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Glenrio
Texas Longhorn Cafe - Then and Now >
History in a Pecan Shell
Glenrio started as a farming community around 1905 and prospered into
the 1920s with multiple stores, cafes, and lodging establishments.
There was even enough support for a newspaper until it closed in 1934.
The town had a Texas welcome station at one point and some scenes
for the movie Grapes of Wrath were filmed at Glenrio.
Being on a state line can have its advantages - or not. The town once
had a post office on the New Mexico side of the line, with mail arriving
at the depot on the Texas side. The town was further divided by liquor
laws, since New Mexico was "wet" while Deaf Smith County was "dry."
In 1945 the town had a population of only 30 people and businesses
were tourist-based.
The town didn't survive being bypassed by Interstate 40, when it replaced
Route 66 and the main businesses either
moved well into New Mexico or into Oldham County.
The final blow came with the closing of the Rock Island depot in 1955.
Today the former community is visited by tourists following historic
Route 66.
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Amarillo
Hotels |
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Old
Route 66 heading towards New Mexico
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
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A
former diner
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
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The
diner's faded sign
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
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Former
gas station
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
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An
old filling station
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
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Local
signage
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
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Where
the blacktop meets the gravel.
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
Photographer's
Note:
"Route 66 [here in Glenrio] was divided
by a concrete curb about three feet wide with 2 each east and west
lanes. The road is fairly smooth with a good base and small rock cover,
but I don't think anyone would call it paved. However, it does change
to just a dusty gravel road at the west end. There are maybe two houses
where people live on 66 and one large house
and building in good repair a couple of hundred yards south of 66.
There is a blue US Postal box and a government delivery box containing
16 mail boxes. Scratched on one cinderblock building is "Glenrio,
NM". As we left and approached the bridge crossing I-40, we could
see the welcome to Texas sign, indicating that maybe all of current
Glenrio is now actually in New Mexico." - Ken
Rudine July 31, 2005 |
Glenrio
Texas Forum
Subject: Glenrio
Texas
I recently made a road trip to Glenrio to photograph some of the remains
of this old border town. Some of these remains such as the old diner
now have "Private Property" signs on them, so pictures must be taken
from a short distance. The only remains of the Rock Island Railroad
is the piles of cross ties laying around on the south side of the
town. the original post office still stands, for now. There are two
old hotels still standing. One is a great photo opportunity, the other
is what appears to be a local's home now. The population would still
be quite accurate at 5. I showed to be 37 miles west of Vega
Texas along I-40. Take exit 0, Glenrio sits on the south side
of the Interstate. Great photo opportunity for anyone passing through
or someone with a little time on their hands. - Randy Johnson,
April 21, 2005 |
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