True to its name, the midpoint cafe lies exactly 1139 miles from 66’s origin in Chicago, and 1139 from its end point in Santa Monica. Thus, this café’s slogan aptly states, “when you’re here, you’re halfway there.”
Established in 1928, in Adrian, Texas, this gas station and café grew in popularity as Americans set out on 66 for vacation. The café is easily recognizable from the roadside, with a large vintage road sign pointing to the establishment with a yellow era-appropriate boomerang. By the late 1940’s this geographic midpoint became a 24-hour operation – but all good things must come to an end.
Like so many other locations along 66, the construction of Interstate 40 bypassed the filling station and café and decimated business. By the end of the 20th century, the population of Adrian had decreased to just over 200 people.
Throughout the decades the café continued to change hands and names. Despite hard times, It’s known as being the oldest continuously operating Route 66 café between Amarillo, Texas and Tucumcari, New Mexico. Thanks to revitalization efforts around the Dust Bowl Highway, this café and filling station made a comeback in the late 1990s.
In 1995 it settled on the name “Midpoint Cafe” in honor of its unique geographical location along the route, and embraced 66 nostalgia with a menu of homemade classics.
The menu item that the café is most known for is their “ugly crust pie.” Joann Harwell, the café’s pastry chef, became famous for her delicious pies that according to her are encased in a less than perfect looking crust.
Nevertheless, she says, “the main ingredient in any recipe I have is the love that goes with the attempt. I don’t make a perfect pie crust, but I’ve come to see that there’s more to life than being perfect.”
The Midpoint found fame once again in 2001 when Pixar visited the historic location. They took photographs of the site and interviewed the staff in Adrian. The result was “Flo’s V-8 Café” in the animated movie Cars.
The characters Flo, Mia and Tia are all based on real people from the Midpoint.
Today, the Midpoint Café still functions as an operational diner. Tourists, 66 aficionados, and locals enjoy a small but classic menu. The filling station had transformed into the Sunflower station, which sold 66 memorabilia and antiques but unfortunately it’s currently closed. The Midpoint Café is an historic geographical landmark, perfect for photo opportunities and a quick bite before continuing along the second half of the Mother Road.
