McLean, Texas


	Through McLean and on to Alanreed, there are a couple of alignments of Old Route 66 which you can follow. The easier route follows the business loop through McLean, then the south frontage lane of I-40 all the way to Alanreed. For a more complicated challenge (one that I missed, somehow), in the middle of McLean, turn south, then pick up a dirt road (County Road BB) that follows an old section of railroad tracks. This road should take you all the way to Alanreed.

As you drive into McLean, you're first greeted by a giant sign for RATTLESNAKES. I'm fairly certain this roadside enterprise is no longer rattling, but the former stars of the business (and their slithery descendants) are likely still around, somewhere nearby. Drive on into downtown...

... for the chance to behold a couple of big balls of barbed wire. The balls are on display outside of the Devil's Rope Museum, which also houses a Route 66 museum.

The Devil's Rope Museum keeps very limited hours (as of this writing: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday). I had arrived after five, which means I could only admire the outdoor "Tribute to Barbed Wire", and save the rest for another visit.

The rest of McLean feels a lot like a ghost town, except there are still some people around. Some of buildings are crumbling...

... but McLean's Phillips 66 station is in fantastic condition, thanks to a restoration in the early 1990's (and certainly, some extra touch-ups since then).

The tiny cottage-style station was the first Phillips 66 outlet in Texas. It was built around 1928 -- give or take a year, depending on what source† you believe. Some of those sources also say it's the most photographed property along all of Route 66. Really? More than the Tower Station, and more than Roy's? It's a cute little gas station, but I doubt it.

Other businesses in town appear to be somewhere in between open and closed.

The Cactus Inn is still in business, complete with the Saguaro sign (not neon -- I imagine that mercury-vapor light has to do the job at night). The motel appeared decent from the outside, and appears to be family-owned (see the motel's website) so it might be a good choice for a night's stay.

Use the "Next" box below to follow me to the next stop on this trip, or the Route 66 East/West links to follow the Mother Road.

66 Super Service Station at Alanreed, Texas		Shamrock, Texas - Tower Station & U Drop Inn

	Tower Station in Shamrock, Texas	Alanreed, Texas: 66 Super Service Station		Texas Attractions Map Research Texas Hotels Free Travel Brochures

Groom, Texas - Leaning "Britten USA" Water Tower

Conway, Texas - Bug Ranch

Adrian, Texas - Midpoint on Route 66

Your E-mail:	I will keep your email address private, and will only use it to personally reply to your message.
Your Name:
Your Location:
Comments:
	You may post my comments and my name here. You may post my comments, but not my name. Please do not post my comments.
Validate:

Messages you submit are emailed to me. I will decide which messages are posted.
Spam will never be posted.


		Shamrock - U Drop Inn
	Alanreed: 66 Super Service

Also In This Area:

Clinton, Oklahoma - Route 66 Museum

Route 66 Pony Bridge

Route 66 Through Sayre, Oklahoma

Ghost Town of Texola, Oklahoma

Shamrock, Texas - U Drop Inn Conoco Station

Groom, Texas - Leaning "Britten USA" Water Tower

Conway, Texas - Bug Ranch

Amarillo - Cadillac Ranch

View this website's best photos in the Gallery

Recommended Road Trip Reading

Texas Travel
Photography Tours
Family Vacations
Hiking & Trekking Pkgs.

I welcome your feedback. Your thoughts will make this a better website. Click Here to Contact Me.
All photographs on this website may be available for purchase. Many are featured in the Gallery.
Click here for information on ordering prints.