobiles – also played a role in the decline of the Harvey House empire. As passenger rail service waned, and overland trucking reduced the demand for rail freight, the Harvey Houses began to fade from the landscape. Today, many of these once-thriving establishments are gone, but some remain, standing as poignant reminders of a bygone era. This article explores the locations of Harvey Hotels & Restaurants on Route 66 that once formed part of the legendary Harvey House chain, tracing their history and current status. This is a story of Harvey Hotels & Restaurants on Route 66 that intertwines with the history of the railroad and the Mother Road.

Arizona

The Arizona landscape, with its dramatic vistas and desert expanses, was fertile ground for the Harvey House enterprise. Several locations along Route 66 in Arizona were once home to these iconic establishments. The following locations are a testament to the impact of Harvey Hotels & Restaurants on Route 66

• Ashfork: In 1905, the Escalante Hotel, a grand structure, replaced an earlier Harvey House Hotel and Restaurant dating back to 1895. The Escalante served as a vital stop for travelers until its closure in 1948. The latter half of the 20th century brought significant changes to Ashfork. A realignment of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in the 1950s dealt an economic blow to the city. This was compounded by the construction of Interstate 40, which bypassed Ashfork entirely, further isolating the town. Sadly, the Escalante Hotel, once a symbol of prosperity, was demolished in the 1970s, leaving no trace of its former grandeur.
• Kingman: Kingman, Arizona, was once home to a bustling Harvey House Restaurant that opened its doors in 1901. This establishment provided a welcome respite for travelers passing through the area. The historic house of hospitality met an unfortunate end when it was destroyed by a fire in 1952. Today, a one-story stucco depot stands across from the location where the Harvey House once stood, serving as a reminder of its presence.
• Peach Springs: In Peach Springs, Arizona, the building that once housed a Harvey House Restaurant still stands today. However, its purpose has changed over the years. Currently, it is utilized by the Water Treatment Plant, providing an essential service to the community. Although the building no longer operates as a restaurant, it serves as a reminder of the Harvey House’s historical significance in the area.
• Seligman: Seligman, Arizona, once boasted the impressive Havasu Fred Harvey House. Constructed in 1905 to accommodate the increasing railroad traffic, the hotel was a sprawling 60,000-square-foot complex. It housed numerous hotel rooms, a large kitchen, a lunchroom, and a newsstand, providing a comprehensive range of services to travelers. For many years, the abandoned building stood as a silent witness to the town’s history. However, by 2007, it faced the threat of demolition due to safety concerns. Federal regulations required that any occupied building be a safe distance from active railroad tracks, a condition that the Havasu Fred Harvey House did not meet. Despite efforts by locals and Route 66 preservationists to save the building, the "Save the Seligman Harvey House" campaign ultimately failed, and the building was demolished in May 2008, marking the end of an era for the town.
• Williams: Williams, Arizona, was once home to the Frey Marcos Hotel, built in the early 20th century. Today, the historic depot still stands, serving the many passengers headed to the Grand Canyon. Inside the old depot is a museum that showcases the town’s rich history. The site of the old Fray Marcos is now home to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, designed to resemble the century-old depot that housed the original Fray Marcos. The hotel provides modern amenities while paying homage to the town’s historical roots.
• Winslow: Perhaps the most iconic of the Arizona Harvey Houses is La Posada in Winslow. This architectural masterpiece, designed by the renowned Mary Colter, opened in 1930 as the last hotel built in the Harvey House chain. Winslow was chosen for its strategic location as the headquarters for the Santa Fe Railway. Colter meticulously blended Native American and Spanish cultural elements into the hotel’s design, creating a unique and captivating atmosphere. Despite its initial success, La Posada closed in 1957, and its museum-quality furnishings were auctioned off in 1959. In the early 1960s, the building was gutted and transformed into offices for the Santa Fe Railroad. However, in 1994, when the railroad announced plans to move out of Winslow, the town rallied to save La Posada from demolition. Today, La Posada has been fully restored and stands as an oasis in the desert, catering to a new generation of Route 66 adventurers. It is the only original Harvey Hotel on Route 66 that continues to operate as it was first intended, serving as a living testament to the enduring legacy of the Harvey Houses and the power of community preservation efforts. The story of La Posada is a remarkable example of Harvey Hotels & Restaurants on Route 66 standing the test of time.

California

The Golden State also played a significant role in the Harvey House story, with several establishments dotting the California landscape along Route 66.

