We left Amarillo at 7:40 this morning, anxious to be on our way. It was 74 degrees and headed up.
The first stop was at a rest area near Groom, Texas. We had seen signs for a "safe rest area" but didn't know what it was. When we went inside, we found out why...it's a tornado shelter for travelers! It was really nice and then had safe rooms on each end.
Rest area - Groom, Texas
The safe room had benches on each side.
The rest area was also a mini museum with
Route 66 memorabilia.
We stopped in McLean, Texas. Here, an old Phillips 66 gas station has been restored by volunteers. If we're ever here again, I'd like to go to the Devil's Rope Museum. The museum has a small selection of more than 8,000 different types of barbed wire.
Renovated Phillips 66 station in McLean.
Phillips 66 gas truck in McLean.
Our next stop was in Shamrock, Texas. The U-Drop Inn, also known as Tower Station and U-Drop Inn and Tower Cafe, was built in 1936 along the Route 66 highway. It has traditionally held two separate businesses: "Tower Station", a gas station on the western side, and the "U-Drop Inn", a cafe on the eastern side. In 2006 animated film Cars, the cartoon village of Radiator Springs was based on multiple real Route 66 landmarks from Peach Springs to Baxter Springs; the U-Drop Inn's distinctive architecture appears as Ramone's automotive body and paint shop.
Tower Station and U-Drop Inn
Tower Station
Inside U-Drop Inn
And, of course, Elvis had been here!
Mural in Shamrock, Texas
The water tower in Shamrock was constructed in 1915 at a cost of $6,560. It is believed to be the tallest structure of its class in the state. The tower's height is estimated to be between 172 to 176 feet tall. It was built to withstand the strong Panhandle winds.
Shamrock Water Tower
Shamrock water tower
Water trough
Magnolia Gas Station in Shamrock. It has 3
restored gravity feed gas pumps outside.
Oklahoma - #14
We stopped in Sayre, Oklahoma to see the Beckham County Courthouse, one of the few courthouses in Oklahoma topped by a large dome. The courthouse was featured fleetingly in the movie The Grapes of Wrath.
Beckham County Courthouse, Sayre, Oklahoma
Courthouse dome
On the courthouse lawn
The next stop on this trip is in Elk City, Oklahoma at the National Route 66 Museum Complex. This museum shows the entire route of Route 66 through all 8 states. There were old cars and historical documents. Outside there were replicas of a schoolhouse, opera house, doctor's office and chapel. It was really interesting.
National Route 66 Museum
Elk City, Oklahoma
Conrad with Kachina Doll
Linda at the drive-in!
Linda with a pink cadillac
1953 Lincoln Continental
I wish I could have traveled this road back
in the day. I always wanted to do it!
Motels along Route 66
I would loved to have read every sign in this place but we had to move on. Our next stop was in Clinton, Oklahoma at the state-sponsored Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. Inside, a walk along the "main Street of America" gives visitors a chance to look at old cars and old souvenirs and displays about old Route 66 places that don't exist any more. I think this museum was my favorite of all I've seen.
Entrance of museum
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Route 66 postcards from all 8 states
Clines Corner originally looked like this.
I found this neat little computer "game" and decided to play. I started with $15 in the money jar and needed $23 to travel to California. I had to decide what household items or tools we would need. I've posted pictures of a few of the screens. This was fun!
Traveling to California
Deciding what items to sell
Need water in the radiator but I brought
the water jug! I made it and won!
Typical burger joint along Route 66
If we could just bring back these prices!
Jukebox
Lobby of museum
Our last tourist stop for this trip was at Lucille's Service Station and store in Hydro, Oklahoma. Lucille ran the property for 59 years until her death in 2000 and it's still a sentimental stop for Route 66 regulars, some of whom had been buying gas and groceries here since 1941. Lucille's is one of only two upper-story, out-thrust porch style stations left on Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66. Lucille's was built in 1929.
Lucille's Service Station
After this quick stop, it was on to Oklahoma City for the night at Baymont. We arrived about 6:30. The price was $91.95. We had seen a high of 101 degrees. We drove 298 miles today and will be HOME tomorrow. After dinner at Chili's, we headed back to the room and crashed!
Sunday, June 18, 2017
We left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. and headed home. We ran in to lots of rain along the way.
This was near Henryetta, OK
This is at the Checotah, OK exit
Home Sweet Home - almost
This has been a great trip and we were able to check off lots of places on our Bucket List! We drove 6,719.7 miles and were in 14 different states. We visited 12 national parks/monuments and numerous other sites. We were gone 26 days this trip. I have a great travel buddy and navigator. We are both thankful we can do trips like this. Now...laundry!
