Restored 1929 Route 66 Gas Station

McLean, Texas

Just down the road from the Devil's Rope/Route 66 Museum stands this vintage service station that opened in September 1929. It operated for over 50 years and was renovated by a local Route 66 preservation group in 1992, which claimed it was the first old gas station restored along the "Mother Road." A plaque affixed to its outside wall also claims that this is the first Phillips 66 station in Texas, but it isn't; a Phillips 66 in the town of Turkey is even older.

There are several nice touches. The pumps are painted in the bright orange color of Phillips 66, as is an old tank truck parked adjacent. There's an old raised vehicle platform, also painted orange, for mechanic work.

On the station building itself, the windows and glass on the door are painted fakes. Locals probably got tired of replacing broken glass...

It's been decades since it pumped a drop of gasoline, but the landmark is a required stop for Route 66 pilgrims.