|
|
 |
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. |
 |
Glenrio
Diner today
Photo courtesy
Seth McCandless, 2011 |
Photographer's
Note On Glenrio
"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
Where
to Stay - Glenrio Area Hotels
Amarillo
Hotels |
| | A
former diner
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
| |
The diner's faded
sign
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
| |
Former gas station
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
| | An
old filling station
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
| | Old
Route 66 heading towards New Mexico
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
| | Local
signage
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 2005 |
| | Where
the blacktop meets the gravel.
Photo by Ken Rudine, July 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
Glenrio
Texas Longhorn Cafe - Then and Now > |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. | |
| Save on Hotels
- Book Here | |
