Well, I went to the Bad Route Rest Area today. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MissFit29 · 06-17-2011, 11:57 PM

Just on a whim.

Seriously, though....my husband and I are travelling and we crossed into Montana from North Dakota, and I said, Hey, if we see this rest area, we have to stop! So, much to my surprise, we saw it and stopped. I took some photos and walked around a bit. It looks different now than it did in the segment.

What surprised me most it that it's RIGHT off the freeway. It looked like it was totally off the beaten path, but nope - it's right there. I'll try to post pictures - might have to wait until I'm home.

Gelatinous Goo · 06-18-2011, 12:25 AM

Poor Dexter. Hadn't he just lost his wife on a significant day the year before (I'm thinking Christmas Eve)? This case is one that, for inexplicable reasons, sticks with me from seeing the original broadcast. I remember being struck by how there was zero dialogue from the man portraying Stefonek.

Mysteryphile · 06-18-2011, 07:25 AM

wasn't the bad area rest stop where that man and his wife were in their RV and they were attacked...his wife was shot...he dived under the RV and lived....but his life was ruined anyway

Gelatinous Goo · 06-18-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysteryphile

wasn't the bad area rest stop where that man and his wife were in their RV and they were attacked...his wife was shot...he dived under the RV and lived....but his life was ruined anyway

No, that was a rest stop near Blind River, Ontario.

TheCars1986 · 06-18-2011, 09:58 AM

Is it still called "Bad Route Rest Area"? BTW, the title of this thread has got to be the greatest of all time.

zack007attack · 06-18-2011, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Goo

Poor Dexter. Hadn't he just lost his wife on a significant day the year before (I'm thinking Christmas Eve)? This case is one that, for inexplicable reasons, sticks with me from seeing the original broadcast. I remember being struck by how there was zero dialogue from the man portraying Stefonek.

Actually, the actor portraying Stefonek had dialogue with the man portraying Stefonek's son, right before he left on the trip back to Wisconsin. He said he needed to get back home for a little while, but would eventually be back in visiting his son and grandchildren more often.

MissFit29 · 06-18-2011, 10:37 PM

The exit is called Bad Route Road. Somebody had a picture of the road sign as their avatar on here at some point.

It's not that far away from civilization. I mean, there's not a ton of houses or buildings, but there's a town about 5 miles west. It's within an hour of Theodore Roosevelt national park in North Dakota.

I kind of think that Dexter witnessed some other crime committed by the man with the white truck. The AZ license plates are puzzling. Was this person from AZ? Did he flee for some other reason? Was Dexter even abducted from the rest stop? His body was found 17 miles away. How did the person even know where the landfill was (especially if he was from out of state)? This is all really puzzling and just SAD.

SageSlowdive · 06-19-2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissFit29

The exit is called Bad Route Road. Somebody had a picture of the road sign as their avatar on here at some point.

It's not that far away from civilization. I mean, there's not a ton of houses or buildings, but there's a town about 5 miles west. It's within an hour of Theodore Roosevelt national park in North Dakota.

I kind of think that Dexter witnessed some other crime committed by the man with the white truck. The AZ license plates are puzzling. Was this person from AZ? Did he flee for some other reason? Was Dexter even abducted from the rest stop? His body was found 17 miles away. How did the person even know where the landfill was (especially if he was from out of state)? This is all really puzzling and just SAD.

You need to post some pics!!

Steve W. · 06-19-2011, 09:42 AM

It's good that you are able to live to tell of it, OP.

It seems like the northwest had a lot of serial killers doing their horrible things in the '80's. I wouldn't be surprised if Stefonek's killer was someone like Charles Sinclair (who died of a heart attack in 1991). That guy literally would drive anywhere in the west portion of the US to do his inexplicable deeds (from Washington state down to Arizona or New Mexico).

hostedbyrobertstack · 06-19-2011, 01:49 PM

This thread is useless without pictures...You're killing us! haha.. I seriously am eager to see some real life pictures of this place.

nohwheregirl · 06-19-2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hostedbyrobertstack

This thread is useless without pictures...You're killing us! haha.. I seriously am eager to see some real life pictures of this place.