• Bagdad: The Bagdad Depot once housed a small Harvey House lunchroom primarily for Santa Fe employees. This small establishment provided a convenient and reliable dining option for those working on the railroad.
• Barstow: In 1911, the Fred Harvey Company opened the Casa Del Desierto Harvey House Hotel in Barstow. After the hotel and restaurant closed, the building was used mainly for a machine shop, with a cafeteria and a small Amtrak ticket office. However, the Casa Del Desierto was eventually abandoned altogether. In the late 1980s, the Santa Fe Railway decided to tear down the old Harvey House, but local citizens and historians of Barstow protested, leading the City of Barstow to save the building and begin restoration efforts. The Casa Del Desierto was re-dedicated in 1999 and now operates as two museums and city offices, preserving the rich history of the Harvey House and the Santa Fe Railway for future generations.
• Los Angeles: In 1893, Santa Fe’s Moorish-style La Grande Station opened in Los Angeles, followed by a Harvey House Restaurant six years later. The new Union Station opened in 1939, boasting a new and improved Harvey House restaurant and bar. During World War II, the Harvey House Restaurant could feed 800 people an hour. However, the restaurant closed in 1967, and Amtrak took over passenger operations in 1971. Today, Los Angeles’ Union Station is home to the Metrolink and is mainly used for special events. The old Harvey House Restaurant, designed by Mary Colter, still boasts its rounded central counter, streamlined booths, and inlaid floor patterns and is now home to a bar and restaurant.
• Needles: The El Garces Harvey House and Train Depot in Needles, completed in 1908, was considered one of the "Crown Jewels" of the Harvey House chain. It was known for its natural linen and silver, distinctive china, and fresh flowers provided for its guests daily. The lunchroom had two horseshoe-shaped counters and could serve many people. The El Garces closed as a Harvey House in 1949 and was later used as Santa Fe Railway offices. After sitting abandoned, the Friends of El Garces was formed in 1993, leading to the City of Needles purchasing the station in 1999. Restoration began in 2007, and the exterior was completed in 2014. However, the building remains vacant and is for lease.
• San Bernardino: The San Bernardino Depot was chosen as the headquarters for the Santa Fe Railroad’s Pacific Coast Locomotive Works. The depot flourished for the first half of the 20th century, with many travelers and business people using the depot and the Harvey House Restaurant. After falling into disrepair, the City of San Bernardino began restoration work in the mid-1990s. The renovated depot held its grand re-opening in June 2004 and now serves Metrolink and Amtrak.

Illinois

• Chicago: During Union Station’s boom years in the 1940s, it housed one of the famous Harvey House restaurants. Today, Chicago’s Union Station continues to function as some 50,000 passengers pass daily.

Missouri

• Joplin: The Frisco building in Joplin once served as Joplin’s train depot and one of the famous Harvey House Restaurants. Today, it has been refurbished into an apartment building.
• Springfield: The original Springfield depot included a lunchroom built by the Fred Harvey Company. As railroad travel declined, the Harvey House Restaurant closed down in 1955, the last to close on the Frisco line. The building was demolished in 1977.
• St. Louis: St. Louis Union Station opened in 1894 and served over 100,000 passengers daily in its heyday in the mid-1940s. In August 1985, after extensive restoration and new construction, St. Louis Union Station celebrated its grand reopening as a specialty retail, restaurant, entertainment, and hotel complex.

New Mexico

• Albuquerque: The Alvarado Hotel, designed by Mary Jane Colter, opened in 1902 and housed the Indian Building, where Native American pottery and jewelry were displayed. The original Alvarado Hotel was torn down in 1970, but a "new" Alvarado opened in 2002.
• Belen: This early 1900s depot housed one of the original Harvey House Restaurants in 1910 and is now home to the Harvey House Museum.
• Gallup: The El Navaho Hotel was built in 1918. Though the hotel was torn down, the historic railroad station continues to stand, housing the new Gallup Cultural Center.
• Santa Fe: La Fonda Hotel was acquired by the Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe Railroad in 1925 and leased to Fred Harvey. From 1926 to 1968, La Fonda was one of the famous Harvey Houses.

Oklahoma

• Afton: The Fred Harvey Company operated a newsstand at the Afton Depot.
• Miami: The Fred Harvey Company operated a newsstand at the Miami Depot.
• Oklahoma City: The art-deco station continues to stand in Oklahoma City but is in poor repair. The two-story concrete depot is currently undergoing restoration.
• Sapulpa: A Harvey House Restaurant was housed in the Frisco Station. The Sapulpa Harvey House was torn down in 1963, but the residence used by several of the Harvey girls continues to stand as the Sapulpa Historical Museum.
• Tulsa: This art deco-style station was completed in 1931. Though the station never housed a Fred Harvey restaurant, it was home to one of their many newsstands.
• Vinita: The old depot in Vinita once included both a Harvey House Restaurant and a newsstand.

Texas

• Amarillo: The two-story stucco depot opened in 1910 with a Harvey House Restaurant. It closed in 1940, and now houses a large antique store.

The story of the Harvey Houses is not just about food and lodging; it is about the evolution of travel, the rise and fall of the railroad, and the enduring spirit of the American West. While many of these iconic establishments are now gone, their legacy lives on in the memories of those who experienced their hospitality and in the efforts of preservationists who are working to keep their stories alive.