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Front of U Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock. ('97) |
Full view of U Drop Inn. ('03) |
Close up of top of pillar. Faded 'CONOCO' is painted on the side. ('99) |
Shamrock Route 66 Banner. ('99) |
Renovations in progress. ('03) |
A closer view. ('03) |
VR Panorama of the 'U Drop In' in Shamrock. ('07) |
Leaving Shamrock, there are some interesting ruins. Restaurant? ('08) |
And the remains of a motor court. ('08) |
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Danger, Danger, Will Robinson! Two days before we passed here, a tornado crossed over 66 and destroyed a small house and grove of trees. ('97) |
Wiped out tree (with clothes hanging from it). ('97) |
West of town, 66 returns to 2-lanes. ('08) |
'RATTLESNAKES, EXIT NOW' sign west of Shamrock. ('03) |
66 continues as the south side frontage road. ('08) |
Entering McLean. ('08) |
66 rounds a curve into town. ('08) |
Remains of 66's heyday line the road. ('08) |
Not much left at the east boundary of town. ('08) |
Another abandoned building downtown. ('08) |
Restored Phillips 66 station in McLean. ('97) |
An updated photo. It looks like someone is keeping the restored building up (and really likes orange paint). ('08) |
A wider shot of the entire facility. ('08) |
Heading west out of town on the newer alignment, more abandoned buildings. McLean is also the stepping off point for the older 'Jericho Gap' alignment. Instead of heading west out of town, turn left at the old downtown (brick pavement) and head south of town. ('08) |
Some have been repurposed though. ('08) |
Cactus Inn in McLean. ('97) |
East end of the infamous original Route 66 Jericho Gap southwest of McLean (looking to the west). ('99) |
VR Panorama of the entry into the Jericho Gap. ('07) |
Curve in dirt 66 near railroad tracks. ('99) |
 Sign at cemetery outside Alanreed. ('01) |
Restored 'Super Service' Texaco in Alanreed. ('99) |
West side of 'Super Service' Texaco. ('99) |
VR Panorama of the intersection of dirt Jericho Gap 66 and the newer paved 66. ('07) |
VR panorama of the restored Super Service Texaco at the intersection. ('07) |
Marker on Alanreed Texaco. ('99) |
Coming into Alanreed on the newer 66 alignment. ('06) |
Alanreed Jail at gas station. ('97) |
Since the '97 trip, I hadn't been able to find the Alanreed jail, but this time I noticed that it has been relocated to in front of the Alanreed Post Office and is now a beer advertisement. ('08) |
VR Panorama of the end of the paved 66 west of Alanreed. A little further on 66 goes onto private land. |
VR Panorama of the gullies north of the new Texas themed rest stop across the interstate. |
VR Panorama taken on the north side of the main rest-stop building. ('07) |
VR Panorama taken inside the main building. There is a big display with historical |
Piece of Jericho Gap Dirt 66 west of Alanreed on private property. A fenceline runs down the middle now. ('99) |
VR Panorama of where the dirt Jericho Gap 66 exits private property and turns south along the section line. ('07) |
Culvert on abandoned piece of dirt 66. ('99) |
Current road has shifted north of this abandoned piece of dirt 66. ('99) |
VR Panorama of downtown Jericho. There was a historical marker that refers to a cemetery nearby but I couldn't locate it. ('07) |
West end of the Jericho Gap (dirt 66). ('99) |
VR Panorama of the end of current dirt Jericho Gap 66 where it T's into the newer paved 66. It appears there may be some more reminants on the other side of the interstate but the McJerry maps show that the interstate keeps cutting them on the way into Amarillo. ('07) |
Britten USA leaning water tower on east side of Groom. ('97) |
Close up of the leaning water tower from the west side. ('99) |
David and Michelle at the Britten USA leaning water tower. ('99) |
A much older Michelle at the leaning tower. ('08) |
The truck stop sign west of the tower. ('08) |
The truck stop parking lot entrance has been blocked off with a fence and tank trailer. No more photo ops as it is involves some walking now to get close to the tower. ('08) |
VR Panorama of the Britten USA Truck Stop (now closed) parking area. |
Heading into Groom. ('08) |
Some 66 businesses have survived. ('08) |
Some have not. ('08) |
Ruins of a motel on the west end of town on the road that heads for the Groom Cross. ('08) |
Giant Cross, the largest in the western U.S., on west side of Groom taken from 66. ('01) |
A better view of the cross from the I-40 side. ('03) |
VR panorama from the east side of the Groom Cross. I had never stopped before so I thought I would check it out this time. ('07) |
VR Panorama of the north side of the base. |
VR Panorama taken from the west side of the base. ('07) |
VR Panorama taken from the top of the hill on the west side. ('07) |
VR Panorama taken inside of the building that houses the offices and gift shop. ('07) |
VR Panorama taken northeast of the Groom Cross. ('07) |
