Still Glowing Brightly

Still Glowing Brightly

The U-Drop Inn lights up the night on historic route 66. However, instead of neons, it’s LEDs that have brought this landmark brightly into the modern age.
Gogogordy1, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Constructed in 1936 in Shamrock, Texas, the unique design for the U-Drop came from a sketch in the dirt. It was John Nunn who etched his architectural idea into the ground one day before plans were drawn up and construction began. Nunn’s friend J.M. Tindall used the rudimentary design to inspire one of the most iconic buildings along the DBH.
Judson McCranie, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The U-Drop Inn, or Tower Station and U-Drop Inn as many know it by, stands in contrast to a lot of the architecture found along the route. Completed in an art deco style, the building boasts two green and gold towers, terra-cotta glazed brick, and geometric detailing. The larger of the two towers is garnished with what has become known as the “metal tulip.” The gas company’s name “Conoco” can be read climbing vertically up the tower. At its opening the local paper referred to the U-Drop as “the most up-to-date edifice of its Kind on U.S. Highway 66 between Oklahoma City and Amarillo.” To learn more about architecture along Route 66, check out our Top 5 styles of 66 Architecture article.
Judson McCranie, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Business was booming during this station’s heyday. Strategically located at the intersection of Route 66 and Highway 83, it was an oasis for travelers. The station held two businesses: the Tower Station gas station and the U-Drop Inn cafe. Perfect for a quick re-fuel and some sustenance before hitting the road again. At the time of its opening this location was the only cafe within 100 miles of Shamrock! 

As with many establishments along Route 66, though, the U-Drop suffered a decline starting in the late 1950s due to the construction of Interstate 40. As times became more modern, travelers were more interested in getting from point A to point B than discovering America along the slower routes such as the Mother Road. The business was sold, and sold again, numerous times until it closed completely in 1997.
Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Luckily, the U-Drop’s story doesn’t end there. That same year the U-Drop Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The city of Shamrock soon began a massive restoration project. By 2003 the project was completed with the U-Drop Inn restored to its former glory. The building was repainted in its original colors with all the art deco details restored. The neons proved to be the biggest challenge of all.

At first, it was difficult to determine what the original colors used were. Photographs and archival content were poured over to find a clue. Finally, hundreds of feet of green and red neons were attached to accent the building only to be destroyed by a hailstorm in 2013.

The following year those neons were replaced by more durable LED lights that are actually brighter than the original neon. 
Gogogordy1, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
This historic station is now open and operates as a visitor center and museum. The cafe has also reopened, as of last year, and serves classic American eats. If you’re an Elvis Presley fan, you can even sit in his usual seat.
Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn is more than “the swankiest of the swank eating places” as it was once referred to. It’s more than another historic building or Route 66 attraction. It’s a testament to the American Dream which says that anybody who has a good enough idea can make something and succeed with it. Its humble origins scratched in the dirt have grown so large that it has become part of our cultural zeitgeist. To prove this, look no further than the popular Disney movie Cars (2006). One look at Ramone’s Automotive Body and Paint Shop and you’ll recognize the real life inspiration from the U-Drop. 
Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Despite the decline of Route 66 due to a modern world that prioritizes efficiency over adventure, the spirit of the Dust Bowl Highway continues on. It’s a spirit that is foundational for Americans, that is emblematic of freedom, and that continues to inform modern culture. Here at the Dust Bowl Highway we encourage Americans and foreigners alike to take the slow road, have a real experience, and discover history. We wish you a safe journey, traveller.    

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