Williams, Arizona
and
Twisters Soda Fountain and Jason Moore

We left Grand Canyon Village and made a brief stop in Williams, known as the "Gateway to Grand Canyon." Williams was the last Route 66 town bypassed by I-40, holding out until the bitter end, waging a court battle before finally surrendering on October 13, 1984. However, officials in Williams were gracious in defeat and there was even a live performance celebration for Route 66 atop the new freeway. Williams today continues to embrace its heritage. Downtown features old-fashioned street lamps with interesting restaurants, gift, and souvenir shops. It is home to the vintage Grand Canyon Railway and historic Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. We stopped by the 50s style Twisters Soda Fountain, settled into a booth, and listened to the music on the juke box while enjoying our milkshakes and signature "Route 66 Beer Floats."

By Jason Moore, owner of Twisters Soda Fountain, a 1950s style diner in Williams, Arizona:
Twisters was originally a Texaco gas station built on the Mother Road in 1926. The garage bar is adorned with the ceramic Texaco shield that used to hang out front.

My wife worked at Twisters when she was a teenager and the opportunity to buy Twisters came in 2006. We have owned it ever since.

When I-40 was built, Williams was the last town to be bypassed. Numerous lawsuits were filed because the Feds didn't want exits into Williams. This could have killed our small town, where I grew up.

Route 66 means to me a simpler time--money went further and, like Twisters, around every corner was another adventure.