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Travels With Randy PodcastAuthor: Randy Smythe and Kevin Harmon
Randy Smythe has decided to retire at age 59 and spend an entire year traveling across the United States with the goal of visiting every US National Park. Our weekly podcast will follow Randy and get weekly updates on where he's been, what he's seen, and who he's met - as well as sprinkle in some retirement planning advice, income stream ideas, and e-commerce news and discussion with his good friend Kevin "Bubba" Harmon. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Places & Travel, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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TWR Route 66 Ep 13: Missouri, Joplin To Springfield
Episode 13
Tuesday, 14 April, 2026
Travels With Randy Route 66 Episode 13 is here! Missouri, Joplin To Springfield Route 66 Missouri Trip Discussion Bubba and Randy discussed Randy's recent Route 66 trip through Missouri, focusing on the section from Joplin to Springfield. They covered the challenges of navigating different route alignments and the unique attractions along the way, including a stop at Gay Parita in Missouri. Randy explained that Joplin has become more of a tourist trap over time, with Route 66 originally passing through downtown rather than the newer attractions. Route 66 Decommissioning History Randy and Bubba discussed the history of Route 66, focusing on how different states decommissioned parts of the route before national decommissioning in the 1980s. Beth clarified that Missouri's segment was reduced towards Springfield rather than as far west as Joplin, and that California's segment was one of the last to be decommissioned. The conversation highlighted how Route 66's significance declined over time due to factors like the Great Depression, World War II, and the rise of interstates, though efforts continue to preserve its cultural heritage. Route 66 Trip Highlights Randy shared details about his Route 66 trip, highlighting notable stops including Boots Court in Carthage, which has been renovated and serves as a popular accommodation for travelers. He discussed Spencer, Missouri, where someone purchased the entire town for restoration, and mentioned visiting other towns like Webb City and Carterville, which have mining history and unique landmarks like the Miner's Bank building from 1907. Randy noted he missed some interior photos during the initial trip and planned to return in the fall for more comprehensive documentation. Route 66 Historic Gas Station Randy shared photos of Route 66 drive-ins and discussed visiting a historic Sinclair gas station in Perida, Missouri, which has been family-owned for over 60 years. He interviewed George, who runs the station with his wife Barbara, learning that the property originally operated as a cattle ranch before becoming a gas station in 1926. The conversation highlighted the challenges of preserving historic Route 66 sites, with many towns along this "ghost stretch" of the highway now having minimal remaining landmarks. Route 66 Travel Experience Randy shared details about his recent Route 66 visit, including a stop at Gay Parita in Parita, Missouri, where he met a local character named George. He discussed the Route 66 Auto Museum in Springfield, which featured notable vehicles like the Batmobile and Ghostbusters ambulance. Randy also provided advice about navigating Route 66, suggesting that travelers follow multiple signs and explore different alignments to avoid missing attractions. Route 66 Travel Plans Discussion Randy discussed his upcoming travel plans, including visiting a car museum and exploring Springfield, Missouri, which is the birthplace of Route 66. They shared details about Springfield's historical sites, including an old barbershop and a museum dedicated to Route 66, as well as recommendations for dining at the College Street Cafe. Randy also noted the well-maintained condition of infrastructure in Missouri and Oklahoma compared to other states along Route 66. Route 66 Travel Discussion Randy and Bubba discussed Randy's recent Route 66 travel experiences, including visits to Uranus Fudge Factory and Merrimack Caverns in Missouri. He highlighted the inconsistent signage along Route 66 across different states, noting Missouri's unique blue historical Route 66 signs. The conversation also touched on the history of Steak and Shake, founded in Springfield, and the challenges of engaging with people who deny established scientific facts about space exploration. The conversation ended with plans for Randy to share photos from Springfield and the upcoming stretch to St. Louis, and he discussed an upcoming product launch related to Route 66 history. SO. MANY. PHOTOS - Come join the conversation on Facebook with our 33,000 friends! https://www.facebook.com/travelswithrandypodcast Have a great idea for the guys? Want to sponsor us? Want us to sell something National Park or Route 66 related? Want to be a guest? Want to pay for both of us to go to Alaska? Want me to stop asking questions? bubba@travelswithrandypodcast.com !!
