Old Route 66 crosses eight states, three time zones, and more than 2,400 miles as it winds its way from Santa Monica to Chicago. You’ll find charming cafes, restored gas stations, and even a row of Cadillacs, buried nose deep in the ground, along the 178-mile stretch of the Mother Road that cuts across the Texas Panhandle.
The highway, decommissioned in 1985, will mark its 100th anniversary next year, and small towns and cities along the route are already planning festivities. The Texas Route 66 Festival is set for June in Amarillo, and will include a classic car show, live music, bus tours, and parades.
In the meantime, get your kicks at these legendary Texas stops on Route 66.
Glenrio
Glenrio straddles the New Mexico-Texas border and is home to a famous 1968 Pontiac Catalina. The abandoned white car once belonged to Larry Lee Travis, who was shot to death in 1976 at a service station where he worked in nearby Adrian. His car remains parked in front of an abandoned Texaco gas station along Old Route 66 in Glenrio, next to the home where his wife still lives.
Adrian
The motto in Oldham County is “When you’re here, you’re halfway there,” which explains the white line painted across the highway in front of the Midpoint Café. The stripe marks the halfway point between Illinois and California.
Fran Houser, who once owned the café, inspired the character Flo in the Pixar movie “Cars.” Today you can drop by for a burger and a slice of pie, or pick up a souvenir at the Dream Station, housed inside an old gas station next door…