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Shamrock, Texas
Just a lunch stop on our way from Oklahoma City to Amarillo as part of our trip down Route 66.
If you got here from my Route 66 Album, click the link to go back. - RETURN
Lunch was nothing worthy of a Restaurant tip but while I was taking a short stroll down the road I came across an absolute Route 66 gem.
The building was constructed as three separate businesses: 1. The Tower Conoco Station, so named for the tall tower gracing its roof. 2. The U-Drop Inn Cafe, named by a local schoolboy in a contest that awarded him $50.00 for his idea. 3. A retail store, never used as such, but soon taken over by the cafe folks for use as a ballroom and overflow dining room.
The building was beautiful in its day; neon lighting, deco details and glazed ceramic tile walls. It gradually took a beating, the biggest hit coming in the 70s when it was painted red-white-and-blue and converted to a FINA station. The building operated successfully for most of its life, finally closing completely in the mid 90s.
The Shamrock Chamber of Commerce is to restore the building to its original grandeur. Soon the chamber will occupy the retail space as the Chamber/Tourism office. The Cafe will be restored as a stopping place for weary travelers to get a cup of coffee, a soda or just to play some dominoes and chat with local old-timers. The station is to be restored as, well, a sort of museum of itself; restored to what it looked like as an operating 1940 station so Route 66 travellers and gas station buffs can stop and walk through. The plan also calls for a picnic area, dump station, and travel info kiosk.
Information obtained from www.oldgas.com
