Victorville Route 66 Historic District (Old Town D Street)

Start at the California Route 66 Museum at 16825 D Street — pick up a self-guided walking-tour brochure inside (free), then begin your walk south or north depending on parking. Within two blocks you'll pass several preserved early-20th-century commercial buildings, the relocated and restored Green Spot Motel neon sign (a local landmark), painted Route 66 shields embedded in the sidewalks and pavement at intersections, and ghost-sign painted advertisements on brick walls (look up — many are above the second-floor windows).

Antique shops along D Street are worth browsing — several stock genuine Route 66 memorabilia, vintage California license plates, mid-century kitchenware, old roadmaps, and period postcards. Prices vary; bargain politely. The shops cluster between 6th and 7th and most are open Thursday through Sunday 10am-5pm; weekday hours are unpredictable. A small visitor information kiosk operates seasonally at the museum.

At the north end of the district (Route 66 / D Street where it becomes National Trails Highway heading toward Oro Grande), Emma Jean's Holland Burger Cafe — the iconic 1947 trucker diner — anchors the corridor. The 1929 Bell's Service Station building (now repurposed) is preserved a block north. Continuing north on National Trails Highway leads to the Mojave River bridge crossing and onward to Oro Grande, Helendale, and Barstow.

Route 66 was commissioned in 1926, and the original alignment through Victorville followed D Street through the downtown commercial core, crossed the Mojave River on the historic Mojave River Bridge (still standing), and continued north along what is now National Trails Highway through Oro Grande, Helendale, and onward to Barstow. The 1930s-50s were the boom years — Hollywood movie crews regularly filmed Westerns in the surrounding desert, motor courts and cafes lined D Street and National Trails Highway, and Victorville thrived as a Mother Road stopover between Los Angeles and the eastern markets.

The 1947-1970 period saw further commercial growth and the construction of dozens of motels along the broader Victor Valley Route 66 corridor — the Green Spot Motel, the Apple Tree Inn, the New Corral, the Red Coach Inn, and many others. Most have been demolished or converted. The relocated Green Spot sign in the historic district is one of the few surviving neon artifacts of this era and a top photo subject for Route 66 travelers.

Interstate 15 opened through the Victor Valley in the late 1960s, bypassing Old Town entirely. The Route 66 corridor decline followed quickly — by the 1980s many D Street businesses had closed, the motor courts disappeared, and the district became known more for blight than nostalgia. The 1995 opening of the California Route 66 Museum marked the beginning of organized revitalization. The 2026 Centennial is driving the most significant investment in the district in fifty years.

The Route 66 Mother Road Festival — typically held in September — closes D Street to vehicle traffic and fills the district with hundreds of classic and custom cars, vendors, live music, food trucks, and Route 66 enthusiasts from across the country. The 2026 Centennial year's festival is expected to be the largest in the event's history. Other periodic events include cruise nights, antique car shows, and Centennial-related programming at the California Route 66 Museum. Check the museum's website and the city's event calendar.

Parking is free on D Street and in the municipal lots between 6th and 7th. Allow 90 minutes for a thorough walk that includes the museum, antique shop browsing, and Emma Jean's at the north end. Restrooms are inside the museum. The district is fully walkable on flat sidewalks; sun protection is essential in summer when temperatures regularly exceed 100°F. Best months to walk are October-April; July-September is hot but tolerable in early morning or early evening.

The district is unfortunately rough around the edges in places — vacant buildings, occasional homeless population, and uneven sidewalks. Most travelers report no issues during daylight hours, but exercise normal urban awareness. The museum, Emma Jean's, and the active antique shops are all reliably safe and welcoming. Avoid the district after dark unless attending a specific event.