The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock, Texas, on Historic U.S. Route 66

Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe on Route 66 in Shamrock

Welcome to Shamrock, Texas on Historic U.S. Route 66

The Mother Road crossed the Texas state line at Texola, OK, near Shamrock, and traveled through McLean and Groom on its way to Amarillo. Shamrock is 15 miles west of the Oklahoma-Texas border.

First settled in 1890, the city is located in south central Wheeler County, and has a population of about 2,000 residents. The location of U.S. Highway 66 made the main avenue of Shamrock boom with garages, filling stations, restaurants, and tourist courts.

A popular stop for Route 66 travelers is the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn. We have visited there, and it is highly recommended!

Tower Station & U-Drop Inn Cafe

Tower Station and the U-Drop Inn Cafe were opened in 1936 to provide services for travelers heading west on the Mother Road. The Conoco station provided fuel for those early travelers, while the adjacent cafe provided food and drink. The third area was envisioned as a retail store, but became an overflow seating area for the cafe.

Restored in 2004, today the iconic art deco building of green glazed tile and brick serves as a Visitor Information Center and also houses the Chamber of Commerce. It hosts over 25,000 visitors a year from around the world ... a "must see" when traveling this part of Route 66!

The building served as the inspiration for Ramone's House of Body Art in Pixar's movie "Cars".

In 2021 the U-Drop Inn Cafe began offering restaurant service in the building for the first time in decades. The building is located at 101 East 12th St. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 and Historic Route 66, about six blocks north of Shamrock's downtown commercial district.

The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe in Shamrock

The Conoco tower against a brilliant blue Texas sky in Shamrock	Historic marker at the Tower Building in Shamrock
Sign at the U-Drop Inn Cafe	Conoco gas pumps at Tower Station

Interactive Map Showing the Location of Tower Station and U-Drop Inn

Mural in Shamrock, Texas: Crossroads of America ... Home of the Midnight Cowboy Bill Mack
The Shamrock Water Tower Plaza includes the estimated 172-foot tall city water tower, built in 1915, which is believed to be the tallest of its class in Texas, a long mural of historic Shamrock on the building next door, and interesting display plaques showing the history of the tower and various stages of construction. Located at the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue.