Ronnie Adventure #0500 - Texas 2021 Part IV

One of my bucket list items is to drive on as many parts of remaining Historic Route 66 as possible. For this trip I started on the Texas-New Mexico state line and drove eastward. 

Glenrio (now a ghost town) is mostly in Texas, with a few old buildings on the New Mexico side of the state line. The abandoned Glen Rio Motel is one of the first buildings in Texas when traveling east on Historic Texas Route 66 and was historically advertised as the "First and Last Motel in Texas." (The "first" motel if entering Texas from New Mexico and "last" motel when leaving Texas.) 

If you think the town of Radiator Springs in Disney's Cars movie looks a lot like Glenrio - it does! Disney animators were inspired by the town of Glenrio when they stopped there on a Route 66 cross-country trip before making the movie. The Glen Rio Motel, Juarez Café, gas station and several other buildings are all featured in the movie.   

Adrian (population 166) is considered to be the midpoint of Historic Route 66 that ran from Chicago to Los Angeles - 2,278 total miles, or 1,139 miles from each city. The Midpoint Café, which is still open, is the basis for "Flo's V-8 Café" in Disney's Cars movie. The café was built in 1928 and it was open 24/7 during the Route 66 heydays. Unfortunately, the adjacent Phillips 66 gas station has been abandoned. I liked their advertised gas prices!

Continuing eastward along Historic Route 66 I came to Vegas (population 884). The famous metal rooster wearing a sombrero still greets people at the front door of Rooster's Mexican Restaurant.

Also located in the same area was an abandoned Shell gas station and the Oldham County Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

Located next to the Oldham County Courthouse is the Magnolia [Gas] Station that has been restored with original equipment so that it looks like it would have in the 1920s and 1930s. There is a nice gazebo on the courthouse lawn.

The Milburn-Price Culture Museum is also located in Vega. Billy the Kid is featured on one of the buildings because he spent time in and around Vega and Tascosa. A cow in front of the museum has a "66" brand on its right flank. 

Located just west of Amarillo is the world famous Cadillac Ranch. Visitors are encouraged to spray paint on ten old Cadillacs that have been planted nose-first in the middle of a farmer's corn field. It is only a short hike from the road to the exhibit. Although not encouraged, people have also painted the highway as it runs past Cadillac Ranch. 

Located about a mile east of Cadillac Ranch is the "2nd Amendment Cowboy" and  a collection of Cadillacs that are in considerably better condition. 

Located south of Amarillo are some "Texas-sized legs" covered with spray-painted tattoos, a really tall Texan, and the tallest wind turbine in the United States.  

Before driving into Amarillo, I stopped by Combine City where they grow combines. A new crop of combines was about half out of the ground.