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Route 66 Leg Three: Tulsa to Amarillo

The Golden Driller, perfectly preserved motels, and a 72-ounce steak

  • 94
  • 06:53
  • 403 mi
  • $63
Take This Trip

Created by AlleyWay - July 6th 2022

In addition to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s massive Golden Driller statue and the Tumbleweed Grill and Country Store, this stretch is home to some absolutely amazing retro Route 66 motels (even if you aren’t staying, pull over for the vintage signage). A few of the more famous ones in the state include the Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa, the Skyliner Motel in Stroud, and the Lincoln Motel in Chandler.

3511 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo, TX, US

Texas Ivy Antiques

Photo of Route 66 Historic District
3.5

6th Ave., Amarillo, TX, US

Route 66 Historic District

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9mi 00h 12m
Photo of Cadillac Ranch
4.0

12601 W Interstate 40, Amarillo, TX, US

Cadillac Ranch

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Ten Cadillacs stand along Interstate 40, buried in the dirt at the same angles as the Great Pyramids of Giza. Visitors are encouraged to bring a can of spray paint and add their own mark to this unique roadside art installation. Of all the roadside attractions in the U.S., Cadillac Ranch may be one of the most iconic and most photographed. Located just outside of Amarillo, the colorful Cadillacs have inspired travelers, filmmakers, and musicians. Today, spray painting the Cadillacs is a rite of passage for any true roadtripper, and the installation has gone through quite a few makeovers throughout the years.

Erected in 1974 by three artists who called themselves the Ant Farm, and financed by eccentric millionaire Stanley Marsh 3 (he thought Roman numerals were too pretentious), Cadillac Ranch went along relatively unnoticed for some time. Over the years, the Caddies became a must-see roadside attraction, and the Ant Farm collective and Marsh 3 realized they could have a lot of fun (and support charities) by painting and repainting the cars. They’ve been painted pink on two different occasions—once in 2005 to promote breast cancer awareness and once to celebrate the birthday of Marsh 3’s wife, Wendy.

In 2002, Ant Farm painted the cars back to their original colors, a project in conjunction with a larger Route 66 restoration project sponsored by Hampton Inns. The cars were painted white for a TV commercial and tourists were thrilled to have 10 blank canvases to spray paint when the commercial shoot was finished. In 2003, the cars were painted black to honor Ant Farm’s Doug Michels’ passing. But most of the time, you’ll see the cars in various states of graffiti, and that’s just the way Ant Farm intended.

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0mi 00h 01m
Photo of Second Amendment Cowboy
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2601 Hope Road, Amarillo, TX, US

Second Amendment Cowboy

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The Second Amendment Cowboy is proudly standing guard over Americans’ right to bear arms—but you may notice that Mr. Second Amendment is strangely missing something: a gun. The cowboy was abandoned for years, and frequently used for target practice, until it was moved to Amarillo and restored. Standing at more than 22 feet tall, the cowboy wears a large Stetson hat and is waving with his right hand, his left resting at his side. There’s a fake historical marker in front of the statue that quotes the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment.

3301 Olsen Blvd, Amarillo, TX, US

Tyler's Barbeque

If you’ve got a hankering for barbecue, Tyler’s in Amarillo is dry-rub heaven. Here, the ribs are smoked daily, and the brisket and pulled pork are truly mouth-watering.

2906 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo, TX, US

Golden Light Cantina

When you're ready for a cold beer and some good tunes, visit the GoldenLight Cafe and Cantina in Amarillo. It's a fantastic little roadhouse that serves up burgers and beers, often with a side of live music. The restaurant, which opened in 1946, has changed hands over the years, and its chili recipe has also changed with each subsequent owner. As the oldest restaurant in Amarillo, GoldenLight has developed quite the fanatic following over the years.

2705 SW 6th Ave, Amarillo, TX, US

The Nat

2601 Dumas Dr, Amarillo, TX, US

Wonderland Amusement Park

The vintage Wonderland Amusement Park is a beloved family theme park that’s been open since 1951. Frequently listed as one of the best amusement parks in Texas, the park includes more than 30 rides, miniature golf, and the Texas Tornado, a double-loop steel roller coaster. It’s open on weekends from April to Labor Day, and weeknights from April to August.

