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Conn's Chevron
Conn's Cafe
Conn's One-Stop Service Station, Cabins, and Cafe in Amboy, California, was a key stop along historic Route 66, serving travelers crossing the Mojave Desert. The site, originally built by Ben Benjamin in the early 1930s, offered Chevron gasoline, a cafe, cabins, and a fountain. The cabins doubled as lodging for employees and weary travelers, creating a small oasis of comfort in the desert.
Route 66 eastbound - Conn's on right, Roy's on left
Ownership was passed to Martin and Joe Bender during World War II, who expanded the business, adding a store and personal residences. Amboy's post office was even housed here for a time, cementing the station's role as a hub for the small community. By the late 1940s, Constantinos ("Conn") and Lillian Pulos acquired the property, renaming it "Conn's." Conn expanded his business to include a Chevron gasoline distribution service with storage facilities next to the Santa Fe Railroad tracks.
Tragically, the main building was lost to fire in the early 1960s, leading the Pulos family to leave Amboy. Later, Luther Friend rebuilt the station, which remained in operation until Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66 in the early 1970s, causing a sharp decline in traffic. A second fire eventually destroyed the rebuilt structures, completely demolishing the site. Today, only a wide paved shoulder on the south side of National Trails Highway marks where Conn's once stood, just west of the present-day Roy's Motel and Cafe.
This history captures the evolution of one roadside stop, the broader story of Route 66, and its role in connecting travelers with remote desert communities.
National Old Trails Road
Route 66
Ecology
Santa Fe Railroad
Interstate 40
