Free Agent Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I took my wifes Honda S2000 along with friends in their S2000's on the 50th aniv. James Dean run up the Pacific Coast. We stopped at the places Dean got gas, bought apples, recieved a speeding ticket, (some debate on that, but we take the CHP officers word on the location), the Porsche dealer where he (and my dad) bought their Porsches. We finally ended up at Deans famous fatal car wreck site in Cholome (pronounced shaalamm), Calif. I was contacted by a French writer who asked if she could accompany me and my friends and it was a really good trip. She was quite a character. But that's another thread for another time. My wife wanted me to take her on a historical car run too. So: My wife an I had a few days off and we decided to do a Clark Gable tour, and mix it in with a trip to Las Vegas in our new 2009 Z06 Corvette. I grew up in poor mans Encino Calif, but not too far from our tiny tract house, "South of the Blvd" was Clark Gables Ranch house. I'm guessing he had about 40 acres in citrus, nuts and some other fruit. Since sub-divided and sold off by his second widow. We drove up near 4580 Tara Drive to the still standing Clark Gable home. From here our adventure began. We took off for Las Vegas. Off the I 15 just before you enter Vegas,, we headed up Blue Diamond Hiway to the Good Springs tavern. You can spot a huge metal cross on the side of the mountain (southside of highway) just before the tavern. Legend has it (as told by the drunks at the bar) Clark Gable has it errected in memory of his wife the popular actress Carol Lombard, who's fatal plane crash was a few hundred yards away. Legend also has it (as told by the drunks at the bar), Gable drowned his sorrows at the "Famous Goodsprings Tavern" while the authorities brought down the remains of his wife. A piece of the DC3 wreckage was displayed at the tavern the time when we visited. You can hike to the site of the plane crash atop Mt Potosi. Molten aluminum, radial engines, and the landing gear of the TWA DC 3 still are at the site. It had just burned from a wildfire revealing a scattered pile of cool old airline aluminum serving trays and other DC3 odds and ends. We then headed South to Route 66. We stopped off at Oatman Arizona and had lunch at the Oatman Hotel. Different operators run the restaurant kitchen from time to time, so it's a crapshoot on the menu and quality. Every time we eat there it's good, and good entertainment anytime the restaurant and bar is open. If you open the side doors next to the stage, the Burros will walk into the restaurant. The bar owner will get sore at you though. Walk upstairs in the hotel, you can visit the Gable/Lombard honeymoon room open to the public. The couple stayed there the nite they got married: At dawn the next morning they left for LA, Gable had a late call that next evening to start filming Gone with the Wind. Final stop Forest Lawn Glendale Calif where lots of stars are burried: Clark Gables (former) home today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAlaskan Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Looks Like a good trip! I went to Oatman a few years ago with my Grandpa before he passed away. The room across the hall from the Clark Gable sweet is supposed to be haunted :ah: . I had my mom take some pictures of me in the room to see if there were any "guests" but nothing came up. Oatman's a cool little town to go check out for a day.....It would be a great trip on a motorcycle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Agent Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 Looks Like a good trip! I went to Oatman a few years ago with my Grandpa before he passed away. The room across the hall from the Clark Gable sweet is supposed to be haunted :ah: . I had my mom take some pictures of me in the room to see if there were any "guests" but nothing came up. Oatman's a cool little town to go check out for a day.....It would be a great trip on a motorcycle! Yeah, they mounted a fan outside the window to blow in to make the curtains look Hollywood scary. Huge waypoint for M/C's heading to Laughlin or doing a Route 66 run. I'm good for about an hour there, maybe once a decade. The town is starting to get cluttered with eyesores, loosing it's character. Another teriffic M/C stop is Fox's floating bar in Parker. Covered MC parking, great food on weekends. Owner is Spencer Lowe former Nissan off road champ. He gets out his Chevy V8 boss hoss and will do burnouts from time to time: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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