7701 I-40 East, Amarillo, TX, US

The Big Texan Steak Ranch

Everything is bigger in Texas, so you may as well try your luck with the 72-ounce steak challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. Just a few years after owner Bob Lee opened his steakhouse, he noticed an influx of hungry cowboys on payday looking to down some hearty steaks. One Friday in 1962, Lee set up an eating contest to see who could eat the most one-pound steaks in an hour. After one cowboy downed 72 ounces of steak (along with a salad, a shrimp cocktail, a roll, and a baked potato), Lee declared that anyone who could eat that much steak in an hour should get it for free. The current record-holder is Molly Schuyler, who devoured three steaks (plus sides) in just 20 minutes in 2015. The restaurant also features a shooting gallery, arcade games, a huge gift shop, and a bull statue out front.

When you reach Amarillo, you’re nearly halfway through Route 66. Here you’ll find cowboys and one of the largest livestock markets in the U.S. The Dust Bowl badly affected farmers here, and the Great Depression ended the prosperity brought by the oil boom, so when Route 66 was decommissioned, much of the Texas Panhandle was hit hard. On this stretch of the route, Amarillo is really the only major Panhandle town, otherwise you’ll find plenty of virtual ghost towns.

2503 4th Ave, Canyon, TX, US

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

At the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, you can explore more than 14,000 years of history in the Lone Star State. The museum features dinosaurs, cowboys, pioneers, conquistadors, oil barons, and a life-size Old West Pioneer Town. This is a great place to spend anything from an afternoon to a full day.

Photo of Palo Duro Canyon State Park
4.5

11450 Park Road 5, Canyon, TX, US

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Get your nature kicks on Route 66 at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This is the second largest canyon in the U.S. and admission is only $8. You can easily drive the length of the park and pull over for the scenic overlooks. There's a sizable campground in the park (perfect for stargazing), and several trails that traverse the bottom of the canyon offer a beautiful place to stretch your legs.

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34mi 00h 32m

Interstate 40 Frontage Road, Panhandle, TX, US

VW Slug Bug Ranch

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Just a 30-minute from Cadillac Ranch is the lesser-known, but just as interesting, VW Slug Bug Ranch. Here you’ll find several vintage Volkswagen Beetles stuck into the ground alongside the remnants of an abandoned gas station. There are no signs advertising the ranch, but if you get off I-40 at exit 96, you’ll find it near three abandoned buildings. Plan on spending 15 to 20 minutes exploring and taking pictures here. And don’t forget your spray paint.

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15mi 00h 16m
Photo of Groom Cross
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2880 Co Rd 2, Groom, TX, US

Groom Cross

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You’re traveling through “God Country” and the Groom Cross—a 190-foot-tall cross on the side of I-40—makes that very clear. At the foot of the cross you’ll see 14 life-size statues that represent the stations of the cross. The Groom Cross was featured predominantly in the Steve Martin comedy Leap of Faith. While in Groom, you can rest your weary head at the Chalet Inn, or grab a bite to eat at The Grill.

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3mi 00h 05m
Photo of Britten Leaning Water Tower (Groom)
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I-40 Exit 114, Groom, TX, US

Britten Leaning Water Tower (Groom)

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Keep an eye out for the leaning water tower in Groom, Texas. It looks like a case of engineering gone awry, but was actually a marketing ploy erected to attract Route 66 tourists to the neighboring, now abandoned, truck stop.

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28mi 00h 29m
Photo of Phillips 66 on the Route
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219 Gray St, McLean, TX, US

Phillips 66 on the Route

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101 W Hwy 66, McLean, TX, US

Red River Steakhouse

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0mi 00h 01m
Photo of Cactus Inn
4.1

101 Pine St, McLean, TX, US

Cactus Inn

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100 S Kingsley St, McLean, TX, US

Devil’s Rope Museum

Devil’s Rope is another name for barbed wire, which was invented in the late 1860s and instrumental in settling the West. The Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean is dedicated to the preservation of all types of barbed wire, and also includes historical documents, photos, and other memorabilia. Visitors are invited to “get hooked” on barbed wire, and while we hope that won’t happen, it’s still a fun stop.

After Amarillo you still have a little less than half of the Texas Panhandle to go before hitting New Mexico. The skies only get wider and the land gets drier as you head further west. The “everything is bigger in Texas” attractions are mostly behind you, but there's still plenty of small town charm ahead.

Banner Photo Credit: Flickr/Daniel X. O'Neil