A Disappearing American Original: The Roadside Rest Area

[n2doc]

MARK BYRNES
During a move from Los Angeles to Austin six years ago, photographer Ryann Ford kept coming across 20th century rest stops, each one different from the other. Humble in stature, these traditional rest areas, despite their charm, have become a relic of America's roadside past, unable to match the conveniences of modern day travel centers with their fast food restaurants, wireless internet, and large bathrooms.

On her website, Ford expresses disappointment in the nation's increasing preference for homogeneous travel centers, allowing rest areas to lose "the fight to commercial alternatives." We talked with her about her ongoing rest stop project, why they're so special to her, and the modern day travel centers that are replacing them along America's roads:

What inspired this project?

I started noticing these cute little roadside tables along the different Texas highways. We had the giant interstate rest areas in California, but it wasn’t until living here that I really started to notice rest areas. I noticed that a lot of them looked really old, some had cool mid-century architecture, some were really quirky, like they were shaped like a teepee or an oil derrick, or had a theme to them depending on the region you were in.


more
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2013/06/disappearing-american-original-roadside-rest-area/5783/

[olddots]

1. I've seen half a dozen in 40 years

we don't know what we've lost until it's gone .

[In_The_Wind]

2. The totally unique ones are wonderful to see.

[grilled onions]

3. Crime Did Not Help

More then once a solo family felt uneasy when a strange vehicle pulled into their picnic spot. Far away from the beaten path--no witnesses--it made that roadside picnic a quick affair as they hurriedly left within the safe zone of their cramped car.

[Arugula Latte]

4. We're defunding everything that made this country a good one.

Schools -- infrastructure -- trains -- parks -- rest stops ... on and on.

Good thing the military has untold billions to slaughter innocent people in Afghanistan, though.

[pipi_k]

5. There are still

plenty left in my area. As many as I remember from years ago, actually.

[sufrommich]

6. Are they literally just places to rest?

In Michigan a rest area means "here be bathrooms" although many of them are scenic and have picnic areas.

[n2doc]

7. A lot of them are just that

No bathrooms to speak of. But they are useful places to stop, have a snack, walk the dog, etc. Maybe even find a tree or bush if one has to. No plumbing makes them much cheaper to put in and maintain.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. DU Rec

[fizzgig]

9. the rest stops in iowa have wifi

or at least some of them do.

[PsychoBunny]

10. As long as they have nice bathrooms

I'm happy. And Wi-Fi is nice!