Abandoned Route 66 Famous Hooker Cut-Missouri 1943 four lane highway? Read Why!!

[phyllis1753]

Cool. I was born in Fayetteville, AR in '53 and my dad's folks lived in Alton, IL so we'd regularly go up for visits on US 66 between Springfield and STL. I can still remember this stretch of road watching your vid; and it's been 50 years since I was last on it.

[mahpiohazi]

Again, this a great video with a wonderful explanation of Hooker Cut. But the repeated usage of the word 'abandoned' as well as using 'abandoned' in the title in order to just get views is, well, not really necessary. Any Route 66 enthusiast looking for 'not so well known' alignments is going to check out your video. I was just on Hooker Cut yesterday and it's by no means abandoned. Is it extremely 'original'? By all means yes, it's like a time machine. But abandoned? No.

[mahpiohazi]

Great video but this portion is not 'abandoned'. It's still in use, otherwise the blue Route 66 Byway signs would not be posted there....nor would it be mowed. For a truly abandoned section of Route 66, try near Vernelles and John's Modern Cabins....the section is only about 1/10th of a mile, not mowed, dead ends into weeds. You will also find abandoned original highway 44. Treat it well.

[theqman1956]

@mahpiohazi sorry I get more views with that keyword...sometimes you have to use artistic license

[pci7763]

thats cool being on the highway all by yourself

[mrforrrest]

Looks like someone has been mowing the grass --- so it can't be totally abandoned. And there are driveways intersecting. My guess is that it's being maintained by the county or other local government.

Anyway, good video --- and I'm guessing that's the original 1941 concrete.

[theqman1956]

@mrforrrest You're right...the word Abandoned gets me more views.... Loved doing the video

[loungelizard5000]

Wow...thanks for sharing this.....I drove this road while stationed at Ft Leonard Wodd back in the 80's. I believe it was just out the back gate. Brings back some memories !

[jdizzlelindsay]

I grew up in Devil's Elbow and often rode my moped along that road many times to and from my friend's house. They repaved the OLD RT 66 thats up on the hill from the 4 lane section. I wouldn't call the road abandoned by any stretch of the word however. Its just a small area. People live in St. Robert, Waynesville, or Ft. Leonard Wood...not In Devil's Elbow or Hooker anymore. Just the old locals. The State still fixes pot holes and such on the road but heavy duty maintenance isn't needed.

[scottiebobson]

Has this road been repaved since 1941?!

[whatihave2do]

It's a nice cut. That old concrete road sure looks rough. With such little traffic I bet it won't get fixed. I like the old concrete roads though.

I hope one day to travel to Pa to check out the abandoned turnpike with the two tunnels. One is over a mile long I hear.

[390merc65]

@whatihave2do you heard right...i live in pa,,and have been to the abandoned turnpike 3 times..sideling hill tunnel is about a 1.1/4 miles long...its ironic...on that stretch of old turnpike is the longest and the shortest tunnels built and they are about 5 miles from each other ...it's worth a trip there,,,and if you go..take a very good flashlite with you ,,sideling hill tunnel is so long if you stand at one end ,,you can not see the other side

[almadenmike]

FYI .. A link to this video has been posted on the Route 66 News blog: (h t t p -- colon-slash-slash -- rwarn17588.wordpress - dot - com/2010/08/06/a-cruise-throug­h-hooker-cut/

[theqman1956]

I'll take that as a compliment!

[WhoSaidTyler]

Poured concrete highways were very common back then. The fact that it's still drivable is amazing.

[Amiduffer]

A little hot top, and folks would probably use it again. How can a road be abandoned? State refuses to maintain it?

[theqman1956]

"decommissioned" would probably be a better word. (not a good keyword!)

amazing it was never black-topped.