A Route 66 Landmark
About the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn
If you’re driving down route 66 in Texas, there’s one stop that you can’t miss: the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe. This Route 66 landmark has a long history dating back to the 1930s. The Tower Station was originally built as a service station and cafe, and it quickly became a popular spot for travelers on Route 66 passing through Shamrock. Thanks to its unique architecture and historical significance, the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you’re ever in the area, be sure to stop by and check out this amazing piece of American history!
The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn is located at 111 U.S. Rt. 66, Shamrock, TX 79079. Its about 95 miles east of Amarillo on Interstate 40 and 165 miles west of Oklahoma City. It sits just a few feet off of the historic highway.
Just east of McLean lies Shamrock, home to the Tower Station and U-Drop Cafe, one of the most impressive examples of Route 66 architecture in Texas and along the entire route, for that matter. The Tower Station and Cafe is a one-of-a-kind 1936 Art Deco landmark that once housed the U-Drop Inn. It has two distinctive pedestals that reach high above the rooftop and that during its heyday, advertised three essential items for Route 66 travelers, food, gas, and lodging.
Image Source: Boomer Road Trips
It was built in 1936 in Shamrock, Texas at the busy intersection of Route 66 and U.S. Route 83 in Wheeler County at a cost of $23,000. That’s a little over $491,100 in 2023 dollars. The building was designed by John Nunn and built by J.M. Tindall. It’s reported that Nunn drew up the idea for his friend Tindall by scratching the design in the dirt with a nail. The unique design demonstrates an unusual application of art deco architecture to a gas station and restaurant.
The building originally housed two separate businesses, Tower Station, a gas station on the western side, and the U-Drop Inn, a cafe on the eastern side. Ownership of the building has changed many times over the years, but before Route 66 was bypassed by the Interstate, it consistently housed the same types of businesses it was originally designed for.
History of the Art-Deco Landmark on Route 66
Source: Route 66 Postcards
The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn opened on April 1, 1936, The gas station originally sold the Conoco brand of fuel. After John Nunn, the original owner, passed away, the building passed through the hands of several more owners and the station sold gasoline from various other companies. Fina took over the building in the 1970s and painted it red, white, and blue.
The name of the cafe changed to Nunn’s Cafe in the 1950s and later to the Tower Cafe. In the 1980s the building was sold again and this time repainted to its original colors. The name was also changed back to the original name of the U-Drop Inn. At some point in between the name of the business was Carrol’s Bar-B-Que as evidenced by the postcard below and the new paint scheme on the outside.
The interior of the cafe changed many times over the years. When the historical preservation company began their work to restore the cafe to its 1940s look, they had to remove layer upon layer of paint, wallpaper, and fabric on the walls to get to the original colors.
The pictures below show what the cafe looked like in the 1940s on the left and what it looks like today on the right.
The interior was completely renovated so that now it looks very much like it did in the 1940s. Here’s a short video clip that shows what the inside of the U-Drop Inn Cafe looks like today. The beginning of the video shows a booth that Elvis Presley once used when he visited.
After the decommissioning of Route 66 and the drop in business traffic, the building began to deteriorate and fell into disrepair. It was closed for business in the late 1990s and was repossessed by the bank and closed completely in 1997. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 1997. Later, the building was purchased by the First National Bank of Shamrock which gave it to the city.
The city of Shamrock obtained a federal grant to restore the building to its original glory and renovate it to house a museum, visitor’s center, gift shop and the city’s chamber of commerce.
Restoration of the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe
The city of Shamrock acquired the building from the bank in May 1999 and began taking steps to revive the renovate the structure and turn it into a tourist attraction. They hired a company experienced in historical preservation and began a phased restoration plan.
The restoration included turning the building into a museum of its own history and gave it the authentic appearance of a working 1940s gas station and cafe. It’s now a wonderful tourist stop and a must see attraction on Route 66.
There was originally going to be a store in the center of the building between the gas station and the cafe. The cafe was so popular they needed a waiting room for customers, so the store never opened. The picture on the right is the gift shop and visitor’s center which it what is now behind the doors you see in the picture on the left.
Interesting Links
- U-Drop Inn Cafe Facebook Page – The U-Drop is now serving lunches and snacks.
- Tower Station Application to National Historic Register
YouTube Video about the History of U-Drop Inn
The U-Drop Inn is still a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to get a delicious meal or snack. Tourists often stop by just to snap a photo of this iconic Route 66 landmark. You won’t want to miss it! So make sure you plan a pit stop at the famous Tower Station and U-Drop Inn when you’re driving down historic Route 66. It’s an experience that you’ll never forget!
