The proprietor of The Rock Cafe, Dawn Welch, is a Route 66 icon and was the inspiration for the character Sally Carrera in the CARS movie.  The Rock Cafe was constructed in 1939 from leftover sandstone rock that was used to construct Route 66.  Dawn talks with Anthony Arno all about her background and challenges that accompany running The Rock Cafe, including the day The Golden God paid a visit to the cafe, the development of her character in the movie CARS, and the fire that consumed the cafe and the decision to rebuild.

The Rock Cafe, Stroud, OK

Website: The Rock Cafe

Facebook Page: The Rock Cafe

Twitter: The Rock Cafe

(Despite devastation, the stove survived the fire and that was a sign to rebuild with family and friends)

Highlights of my talk with Dawn include:

• Original intention of opening a cafe in Costa Rica
• How rollerblading down Route 66 led to an offer to revitalize The Rock Cafe
• The infamous Betsy, the original 1939 Wolf grill at The Rock Cafe
• Decision to revamp the entire menu and reaction from locals
• The day a rock star spent an afternoon with Dawn and staff
• Initial interest from Pixar to include the Cafe in a proposed Route 66 movie
• The story behind the flickering neon sign and usage in CARS
• Announced and unannounced visits from the Pixar research crew
• The CARS Hollywood movie premiere
• Exactly what the movie CARS got right about Dawn
• CARS release and wide range of characters looking to meet the real character behind Sally
• 2008 fire and decision to rebuild
• Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives and maybe a reality show?
• The future of The Rock Cafe
• What would Dawn do differently next time?

The character Sally Carrera was inspired by Dawn Welch

A day in the life of Dawn Welch and The Rock Cafe

Local program highlighting the Cafe after the fire

Dawn sharing her recipe for Peach Cobbler and Jagerschnitzel