45. Munger Moss Motel Ramona Lehman FINAL

11/19/21 • 60 min

Ramona Lehman is just as iconic as The Munger Moss Motel and recently celebrated 50 years as the owner and operator of this Missouri Route 66 must see stop along The Mother Road.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about

How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66?
Honeymooning along Route 66
Early history of The Munger Moss Motel
Origin of the Munger Moss Name
Remembering her late husband, Bob Lehman
Helping businesses along Route 66 get established
The early days when Ramona arrived at The Munger Moss
Discovering garages that were once part of the motel
Ramona’s room recommendation at The Munger Moss
Long term residents at The Munger Moss
The Munger Moss: To sell or not to sell?
Will the children carry on the Munger Moss tradition?
The world famous Munger Moss Neon sign
Celebrating 50 years at The Munger Moss
Most memorable guests to walk through the door
Meeting the original owner many years later – Emmitt Moss
Maintaining the Munger Moss sign
Constant flow of picture takers along Route 66
Most popular Munger Moss items for sale in the lobby
Bob Lehman’s prized toy collection
The biggest challenge in 50 years at The Munger Moss
The very first in-ground pool in Lebanon, Missouri arrives at The Munger Moss
Ramona’s last vacation
Preserving Route 66 for future generations
Is Ramona as famous locally as she is with Route 66 travelers?
Ramona’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren visiting at The Munger Moss
Sales pitch for The Munger Moss 2021
Next item on Ramona’s Bucket list
A Ramona Lehman Revelation: Where hasn’t she been along Route 66? (The answer WILL surprise you!)
Long Live Route 66

LINKS

Article: Ramona celebrates 50 years on Route 66 (2021)

Article: Bob and Ramona celebrate 45 years on Route 66 (2016)

Website: Munger Moss Motel

Facebook Page: Munger Moss Motel

Video: Munger Moss featured on KYW News (2019)

Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters!

MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Joseph City, AZ – Probably one of the most iconic curio shops along Route 66, the famous Here It Is billboard and fiberglass jackrabbit in front of the store is reason enough to stop.... and say hello to Cindy and Antonio.
Jon B – Rhode Island
Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
Jim Crabtree – California
Mike Fort
Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
Kristin Haakenson – Washington
Rich Havlik – Minnesota
Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
Wendy Raschke – Texas
Brian Sawyer – Indiana
Evan Stern – New York

United Kingdom

Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon. Patreon members receive access to an additional 10 minutes of this episode, featuring the following content:

Long term residents and restrictions staying at The Munger Moss
Joining the Rotary Club and Ramona’s lucky streak
Ramona takes up cactus growing
Has the average guest heard of The Mung...

Ramona Lehman is just as iconic as The Munger Moss Motel and recently celebrated 50 years as the owner and operator of this Missouri Route 66 must see stop along The Mother Road.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about

How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66?
Honeymooning along Route 66
Early history of The Munger Moss Motel
Origin of the Munger Moss Name
Remembering her late husband, Bob Lehman
Helping businesses along Route 66 get established
The early days when Ramona arrived at The Munger Moss
Discovering garages that were once part of the motel
Ramona’s room recommendation at The Munger Moss
Long term residents at The Munger Moss
The Munger Moss: To sell or not to sell?
Will the children carry on the Munger Moss tradition?
The world famous Munger Moss Neon sign
Celebrating 50 years at The Munger Moss
Most memorable guests to walk through the door
Meeting the original owner many years later – Emmitt Moss
Maintaining the Munger Moss sign
Constant flow of picture takers along Route 66
Most popular Munger Moss items for sale in the lobby
Bob Lehman’s prized toy collection
The biggest challenge in 50 years at The Munger Moss
The very first in-ground pool in Lebanon, Missouri arrives at The Munger Moss
Ramona’s last vacation
Preserving Route 66 for future generations
Is Ramona as famous locally as she is with Route 66 travelers?
Ramona’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren visiting at The Munger Moss
Sales pitch for The Munger Moss 2021
Next item on Ramona’s Bucket list
A Ramona Lehman Revelation: Where hasn’t she been along Route 66? (The answer WILL surprise you!)
Long Live Route 66

LINKS

Article: Ramona celebrates 50 years on Route 66 (2021)

Article: Bob and Ramona celebrate 45 years on Route 66 (2016)

Website: Munger Moss Motel

Facebook Page: Munger Moss Motel

Video: Munger Moss featured on KYW News (2019)

Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters!

MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Joseph City, AZ – Probably one of the most iconic curio shops along Route 66, the famous Here It Is billboard and fiberglass jackrabbit in front of the store is reason enough to stop.... and say hello to Cindy and Antonio.
Jon B – Rhode Island
Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
Jim Crabtree – California
Mike Fort
Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
Kristin Haakenson – Washington
Rich Havlik – Minnesota
Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
Wendy Raschke – Texas
Brian Sawyer – Indiana
Evan Stern – New York

United Kingdom

Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

Jim Rensen

Long term residents and restrictions staying at The Munger Moss
Joining the Rotary Club and Ramona’s lucky streak
Ramona takes up cactus growing
Has the average guest heard of The Mung...

Previous Episode

44. Miami, OK: Final Resting Place for 15 British Training Pilots

During the early days of WWII, the Route 66 community of Miami welcomed over 2000 British Cadets as part of a training program to prepare pilots for combat over their homeland of England.

While most of these young cadets returned home to intense fighting and a country already ravaged by war, there were a few that never made it back home to their native soil. They were tragically killed while training in the states and have been forever laid to rest along Route 66 in the community of Miami, Oklahoma.

Laying these young men to rest on foreign soil attracted the attention of a local, Francis Mae Hill, who would over the next 40 years provide both flowers and prayers for these young men. Mrs. Hill knew the family members would not be able to visit their loved ones, so she voluntarily tended to their graves and promised family members back home that they would not be forgotten. She often considered the young men her boys, and her last wish was to be buried alongside her boys. King George VI would later award Mrs. Hill The King's Award for Service.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Nancy Bro, office manager at the GAR Cemetery in Miami, OK, about the life of these cadets and other notables buried in Miami. Highlights of the conversation include:

SHOW NOTES

Origin and network of GAR Cemeteries
Cemetery Tourism as an upcoming industry
The US agrees to a proposed program to train British in the US
The Spartan Flying School
Keeping the operation top secret in the early days
A sudden influx of British men with funny accents gathering in Miami- what’s going on?
How a Route 66 community welcomes 2000 men with open arms
British adjusting to American life while the war is raging back home
The final count laid to rest: 15 Cadets and a local woman
Kenneth Raisbeck: recreating the final flight of for the 70 year old son who he never met
Annual Remembrance Ceremonies at GAR
Origin of fatal accidents
Col Gale Halverson
- The Candy Bomber
Frantie "Francis" Mae Hill
- Mother of the boys buried in Oklahoma
Why should we care for British soldiers laid to rest in the US?
Honoring the British war dead in the states - justification and reasoning
Everlasting relationships cadets formed with locals
Local museums honoring the RAF cadets
- Dobson Museum
- NE OK College, Oklahoma
Other notables buried at GAR Cemetery
- Richard Kelton
- George Coleman
- Elvin and Lovell Mantle
- John Beaver
- Atha Cardin
- Charles Banks Wilson
- William Campbell
- Booger Red

LINKS

Website: GAR Cemetery, Miami, OK

Dobson Museum

Raisbeck Story and Flight

THE CANDY BOMBER: Colonel Gail “Hal” Halvorsen

CHARLES BANKS WILSON: Documentary (Notable artist buried at GAR Cemetery)

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 1

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 2

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 3

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 4

THE STEM CLASS PODCAST

with Anthony Arno

Dr. Frances Carter, a real life Rosie the Riveter

Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters!

MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX - Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
Gilligan's Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
Jon B - Rhode Island
Mary Beth Busutil - Florida
Jim Crabtree - California
Mike Fort
Route 66 author and photographer - Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
Kristin Haakenson - Washington
Rich Havlik - Minnesota
Mary Nicholson - Pennsylvania
Brian Sawyer - Indiana

United Kingdom

Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon. Patreon member...

Next Episode

46. The original London Bridge relocated to nearby Route 66

In 1967 American entrepreneur and land developer Robert McCulloch proposed purchasing the 136 year old London Bridge on the River Thames from the city of London as a publicity stunt. His goal was to attract potential land buyers to this remote region that today has a population of 50,000 residents and a wide range of recreational water activities. Many people thought McCulloch was a bit of an oddball to spend almost $10 million to purchase and reconstruct the historical bridge10,000 miles away from its original construction site, but his hunch paid off. The London Bridge is the second largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the Grand Canyon, and not too far from Route 66.

Robert McCulloch

The episode features a talk with both McCulloch's grandson and a leading Lake Havasu tour guide, providing insight into the wisdom of McCulloch who earned an Engineering degree from Princeton University and was a millionaire by the age of 30. While the Lake Havasu London Bridge stood over the River Thames for 130 years, earlier versions of the bridge date back to Roman times and one iteration housed several hundred residents and featured a display of beheaded criminals to at the tollgates.