Road trip on Route 66 to Adrian, Texas, the Mid-Point of the Mother Road



Travel Route 66 to Adrian, Texas

U.S. Route 66 across Texas totaled 186 miles, and closely followed today's Interstate I-40.

The Mother Road crossed the Texas state line at Texola, OK, near Shamrock, and traveled west through McLean, Alanreed, Groom, Amarillo and into Adrian. From there, it continued on to Glenrio and into New Mexico.

Adrian is a popular stop for travelers, as it is located at the geo-mathematical midpoint of Route 66, positioned 1,139 miles (1,833 km) from both Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. It is a small community, with only a couple of hundred residents.

The town's motto is "When you are here, you're halfway there."

What to See Along Route 66 in Adrian

Today, three active, Route 66 businesses are located in Adrian, each separately and privately owned ... see details below on this page:

  • Mid-Point Café & Gift Shop
  • Fabulous 40s Motel
  • Dream Maker Station Route 66 Souvenir & Gift Shop
Map showing the location of Adrian, Texas along U.S. Route 66, between Amarillo and Glenrio
Map showing the location of Adrian, Texas on U.S. Route 66

 

Painted line across Route 66 in Adrian, Texas marking the midpoint of the historic highway Welcome to Adrian, Texas, the midpoint of U.S. Route 66, 1,139 miles to Los Angeles and Chicago

Midpoint Café & Gift Shop in Adrian

Earlier Years of the Café

The building that today houses the Midpoint Café was originally built in 1928, and in the late 1940s was known as Zella's. It remained under that name until the late 1950s when new owners renamed it Jesse's Café. Over time it was renamed again as the Adrian Café, and finally to the "Midpoint Café and Gift Shop".

Fran Houser, the owner of the Midpoint Café restaurant, antique and souvenir shop from 1990 until 2012, was the basis for the character of Flo of "Flo's V8 Café" in the 2006 Pixar animated movie "Cars". Fran also owned "Sunflower Station", located just to the west of the Café, until she sold the property to new owners who have transformed it into "Dream Maker Station".

The Midpoint Café Today

The Café has become a "must see" destination for roadtrippers traveling on Route 66 in west Texas. Brenda Hammit is the owner of the Café; she started as a cook at the Café in 2013 and took over ownership in 2018.

It offers a full, varied menu for breakfast including egg platters, pancakes, hash browns, country bisquits & gravy and much more! Lunch offers many options, including burgers, BLTs, twisted grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs and other delicious items. Save room for dessert as it is widely known for its famous "ugly crust pies"! Be sure to lick the pie plate!

The Café is also a popular stop for photo ops and selfies! The café, one of oldest eateries on Route 66, is located at 305 Historic Route 66 in Adrian, about 50 miles west of Amarillo.

It is closed during the winter months. For more information and opening dates/times, phone 806.536.6379 and visit the Café on Facebook.

Read more about the Midpoint Cafe & Gift Shop on Facebook

Exterior view of the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Adrian, Texas, on Historic U.S. Route 66 Route 66 Roadside Attraction: Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Adrian, Texas
The classic sign at the  Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Adrian, Texas, on Route 66 The old Ford at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Route 66, Adrian, Texas
Mural at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Route 66, Adrian, Texas The gift shop: at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Route 66, Adrian, Texas
The gift shop: at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Route 66, Adrian, Texas "Route 66 Pancakes" at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Historic U.S. Route 66, Adrian, Texas
"Ugly Crust Pies" at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Route 66, Adrian, Texas "Ugly Crust Pie" at the Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop, Route 66, Adrian, Texas

Fabulous 40s Motel

The motel is located at 301 West Historic Route 66 ... "the first and last motel in Texas", at I-40 Exits 22 and 23. Phone 806.214.3043

Read more about the Fabulous 40s Motel on Facebook

The Fabulous 40s Motel, in Adrian, Texas, on Historic US Route 66
The Fabulous 40s Motel, in Adrian, Texas, on Historic US Route 66 The Fabulous 40s Motel, in Adrian, Texas, on Historic US Route 66

Dream Maker Station Route 66 Souvenir & Gift Shop

Dream Maker Station is located at 307 West Historic Route 66 in Adrian, just west of the Midpoint Café. Formerly owned and operated by Fran Houser, the previous owner of the Midpoint Café, as the Sunflower Station, it was reopened in 2024 by new owners, with a new name.

Phone 937.935.2204 and visit
Dream Maker Station page on Facebook and Dream Maker Station public group on Facebook

Dream Maker Station Route 66 Souvenir & Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas
Dream Maker Station Route 66 Souvenir & Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas Dream Maker Station Route 66 Souvenir & Gift Shop in Adrian, Texas

The Bent Door Midway Station

The Bent Door Café and trading post in Adrian was built by Bob Harris in 1947 on the site of the 1940s Kozy Kottage Kamp. The structure incorporates portions of a former air traffic control tower decommissioned after World War II - the tower windows originally slanted toward the runway, so the door is bent to match. The most recent Bent Door restoration efforts were begun in 2009.

Read about the status of the Bent Door restoration on Facebook

The historical Bent Door Midway Station in Adrian, Texas The famous red Bent Door at the Midway Station on Route 66 in Adrian, Texas


Welcome to Adrian, Texas, home of the Matadors, on Historic U.S. Route 66
Welcome to Adrian, Texas, home of the Matadors, on Historic Route 66


Earlier times in Adrian during a September, 2003 Route 66 road trip ... Texas Bar-B-Q & Antiques ... Later Brenda's Cafe (Staff Photo)
Texas Bar-B-Q at the mid-point of Route 66, in Adrian, Texas


Interactive Map of Adrian, Texas

 

More Adrian Information and Resources

More About Adrian

Oldham County Chamber of Commerce

Oldham County

More About Vega

Hotels and Restaurants in nearby Vega at TripAdvisor ... with Traveler Reviews


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