What do Needles CA, Route 66 and Peanuts Have in Common?

Charles Shultz.

I posted on my social this past week “Did you know Charles Shulz creator of Peanuts used to live in Needles, CA? I had several responses with “Did not know that.”

In 1929, The Shulz family relocated to Needles, Ca for the drier climate. They had a family member in the area and that is the reason behind the choice for their destination. Charles Shultz was seven years old. They only resided there for one year before moving back to Minnesota. 

It must have made quite the impact on young Charles as he mentioned the area in his cartoon strips.

I did not know that Snoopy, Charlie Browns beloved pooch had five siblings. Spike is one and he is the mascot for the Needles Museum. You can have your photo taken with Spike and learn about him from the curators at the museum.

My brother was a big Peanuts fan. I donated his collection of books and memorabilia to the Needles Museum before the holidays last year. I don’t know if they will ever display any of the items. I figured they could sell the books off or something to raise funds for the museum.

The museum is run by volunteers and there is an attached thrift store next door, and all the proceeds go to the museum. The thrift store and items for sale in the museum are cash only.

The Needles Museum is located at 929 Front St, Needles, CA 92363, It is open Monday thru Saturday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. It is also one of the only original sections of Route 66, the route was moved, and the road was changed to Front Street. But back in the day, this section of road was part of the original highway.

If you are a Harvey House fan, take a walk across the street. Visit the El Garces Hotel. One of the original Harvey Houses is still standing and open for tours. I haven’t visited the establishment yet. I can’t provide any details. It’s on the list to visit.

This little section of Route 66 is a great stop and to pay a visit. We wintered near the area and visited several times. I do have to tell you that Needles doesn’t have minimal selection when it comes to groceries but has several restaurants in the area. Dollar General is about as close as you’re going to get for a market. No meat or produce, but shelf and frozen items. Also, have to mention California doesn’t provide bags for groceries pay the 10 cents or bring your own. Fort Mohave AZ has a Walmart and that is the closest. It’s only about 13 miles away, so not a big deal. They do provide bags. You can overnight in their parking lot for RV travelers. Busy area, so you have road noise. Plenty of campgrounds in the area.

Thanks for stopping by for a read. I appreciate you!

Until next week, Teresa