Kan-O-Tex Service Station on The World Map

The Kan-O-Tex was once just another regional oil refinery along the Mother Road. Back in 1934 when the station was built, the 13 mile stretch of Route 66 which runs through Kansas was bustling. Small towns like Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs were once mineral rich boom towns which attracted tourists and workers alike. Diners, motels, and souvenir shops lined the Mother Road. Gas stations and service stations were plentiful in this automobile focused culture and never lacked customers. Business was good.

Like many stretches of road, however, this portion of 66 became overlooked when the more efficient Interstate 44 was opened in 1961. The interstate allowed long distance travelers to bypass Kansas’s stretch of 66 completely. This was the beginning of the end for many small businesses along this portion of the DBH. Another blow came in 1979 when Route 66 was diverted away from the Kan-O-Tex. 1979 was also the year that the last commercial mine closed in Galena. The town’s population had significantly reduced from its peak of 30,000 residents (according to some sources) to under 4,000 residents. Due to these circumstances, the gas and service station closed and fell into disrepair. Ordinarily, this station would have been swallowed by time and forgotten about, but thanks to an unforeseen turn of events, the Kan-O-Tex Service Station has become internationally famous. Amongst the peeling paint, overgrown weeds, and rust, lay an abandoned 1951 International Harvester boom truck. This truck caught the eye of Pixar animators who happened to be traveling Route 66 to gather inspiration for the upcoming film Cars (2006). This broken down vehicle would eventually make the big time, in animated form, as the beloved tow truck known as Tow Mater. Following the film’s release, four Galena natives (Melba Rigg, Renée Charles, Judy Courtney, and Betty Courtney) bought the dilapidated property in 2007. They painstakingly restored the historic sight. They opened a visitor center and café called “4 Women on the Route” which aimed to once again attract tourists to this historic section of road, and preserve Kansas’s Route 66 history.

In 2010 Betty Courtney, one of the original four women passed away. This led to changes in ownership which finally resulted in the property becoming “Cars on the Route” in 2013. The rebranded site emphasized Pixar’s Cars franchise enticing families to visit and take pictures with Tow Mater – or Tow Tater as he’s called locally due to copyright – and other automotive characters from the movies.

The site is now open to the public and includes a gift shop and cafe. Families can pick up a souvenir, grab a bite, take a photo with their favorite Cars characters and experience a piece of Route 66 history that would otherwise have been forgotten.