Take a scenic ride through the heart of Pulaski County as we follow a legendary 6-mile stretch of Missouri Route Z—better known to Route 66 fans as the road to Hooker Cut and Devils Elbow. This drive blends Ozark forest, roadside Americana, and engineering history into one unforgettable journey along a former alignment of the Mother Road.
We begin our drive at the junction of Missouri Route J and Route Z, just southeast of Powellville. From the very first curve, it’s clear we’ve stepped back into a more nostalgic era of highway travel. This segment of Route Z follows the path of historic U.S. Route 66, weaving westward through a corridor once filled with weary travelers and gleaming motor courts. The landscape is quintessentially Ozarkian—steep wooded hills flank the roadway as we approach the famed Hooker Cut. When it opened in the 1940s, Hooker Cut was a marvel: it was the first 4-lane segment on Route 66 in Missouri and showcased innovative road design, including rock shelf stabilization and curbing systems to manage water runoff. The deep cut through limestone was engineered to reduce grade and improve safety, allowing heavy Army convoys to pass more easily between Fort Leonard Wood and points west. Its scars remain dramatic, and driving between those weathered rock walls feels like entering a portal to mid-century America.
Just beyond Hooker Cut, we make a sharp left onto the original 1926 alignment of Route 66, narrowing to a two-lane road that snakes its way into the storied village of Devils Elbow. Tucked along a sharp bend in the Big Piney River, the town earned its name from a notoriously tricky logjam-prone curve. Today, it’s a quiet hamlet filled with relics of its former roadside glory. At the heart of it all lies the historic truss bridge, built in 1923 and still in use. Its rustic steel frame spans the Big Piney with grace, offering scenic views of the river and the rocky bluffs beyond. As we rumble over the deck, we pass under the shadows of old rock outcroppings, remnants of both nature’s handiwork and the roadbuilders who carved this path. Along the way, you’ll spot remnants of long-forgotten motels, vintage signs, and even the Devils Elbow Café, a favorite among both travelers and locals.
Climbing out of Devils Elbow, we rejoin the newer four-lane alignment of historic Route 66—this portion once again carrying Route Z toward the modern bustle of St. Robert. Just ahead, we pass an interchange with Interstate 44, the road that largely replaced Route 66. Yet despite its convenience, the interstate can’t match the character of the route we’ve just traveled. Within a few minutes, we arrive at one of the quirkiest landmarks on Route 66: the Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store. Equal parts kitsch and comedy, Uranus embraces its name with wild abandon, offering travelers a roadside experience that includes fudge, novelties, and a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. It’s the kind of place that defines modern Route 66 tourism—unapologetically weird, endlessly photogenic, and fiercely proud of its place in America’s roadside lore.
This short but rich stretch of Route Z stands as a living museum to the evolution of America’s roadways—from the gravel alignments of the 1920s to the daring cuts and four-lane improvements of the 1940s. It’s also a reminder that, sometimes, the detours off the main highway reveal the most memorable pieces of history. Whether you’re here for the engineering, the river views, or the fudge (from Uranus, of course), this drive offers a perfect slice of what makes Route 66—and the Ozarks—so special.
🗺️ Route Map
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