Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, and Her Connection to the Historic Sycamore Inn on Route 66

The Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga was one of the last public sightings of the Black Dahlia before she was killed.
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, USA - Aug 17th, 2026 - Nearly 80 years ago, a young woman named Elizabeth Short reportedly stopped for dinner and dancing at the Sycamore Inn in Rancho Cucamonga.

Just weeks later, the 22-year-old would become the victim of one of the most famous unsolved murder cases in American history and forever be remembered by a name she received after her death: the Black Dahlia.

The Sycamore Inn, located at 8318 Foothill Boulevard along historic Route 66, has a history stretching back to the earliest days of travel through the Cucamonga area. The present building was constructed in 1920 and became known as the Sycamore Inn in 1939.

During the decades when Route 66 was one of America's principal highways, the Inn became a popular stopping place for travelers making their way through Southern California. Its history and folklore include movie stars, prominent personalities and other colorful figures who passed through the region.

Among the most intriguing is Elizabeth Short.

Historical accounts of the Black Dahlia investigation report that Jimmy Harrigan, a Navy veteran and civilian aircraft mechanic at the San Bernardino Army Air Base, was among the many people questioned by police following Short's death.

Harrigan reportedly told investigators that he had seen Short twice during December 1946. On December 2, 1946, after having drinks at a local bar, the two went to the Sycamore Inn for dinner and dancing.

Harrigan was questioned during the investigation but was apparently never considered a serious suspect.

Six weeks after the reported dinner at the Sycamore Inn, Short's body was discovered in a vacant lot in Los Angeles on January 15, 1947.

The brutal crime generated enormous national attention. The Los Angeles Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the FBI, which used fingerprints in its files to help identify Short.

Despite the extensive investigation, her killer was never found.

The mystery surrounding Elizabeth Short's death has endured for generations, inspiring books, films, documentaries and countless theories about what happened during the final weeks of her life.

The Sycamore Inn connection provides a small but fascinating Inland Empire chapter in that much larger story.

It also illustrates the unusual history that has passed through the doors of a restaurant situated along one of America's most celebrated highways.

Before Route 66 carried generations of motorists past the property, the road outside the Inn served earlier travelers moving between Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Stagecoaches eventually gave way to automobiles, and the roadway ultimately became part of historic Route 66.

The present Inn was built in 1920. In 1939, it was renamed the Sycamore Inn, and during the following decades became a well-known destination along the Mother Road.

Today, Elizabeth Short remains part of the Inn's history and folklore.

A photograph of Short hangs on the wall beside a booth that has become informally known as the "Black Dahlia Booth."

There is no evidence establishing that the booth is the actual booth in which Short sat during her reported December 1946 visit. Rather, the photograph and booth provide a reminder of the Sycamore Inn's connection to a story that continues to fascinate people nearly eight decades later.

Guests interested in the history may request the "Black Dahlia Booth" when making reservations, subject to availability.

About the Sycamore Inn

The Sycamore Inn Prime Steakhouse is located at 8318 Foothill Boulevard in Rancho Cucamonga, California, along historic Route 66. The current Inn was constructed in 1920, continuing a tradition of hospitality at the location stretching back to the early days of travel through the Cucamonga area. Today, the Sycamore Inn remains a working restaurant and one of Rancho Cucamonga's historic Route 66 landmarks. Fine Dining and Banquets - The Sycamore Inn [https://www.thesycamoreinn.com/]

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