In all of my years exploring Route 66, my biggest conundrum has always been, “Which direction do I want to go this time?” It is a true blessing to have such a historic highway running right through the center of Amarillo, the largest city in the Mother Road’s midsection. I have found myself on more than one occasion flipping a coin: arid desert or lush, humid greenery?
Route 66 covers about 180 miles as it traverses the Panhandle, and for anyone wanting to get a basic primer on 66, it is possible to do it all in one day, although the journey can be broken into halves. It just depends on how granular you want your expedition to be. There’s food, dessert and beverages to be considered, and, well, these things can take time.
While most Texas 66 journeys include steaks and Cadillacs, there are many other fine sites to see and taste. Route 66 marks its centennial next year and Amarillo hosts another Texas Route 66 Festival this June. There is no finer time to shower it with some love. Without further ado, here are my Top Six stops across the Panhandle. You may recognize some of them.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!
In keeping with the tradition of Route 66 being about westward expansion, we’ll start our journey in Shamrock in the far eastern reaches of the Panhandle. It is at the corner of Route 66 and US Highway 83 where the Tower Station complex was built in 1936. It featured gasoline, a service bay and a cafe. Today, it contains a visitor center, gift shop and the recently reopened U-Drop Inn Cafe. Be sure to sit at Elvis’ table.
What I love about this Art Deco masterpiece—complete with faux neon LED outlining—is the impression it made upon Pixar executives earlier this century. While on their cross-country fact-finding missions prior to even writing a script for the Cars movie, they fell in love with the structure, and wove it into the story of Radiator Springs.
It was known as Ramone’s in the movie, but the depiction is unmistakable. Its namesake owner repaired, painted and added decals to cars in the storyline, and while today’s offerings include a light meal, souvenirs and stories, it is a quaint glimpse into both history and pop culture.
About 15 minutes west is McLean, where one of the quirkiest museums provides a glimpse into the rich ranching history of the area. The Devil’s Rope Museum houses thousands of barbed wire specimens—some common and others rare—that have been used to keep mine and yours separated. The building was once a brassiere factory (cue the “uplifting” jokes). As an added bonus, the Texas Route 66 Museum shares space inside, featuring more than 700 artifacts from our portion of the Mother Road.
A few miles west of Alanreed and just south of I-40 by way of Texas 70 are the remains of the Jericho ghost town. It was established as a station along the old Rock Island Railway in 1902, but while it became a major cattle shipping point, its population never exceeded 100. There were once a few farmhouses, a school, post office, hotel and a tourist court with a gas station. Today, only the court and one farmhouse survive on the townsite. Amarilloans Blair and Blanca Schaffer bought the entire town in 2020, and today do extensive gardening there on a subscription basis. They have plans to add a campground.
Meanwhile, ponder the east-west dirt road that was originally 66, and how the Jericho Gap—the storied section of the highway never paved and known for its mud bogs—instilled fear in early travelers. After a good rain today, it can still do much the same. A new Texas Historical Marker is coming soon.
4. Amarillo Sights and Sites
I can’t leave out Amarillo, which hosts more than 20 miles of Route 66—both the early and later versions—within the city limits. My faves include the stretch of the Boulevard (around Northeast Eighth Avenue) between the historic Triangle Motel and running west to Pierce Street, where some of the city’s best international cuisine can be found, along with old signs.
While passing through downtown, be sure to admire the long-abandoned Herring Hotel. It opened on Dec. 31, 1926, only 50 days after the christening of Route 66. Finally, along SW Sixth Avenue, behold Amarillo’s truly bohemian San Jacinto neighborhood between Georgia and Western streets, where antique stores, watering holes, art galleries and great food await.
5. Vega Museum and Magnolia Station
The Milburn-Price Culture Museum is one block off 66 in Vega, a surprising gem in a town whose business district was bypassed by a later version of 66, and then Interstate 40. The original road, though, came through downtown and then headed west. The museum’s collection spans more than a century of history and culture in Oldham County. Don’t miss the restored Magnolia Station, either.
6. Pie and Midpoint in Adrian
By now you’ve probably worked up another appetite, and the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian comes through with burgers and world-famous pie. The Dream Maker Station offers souvenirs next door. Adrian serves as the ceremonial midpoint of 66; it’s close enough not to worry. Fran Houser, former owner of the cafe, also inspired the Pixar folks, who created the character Flo in her personage.
In fact, Flo was Ramone’s wife in Cars, meaning that the animated couple serves as fitting bookends for our little tour of Texas 66. Take your pick. Go east. Go west. Just get your kicks.
Route 66 historian Jim Ross has created the best online map series of the old road. It can be found at JimRoss66.com. Jerry McClanahan’s EZ66 Guide provides a spiral-bound tome of history and turn-by-turn directions. I highly recommend both. As always, check online for days and hours of operation. Some of these establishments are seasonal.
