LB has a friend getting married in Springer New Mexico on June 5. So that means....
MOTHER DAUGHTER ROAD TRIP!!
I picked LB up on June 1 and after lunch at Chuys, we headed out on our adventure. Our first stop was in Decatur to see the Petrified Wood Gas Station. Built in 1927 with the motor court built in 1931, the cafe built in 1929, this became known as the Texas Tourist Camp Complex. The owner covered the gas station in petrified wood in 1935 and it was in operation until 1988.
The Texas Lunchroom was renamed the Texas Cafe in 1935 and eventually closed in the 1960's when traffic was diverted but reopened in 1993.
A couple of interesting facts:
The gas station, motor court and cafe are located on the old Meridian Highway. The Meridian Highway is a north south highway running from southernmost Texas to the Canadian border. In this particular area it is also part of the old Chisholm Trail. In the 1920's it was renamed US Hwy 81.
Every evening the neon lights, the lights in the pumps and the Texaco sign are activated to help bring back memories of the past.
It is believed that Bonnie and Clyde stayed in one of the cabins and the community was happy when they left without a shoot out happening.
Our next stop was in downtown Decatur to see this sign and large dice. The saying "Eighter from Decatur" was actually "Ada from Decatur" when Will Cooper used the name of his sweetheart. Later it changed when a hard roll of 8 was needed.
We happened upon these wood carvings made from the remnants of a Bois D'Arc hedge planted in 1861 by Stephen M Gose, an early justice of peace, blacksmith and leader of the Methodist Church. He had come from Missouri to Texas in 1859. He planted these spiny trees around his log cabin to serve as a barrier to the Indians. I love the carving of the cardinal.
We made a quick side trip to Bowie to see the worlds largest Bowie knife as officially named by Guinness Records. The knife is 20 ft 6 in from tip to handle.
Next we found the Tower Service Station and Diner in Shamrock. This station is on Historic Rte 66 and was built in 1936. It was the inspiration for Ramone's Body Shop in the movie Cars. One of the gas pumps was stopped at $4.81, 12 gallons, 34 cents/gallon. Boy how I wish that was still the cost of gas. I just filled my truck-about 23 gallons, $3.19 a gallon, for a total of almost $74!
We also found this Phillips 66 gas station that has been restored on Rte 66.
In Groom we saw the Leaning Tower of Texas. Two of its feet were off the ground!
We had dinner at another Rte 66 icon, the Golden Light Cafe in Amarillo. Awesome burger!
Tomorrow holds more fun! Stay tuned!!
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