The Old Riverton Store Keeps Route 66 in Bloom

For Scott Nelson, the Old Riverton Store (7109 KS-66, Riverton, KS, 620-848-3330) is more than just a shop. It’s family. His aunt and uncle, Isabell and Joe Eisler, bought the store in 1973, although it had been open since 1925, making it one of the longest continuously operating businesses on the Mother Road.

Nelson started working at the store in 1974 as a teenager and purchased it from the family estate in 2010. Every year since, he’s worked to keep the old-fashioned general store welcoming and true to its roots—literally. “My Aunt Isabell taught me a lot of what I know about growing plants and flowers,” Nelson says, referring to the store’s sprawling outdoor display of cheerful blooms, something it’s become well-known for.

Though the Kansas portion of Route 66 is just over 13 miles long, Nelson sees visitors from all over the globe. “We had a family from Athlone, Ireland, stop in,” he recalls. “I know a family from that town with the same name as the travelers. They weren’t related, but they knew of them. Small world!”

As president of the Route 66 Association of Kansas, Nelson plays a crucial role in preserving the road’s past and future beyond his storefront. As one recent example, the organization helped secure a grant for sandblasting and repainting the historic Rainbow Bridge in Baxter Springs.

Each November, the association also hosts a Race Across Kansas half marathon. The only-in-Kansas event follows the exact 13.2-mile stretch of Route 66 from the Missouri state line to Oklahoma, effectively “crossing” the state.

Favorite Route 66 stop: Ollie’s Station Restaurant in Tulsa