Route 66: Texas

Located in Gray County, Texas, McLean is a virtual ghost town. As of the year 2000, according to the United States Census Bureau, the town had just under 830 residents. When planning your road trip, it's easy to miss McLean, a town that covers just 1.2 square miles. There aren't any iconic diners or motels still in operation, but the Red River Steakhouse claims to be the "best-kept secret in Texas." The tiny town may fly under the radar, but we think it’s one of the best-preserved, most enchanting ghost towns along Route 66.

In 1901, Alfred Rowe, a rancher from England, donated his land to the town. Twelve years later, Rowed died aboard the RMS Titanic. Named after Judge William P. McLean, who served in the Texas Legislature and on the Railroad Commission, McLean once had three general stores, livery stables, a lumberyard, a bank, wagon yards, and a local newspaper, The McLean News.

When Route 66 was built through the town in 1927, McLean became a popular stopover for tourists. Today, the McLean-Alanreed Historical Museum features exhibits on the town’s once-booming livestock, agriculture, and oil industries. The population increased to about 1,500 by the 1940s, and the town boasted six churches, dozens of businesses, and a POW camp. In operation from 1942 to 1945, the camp housed thousands of German prisoners.

As nearby bigger cities such as Amarillo became more popular, business in McLean dwindled, the population decreased, and the construction of Interstate 40 dealt the town its final blow. The town is still home to a Phillips 66 On The Route gas station, two museums, and a trophied girls basketball team.

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 The Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean is dedicated to the preservation of all types of barbed wire, and also includes historical documents, photos, and other memorabilia.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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.