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America's Biggest Road Trip! |
Route 66
Caravan Road Log:
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America's Biggest Road Trip! |
Route 66
Caravan Road Log:
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Vega, Texas |
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| In 1903 a store was built at the site of what would become Vega. The store's owner, A. M. Miller suggested that the name of the new town should be Vega, he also suggested the names of his sons too. The name Vega was chosen because it reflected the surrounding countryside; Vega is Spanish for meadow. | ||||
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In 1946 it was a sizable town of 515 people. It boasted gas stations, cafes, three small auto courts, and light auto repairs. Vega is a town that depended on Route 66 and though the Interstate passes nearby it wasn't enough to keep some of the businesses open. | |||
| A drive down old Route 66 will provide glimpses of the past glory of Route 66 in Vega. The downtown area of Vega features some great vintage Route 66 buildings. Today you can still find all the amenities a tourist needs in Vega, in fact, the Vega Motel is an original tourist court that is still in operation. |
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Vega Courthouse |
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The Vega Courthouse was built in 1915, eleven years before Route 66 would pass by. In the pre-Interstate days U.S. highways like Route 66 would pass right through the many small towns along the way providing an economic and cultural link with each other. If you want to truly see America, then get off the Interstate and celebrate this great country of ours. | |||
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Linda Drake and Becky Ransom ponder Jim's words of wisdom at the Roadside Attraction sign unveiling. |
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County Commissioners (left to right) Robert Morris, Quincy Taylor, Donnie Knox and Billy Don Brown assist Linda Drake, Oldham County Chamber of Commerce, at the Roadside Attraction sign dedication. |
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Dot's Mini Museum |
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Dot's collection is a tribute to the "Mother Road" and an era that was busy and alive. Full of memories from Route 66 it is not to be missed! |
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| Old Route 66 ends at Dot's Mini Museum (see picture at top of page). Dot has spent a lifetime collecting western artifacts and Route 66 memorabilia and she would love to share her collection with you. If you are into stories about the old highway Dot has one or two she can share with you too. | ||||
Dot Levitt (center) marks the Rt. 66 Caravan map with her daughters, Betty Carpenter and Bonnie Arredonoc. |
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| Dot Levitt came to Vega with her husband, Harold Levitt, in the forties. They bought a building and remodeled a store called Vega Zero Lockers one block north of busy Route 66. This store served the locals and tourists alike on old Route 66. The home folks utilized the freezer storage units called lockers. During the 40's and 50's most families didn't have a home freezer. And the Route 66 travelers bought fresh fruits, vegetables, lunch meat and all sorts of canned goods for there trek down the highway. | ||||
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When the Interstate by-passed Vega the Vega Zero Lockers faded away as so
many other businesses did at that time, but thanks to Dot's determination that those times
not be forgotten we can all enjoy her museum today. Hampton felt that Dot's Mini Museum deserved a Roadside Attraction sign. We all honor you Dot! Thanks for everything you have done to keep the Mother Road alive in Vega Texas. You were the farsighted one, we just had to catch up with you that's all. |
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Dot's family came from afar to celebrate this remarkable woman, mother, grandmother and friend to all of us who travel Route 66. |
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 Previous Log  |
Road Log pages read like a book:Follow the Route 66 Caravan
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66 Caravan Web Site Written, Photographed & Designed by Guy Randall |
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© 2003 Design and Updates by 
GRandall Web Design
