Santa Rosa is of of the unique places in the Joad family's cross-country California adventures  in Steinbeck's novel.  Route 66 was famous as the 50’s song  "Get Your Kicks On Route 66" – “ an American popular song, composed in 1946 by Bobby Troup. and first recorded that same year by Nat King Cole.Troup conceived the idea for the song while driving west from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, California, and the lyrics — which include references to the U.S. highway of the title and many of the cities it passes through — celebrate the romance and freedom of automobile travel.  The lyrics read as a mini-travelogue about the major stops along the route, listing several cities and towns that Route 66 passes through.”

Photo Credit:  Photo by Lily Mak

 “Santa Rosa is an old Spanish town on the Pecos River, it began as a large Spanish rancho. Settled circa 1865 astraddle the Pecos River, Santa Rosa welcomed the first cattle drive north on the famed Goodnight-Loving Trail (1867).  It got its name in 1890 from a chapel built by Don Cleso Baca to honor his mother. In the early days of Route 66, 1926 through 1937, the old alignment of Route 66 left Santa Rosa to continue on towards Santa Fe, the capitol of New Mexico then drop back down to Albuquerque and Los Lunas. In late 1937 Route 66 was straightened out to go directly to Albuquerque and by pass Santa Fe completely. The story behind that new, shorter alignment to Albuquerque is as interesting as any you'll find along the Mother Road. Ah those were the days.”

 “Mention Route 66, and most people think of the 1960s television show of the same name and a southwestern highway littered with neon lights and gaudy, fiberglass mascots announcing garishly painted gas stations, diners, and motels. Today, the 2,448-mile stretch, once the quickest way to drive from Chicago to Los Angeles, seems to embody the ambition, optimism, and adventurousness of mid-20th-century America. But it also boasts a colorful history that extends as far back as the 1920s.”  Little did I realize I was living in a “famous place” when I spend some of my youthful childhood trying to adjust to the Mexican culture in a small New Mexico Town.  My father was actually the manager/chef of the Cliff house and Comet Drive In which became so famous in the history of the 50’s.  I well remember the Blue Hole (see related section below)  which was said during those days to be “bottomless,” and adventures into the hills outside the town, and the Pecos River seemed to be as large as the Mississippi River to a young child.

Today, Santa Rosa is complete with a Santa Rosa Campground for all the amenities of home and all the beauty of camping. Located on Historic Route 66, Santa Rosa Campground has 100 different sites for RV's and tents, with electric- including 50 amp services, water, sewer, cable and Insta-phone hookups . 70+ Pull-Thru Sites up to 90 feet long,  a High-Speed Internet Connection in the office, so you can log on when you get off of the road and check your e-mails or find directions to your next destination. There is also a cabin that provides a rustic outing and is a great relief to those interested in getting out of their camper for a night.  The campground is famous for their  Western Bar-B-Q Restaurant, which is open for dinner every night with home-style favorites to delight your taste buds.  To get in touch, make reservations, etc:  http://santarosacampground.com/   Santa Rosa Campground 2136 Will Rogers Drive, Santa Rosa, NM 88435  Phone: (505) 472-3126 Fax: (505) 472-3883 Toll Free: (888) 898-1999  santarosacampground@speakeasy

The Blue Hole:  “While the landscape around Santa Rosa is more semi-arid ranch country than desert, it's true! Santa Rosa is a scuba diving mecca. There's the famous Blue Hole, a geological phenomenon. The natural, bell-shaped pool is 80 feet deep and has astonishing clarity and a constant water temperature of 64 degrees. There's even a training platform at 20 and 25 feet.  A privately-operated dive center near the pool provides divers with tank refills, equipment rentals and is one source of permits to use Blue Hole for diving exercises. (Be sure to bring your PADI or NAUI certification papers in order to purchase a permit.) Permits can also be purchased at Santa Rosa City Hall, open 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Another diving attraction is a twin-engine plane 55 feet down at the bottom of nearby Perch Lake. This lake is primarily for advanced scuba training.  BLUE HOLE FAST FACTS

• Diameter-80' at surface, 130' at bottom
• Depth-over 80'
• Temperature-constant 64°
• Visibility-80' when undisturbed
• Flow-3,000 gallons per minute; water recycles every six hours
• Altitude-4,600' above sea level making the bottom equivalent of over 100' of depth in the ocean.”
• http://www.santarosanm.org/scubadiving.htm

Golfing at Santa Rosa:  With 310 days of sunlight a year, New Mexico is a golf lover's paradise.  While Santa Rosa’s Local and visiting golfers enjoy this challenging nine-hole course and fun driving range. In 1999 golfers saw $130,000 worth of improvements, including new landscaping, new equipment to improve fairways and greens, a new sprinkler system and a remodeled clubhouse.  Santa Rosa Golf Course, 121 North Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, NM 88435,  Phone 505 472-9987           Course:  9 holes, par 36.  Santa Rosa's Tres Lagunas, the city's nine-hole golf course.

Happy Traveling