Heading towards Amarillo, the remains of Conway are passed. ('08) |
The 'Bug Ranch' in Conway is an amusing play off of Amarillo's 'Cadillac Ranch'. ('10) |
Another old vehicle can be seen hiding behind the shack. ('10) |
When you get to Conway (on '66 natch), head North towards I-40 and you will find the Bug Ranch near the on-ramp. ('10) |
Original Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo. A big thunderstorm (complete with tornado cloud) was rolling in so we took a couple of pix from the road and ran for it. ('97) |
The Cadillac Ranch at it's new location a little further west of Amarillo. ('03) |
Oblique view of the Ranch. ('99) |
You are taking me where? ('03) |
You get to paint these? Where are my crayons? ('03) |
1,2,3,4......... ('03) |
Is it ever NOT windy in Texas? ('03) |
I didn't remember there being a plaque the last time we were here. ('03) |
There is so much paint it is hard to read. ('03) CADILLAC RANCH (C) Created by Ant Farm Stanley Marsh 3 / Owner In May 2002, Cadillac Ranch, one of the most recognizable Update: There is no sign of the plaque now. |
Close up of the Caddys. They're showing some wear and tear. ('99) |
Time to go. ('03) |
A shot from the interstate. The ranch is still a popular stop with plenty of people stopping by to add their personal messages. ('08) |
True Texas litter at the Ranch. ('99) |
VR Panorama from south of the Cadillac Ranch. ('07) |
VR Panorama on the north side. ('07) |
VR Panorama taken from further north. ('07) |
VR Panorama taken between two of the Cadillacs. ('07) |
VR Panorama of the Cadillac Ranch taken halfway back to the entry. ('07) |
VR Panorama of entry gate to the Cadillac Ranch. The road itself has become a work of art as people |
Texas Humor across from the Ranch. ('03) |
More Texas humor on 66. ('99) |
Not much left in Bushland other than the grain silo. ('08) |
Same for Wilderado but there are some businesses on the other side of the interstate. ('08) |
Entering Vega. ('08) |
Numerous remains of 66 related businesses can still be found. ('08) |
A relocatable on the Route. ('08) |
The Vega Motel is still in business. ('08) |
A dead Shell station. ('08) |
A new Mexican cuisine restaurant. ('08) |
Coming into Landergin on 66. ('08) |
Route 66 Cafe in Landergin. At one time this cafe held one of the most extensive collections of Original Route 66 collectables. Now sold. ('97) |
Original dirt 66 road culvert west of Gruhlkey. ('01) |
Another Dirt-66 culvert along the north side of paved Route 66. ('08) |
Entering Adrian, known as the mid-point on Route 66. ('08) |
Nearing the old downtown strip. ('08) |
New on the west end of Adrian. ('03) |
The pickup has been relocated. It doesn't look like the Texas Bar-B-Q has been able to make a go of it. ('08) |
Bent Door Cafe in Adrian. Corner of building was constructed out of surplus airport control tower. ('97) |
Updated photo of Bent Door Cafe. Looking better! ('99) |
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Not sure what the status is now. All of the activity seems to have ended and it is abandoned again. ('03) |
Another shot of the Bent Door Cafe. Still not open but it always looks like it is on the verge of something. ('08) |
Adrian still has some abandoned buildings but even they are maintained. ('08) |
Approaching the west end of town. ('08) |
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The Fabulous 40 is back in business. ('08) |
The MidPoint Cafe is still looking good. ('08) |
How the Midway Cafe used to look. ('97) |
The MidPoint Cafe has been fixing things up. ('03) |
And the building is cleaned up. ('03) |
A new logo. ('03) |
The MidPoint Cafe was awarded a Hampton Roadside Attraction. ('08) |
Save room for dessert at the MidPoint. ('08) |
A reproduction sign put up next to the big Route 66 Mid Point sign across the street. ('08) |
The MidPoint was hopping when we got there. There was a big group of 66'ers from Japan here for lunch. ('08) |
Something new this trip; they have a pickup next door for customers to sign. ('08) |
I think the group from Japan was driving these. ('08) |
We crossed paths with the Moeur family again at the MidPoint (and not for the last time). ('08) |
They were out of kids size shirts so Michelle made one of her own. ('03) |
A VR Panorama taken from the parking lot of the MidPoint Cafe in Adrian. As always, it is crowded. ('08) |
A VR Panorama from the inside of the MidPoint Cafe in Adrian. The MidPoint has |
Sign in Adrian marking the mid-point of Route 66. ('97) |
New Midpoint Sign in Adrian. ('03) |
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First of a series of interesting signs in Adrian. Not quite sure what they mean but they are obviously the work of a warped mind! ('99) |
A poet on '66. ('99) |
Ummmmmm, OK..... ('99) |
The point being........? ('99) |
VR Panorama of a Texas FFA Welcome sign on old 66 east of Glenrio. |
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