Amboy is an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, in California's Mojave Desert, west of Needles and east of Ludlow on historic Route 66.

[citation needed] In 1938, Roy's Motel and Café opened and prospered due to its isolated location on the route.

Its growth was tied not only to tourists, but also to the Santa Fe Railroad over which freight trains still run today between Kingman, Arizona and the BNSF Railway Barstow, California yard.

[citation needed] Amboy was once a major stop along the famous Route 66, but has seen much lower visitation since the opening of Interstate 40 to the north in 1973.

[citation needed] In 2007, the town reportedly had a total of 10 surviving buildings and a population of far fewer than the advertised 20, which, according to the Los Angeles Times, was approximately four.

[6] By 2024, however, the permanent resident population had declined to zero; only a single open business has kept Amboy from being declared a ghost town.

[citation needed] Together, they expanded the business, keeping it open 24 hours a day and adding the motel to the service station and café.

The complex was so busy during summer vacation that Burris placed classified ads in other states to bring in employees.

The town was owned by investors Walt Wilson and Tim White who mainly used it for photo shoots and to host movie companies.

Okura also planned to open a café and mini-mart at the same location;[10] as of 2014, the restaurant remained closed for lack of an adequate potable water supply.

Actors Harrison Ford and Anthony Hopkins have autographed photos on the walls of the restaurant and visit whenever their schedules allow.

The town's former owners Walt Wilson and Timothy White maintained Amboy in weathered, unrestored condition for use as a motion picture film site.

[13] A fictional version of Amboy complete with Roy's Hotel and sign was part of Ivan's rig and roll map for 18 Wheels of Steel Haulin'.