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This tamarisk tree
provides just about the only natural shade to
be found along this section of historic Route
66 as it cuts across the Mojave Desert. Situated
alongside a dry wash within sight of Amboy ghost
town and the huge cinder cone in the lava field
to the west, The tree has been festooned with
the shoes and boots of dozens of travelers.
When I stopped here on September 28th, 2006,
it was a balmy 106 degrees in the shade.
Particularly eye-catching
was a pair of bright red cowboy boots near the
top of the tree. Unlike the other shoetrees
I have admired and documented over the years,
this shoetree lacks a safe observation spot.
Please exercise caution when you come to visit.
Route 66 historian Swa Frantzen
has researched the town of Amboy and reports
that the current owner is Albert Okura, who
is also the owner of the Juan Pollo restaurant
chain. Mr. Okura has expressed interest in restoring
Amboy's appearance to its 1950s heyday, a task
that would probably daunt most people.
Update 4/8/07: On April
2, 2007 Angela Paris Bauknecht of Rancho Mirage,
California stopped by the Amboy Shoe Tree and
captured the images below. In the one on the
left, the Amboy Crater is visible in the background.
Update 9/5/08:
Check out the recent growth on the Amboy Shoe
Tree! Thanks to Christian & Lyn Leyer of Quezon
City, Philippines, for snapping this shot on Valentine's
Day, 2008. {Apparently,
new shoe crops are tough on such trees -- look
how 1/2 of the tree is missing from the earlier
photographs}
Links:
Information
about the once-thriving community of Amboy,
California
History
and recipes from Roy's Café and Motel,
a nearby Route 66 icon
Other photos of the Amboy Shoe
Tree:
Paul
& Julie's: Photos from a visit in March,
2006
Swa
Frantzen: Image taken in 2005 Shows the
Amboy Crater in the background
Tom
Schweich: April, 2004
Scott
Dommin: March, 2003
[Map]
Photographed by
Mark Sedenquist
09/28/06
Posted on RoadTrip America 10/06
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