Most People Have Long Forgotten About This Vacant Ghost Town In Rural Missouri
When Route 66 was born on April 20, 1926, cities along the two lane highway flourished. This 2,448 mile long highway connected Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California and became a popular among travelers looking to get a glimpse of the west. However, as interstates were constructed and Route 66 was rerouted and eventually abandoned, many little towns were suddenly cut off from society. As visitors drove by without a second glance, many of these little towns disappeared from the maps. By now, most people have forgotten about the tiny ghost town of Arlington, Missouri. Do you remember this Route 66 river town?
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Located just minutes from Rolla, Missouri and Fort Leonard Wood Military Base. This little town was established in 1867 and was a popular resort town.
Arlington once had a post-office general store, hotel, drug store, and a mill. A few of the businesses were still operational when then photo was taken in 1981.
Sadly, by the 1950s the town was in decline. Route 66 was widened and rerouted away from the town. By 1967, the town was completely bypassed by Interstate 44.
Another major attraction in Arlington was Stony Dell Resort. The river resort was popular among travelers of Route 66 and service men at Fort Leonard Wood. The resort featured small cabins, a service station, a restaurant, tennis courts, and a spring fed pool.
Most of Stony Dell Resort was destroyed when Interstate 44 came through Arlington. What's left of the resort now silts vacant while slowly deteriorating.
Currently only 20 residents live in the former town of Arlington. The last business closed in 2008. The town is now technically a part of Newburg, Missouri. However, you can still get a glimpse of this ghost town if you're curious.
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
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