King Cole Trio's "Route 66"

To commemorate a year since my Route 66 road trip of a year ago (and ponder the possibility of a return to uncharted portions), Nat "King" Cole (and Trio) would like to play their version of Bobby Troup's musical tribute to the Mother Road. This is from around 1946:

In search of Route 66 (journey's end)

From whence I came:

Carrizozo, New Mexico
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
McLean, Texas
Shamrock, Texas


Shamrock

Besides the fact Old Route 66 goes right through the middle of Shamrock, Texas, the draw for me was the Tower Conoco Station/U Drop-Inn. There's a lot more information about it here, but it is a restored Art Deco service station built in 1936. It was later used as the inspiration for Ramone's body shop in Cars. I timed my arrival in town so I could get pictures of it in the sunlight and at night once the neon came on.








A recorded Texas Historic Landmark, Shamrock's water tower is supposed to be the tallest one in the state.









Good things come to those who wait:

In search of Route 66 (you'll get gas)

Done did:

Carrizozo, New Mexico
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
McLean, Texas
Shamrock, Texas



McLean, Texas












Carrizozo, New Mexico
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
McLean, Texas
Shamrock, Texas

Next time:

In search of Route 66 (Amarillo by....midday)

What has come before:

Carrizozo, New Mexico
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas

Just a couple of miles west of Amarillo is the Cadillac Ranch. I actually had to use longitude and latitude for once with my GPS to find this place, located just off of I-40 in a cattle field. Built in 1974 by Stanley Marsh and San Francisco art collective the Ant Farm; moved about 3 miles west in 1997 due to development. It is one of the Route 66 artifacts referenced in Cars. And although you could Google "cadillac ranch" and find thousands of pictures just like these (many much better), here you go:


A ten verse ode to the birth and death of the American automobile's tailfin?


I'd love to get back to Amarillo some time and get this at sunrise or sunset. Now those would be a little more unique.


I read somewhere this is a historic, old Art Deco theater.


The Beef Burger Barrell has been open since the late 1930s.

This Art Deco apartment building (the Arlington/Sunset Apartments) from 1926 wasn't actually on Route 66, and it probably belongs in another post, but it was in Amarillo, I was there, so voilà.

One of the oldest buildings in downtown Amarillo, the Santa Fe Building is an example of Late Gothic Revival style and was completed in 1930.




The 1930 Pueblo Deco (Art Deco) Paramount Theater


Streamline Moderne Greyhound Bus Station, c. 1947


The 1940, Streamline Moderne Bivens Building


The Potter County Courthouse, c. 1932, Moderne


Back on Route 66...



This had to have been an irresistible eye-catcher for kids, who in turn would beg an exhausted (after a long day of driving on Route 66) mom and dad to stop and stay here for the night.



Built from blueprints dated October, 1944, the Triangle Motel at 7954 Amarillo Boulevard East Amarillo, Texas, was one of the first motels built on Route 66. Cream-colored brick veneer was hand-cut and oven-dried in Amarillo.

Called "A Tourist Court," the Triangle Motel was a God-sent haven midway to California, offering comfortable suites with one 12x16 room, the other one 12x12. The bathrooms with extra-large tiled showers--3x5--were also unexpected luxury for weary travelers in the middle forties. (source)



The Big Texan opened its doors alongside Route 66 back in 1960. When news came of the building of the new interstate, threatening to bypass the business and suck its life out, a new home for The Big Texan was built at a the current location in 1970. (source)

Carrizozo, New Mexico
Vaughn, New Mexico
Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Tucumcari, New Mexico
San Jon, New Mexico/Adrian, Texas/Vega, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
McLean, Texas
Shamrock, Texas