Thomas Repp

Co-founder, American Road Magazine

Thomas Repp is the editorial director for American Road magazine, a quarterly print and digital magazine based out of Michigan. Focused on the country’s scenic and historic roads, American Road also serves as a source of connection for travelers and car culture enthusiasts.

Thomas Repp American Road 2

In conversation with Roadrunner editor, Monika Dziamka.

What does Route 66 signify for you?

Perspective. Route 66 is like a large clock with a center stripe running down its middle. Whether you’re driving it for your first time or your one hundredth, it will fill your mind with thoughts of the past. You can’t help but meet your younger self out there. Start down Route 66, and it’s Destination: Yesterday.

What is one of your favorite spots along Route 66 in Albuquerque?

The KiMo Theatre. Years ago, I had the honor of introducing a screening there of John Ford’s seminal film The Grapes of Wrath. The setting brought so much to the screening because the audience was filled with Route 66 aficionados, and every one of them was waiting for that point in the picture when they could imagine the Joads puttering past just outside.

Kimo Theatre Downtown

The KiMo Theatre. Photo courtesy of Dirt Road Travels.

Describe a memory you have of Route 66.

When I was 15, my parents were on the brink of a messy divorce. The family was in a bad place, but for some reason, we decided to vacation in the Southwest. I’m a Detroiter by birth, so in the 1970s—the time when this took place—I was well acquainted with interstate highways. But in the Southwest, Route 66 had not yet been completely bypassed by the new super slabs. As we drove along, we were obliged to join the old two-lane over and again. My parents, sitting in the front seat, had unfolded a Rand McNally map, and here and there they would say, “Oh, we have to get back on the route up ahead.” I didn’t understand what “the route” was at the time, but I learned quickly that I liked it. Every time we joined this “route,” there were interesting sights to see from my window—trading posts, giant arrows stuck in the ground, neon signs that moved. All of it fueled my imagination at 15. Years later, I drove through the Southwest on my way to graduate school. I rediscovered Route 66, and I recognized it as the road I’d fallen in love with decades earlier. I’ve been a Mother Road regular ever since.

Tell us about American Road’s connection to Route 66 in New Mexico. Are there any special moments, events, article behind-the-scenes moments, experiences, or anything else you can share with us?

We introduced the inaugural issue of American Road—Volume 1, Number 1 of our magazine—at the National Scenic Byways Conference that was held in Albuquerque in 2003. It was exhilarating. I remember heading to the Dog House on Central Avenue for a footlong with chili.

What is a must-see in Albuquerque that you would recommend to fellow Route 66 enthusiasts?

Petroglyph National Monument on the city's west side. It's too often overlooked. It may not have the neon flash of the best Route 66 attractions, but no place better captures the spirit of the region and the timelessness of the land through which the road runs.

A collection of petroglyphs carved into a rock at Petroglyph National Monument

Petroglyphs at Petroglyph National Monument. Photo courtesy of Verna Wood.

What’s a birthday wish you have for Route 66?

I’d like to think that sometime this year, another kid will take his first ride down Route 66 to start a lifelong journey riding the old road. I am also hoping the KiMo Theatre will screen The Grapes of Wrath again to mark the milestone. I’ll be heading through Albuquerque sometime in July for another footlong chili dog at the Dog House. I’m sure I’ll leave with another car full of memories.

Dog House at Night

The Dog House Drive In at night. Photo courtesy of City Photoshelter.