"The Last Stop" does far more than capture the remarkable and effective design of our nation's road stops; it preserves a moment in time that is quickly fading. This book highlights a unique period in the American travel experience when the journey was just as important as the destination. These modest structures did more than provide picnic tables; they shaped our collective experience of golden-age car travel across the vast United States.
In 2007, while on a solo road trip from California to central Texas, photographer Ryann Ford was struck by a recurring sight: humble, solitary rest stops. To most, these were a nondescript blur outside the car window, but the quirky rest stops on Ford's journey seized her attention. She encountered mock adobe dwellings in New Mexico, depression-era stone houses in Arizona, and faux oil rigs in Texas. This sparked her curiosity: what was the story behind these playful pieces of Americana?
Upon researching, Ford was alarmed to discover that these rest areas were being closed and demolished across the country. With countless commercial options at nearly every highway exit and states needing to cut expenses, many felt that these old rest stops were no longer necessary. Learning this news, Ford felt an urgency to capture as many as she could before they disappeared forever.
Ford dedicated years to this project, often ducking under fences, stepping over fallen trees, and hiking through snow to reach some of these iconic rest stops. Through her journey, she discovered that these stops are much more than toilets and tables. For decades, they have provided millions of travelers from around the world with rest, relief, hospitality, and nostalgia.
The states Ryann visited and featured in the book include New Mexico, Texas, California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana, Mississippi, Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Louisiana.