Man, you guys are impatient. Cut the lady some slack!

sdb4884 · 06-19-2011, 09:44 PM

I'd love to do a tour of Unsolved Mysteries crime scenes

MissFit29 · 06-20-2011, 12:46 AM

I will post pictures - I promise! I'm on the road right now, so I'd prefer to wait until I get home, but I will see what I can do from here. You guys might have to wait almost 2 weeks!

Anyone willing to help out with some screen captures from the episode for comparison purposes?

MissFit29 · 07-05-2011, 04:34 PM

Here's the view of the rest stop from the side closest to the road. This building looks like it's been rebuilt since the UM segment. The tree in the middle is blocking most of the building - sorry!

MissFit29 · 07-05-2011, 04:42 PM

This is the rest stop from the backside. Car traffic is directed to the back now - semi parking is on the front side where it appeared Dexter's car and the white/blue truck were parked.

06-17-2011, 11:57 PM	#1
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	Well, I went to the Bad Route Rest Area today. Just on a whim. Seriously, though....my husband and I are travelling and we crossed into Montana from North Dakota, and I said, Hey, if we see this rest area, we have to stop! So, much to my surprise, we saw it and stopped. I took some photos and walked around a bit. It looks different now than it did in the segment. What surprised me most it that it's RIGHT off the freeway. It looked like it was totally off the beaten path, but nope - it's right there. I'll try to post pictures - might have to wait until I'm home.

06-18-2011, 12:25 AM	#2
Gelatinous Goo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2010 Posts: 573	Poor Dexter. Hadn't he just lost his wife on a significant day the year before (I'm thinking Christmas Eve)? This case is one that, for inexplicable reasons, sticks with me from seeing the original broadcast. I remember being struck by how there was zero dialogue from the man portraying Stefonek.

06-18-2011, 07:25 AM	#3
Mysteryphile I wonder what happened to her. Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2009 Location: England via Iowa Posts: 320	wasn't the bad area rest stop where that man and his wife were in their RV and they were attacked...his wife was shot...he dived under the RV and lived....but his life was ruined anyway

06-18-2011, 09:58 AM	#5
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	Is it still called "Bad Route Rest Area"? BTW, the title of this thread has got to be the greatest of all time.

06-18-2011, 10:37 PM	#7
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	The exit is called Bad Route Road. Somebody had a picture of the road sign as their avatar on here at some point. It's not that far away from civilization. I mean, there's not a ton of houses or buildings, but there's a town about 5 miles west. It's within an hour of Theodore Roosevelt national park in North Dakota. I kind of think that Dexter witnessed some other crime committed by the man with the white truck. The AZ license plates are puzzling. Was this person from AZ? Did he flee for some other reason? Was Dexter even abducted from the rest stop? His body was found 17 miles away. How did the person even know where the landfill was (especially if he was from out of state)? This is all really puzzling and just SAD.

06-19-2011, 09:42 AM	#9
Steve W. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 03, 2010 Posts: 870	It's good that you are able to live to tell of it, OP. It seems like the northwest had a lot of serial killers doing their horrible things in the '80's. I wouldn't be surprised if Stefonek's killer was someone like Charles Sinclair (who died of a heart attack in 1991). That guy literally would drive anywhere in the west portion of the US to do his inexplicable deeds (from Washington state down to Arizona or New Mexico).

06-19-2011, 01:49 PM	#10
hostedbyrobertstack Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 23, 2007 Location: OH Posts: 436	This thread is useless without pictures...You're killing us! haha.. I seriously am eager to see some real life pictures of this place.

06-19-2011, 09:44 PM	#12
sdb4884 UM Meme Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 01, 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,234	I'd love to do a tour of Unsolved Mysteries crime scenes

06-20-2011, 12:46 AM	#13
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	I will post pictures - I promise! I'm on the road right now, so I'd prefer to wait until I get home, but I will see what I can do from here. You guys might have to wait almost 2 weeks! Anyone willing to help out with some screen captures from the episode for comparison purposes?

07-05-2011, 04:34 PM	#14
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	Here's the view of the rest stop from the side closest to the road. This building looks like it's been rebuilt since the UM segment. The tree in the middle is blocking most of the building - sorry!

07-05-2011, 04:42 PM	#15
MissFit29 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 526	This is the rest stop from the backside. Car traffic is directed to the back now - semi parking is on the front side where it appeared Dexter's car and the white/blue truck were parked.