Few structures on Route 66 have captured the imagination of travelers like John Nunn's Tower Station and Cafe. From its creation in 1936, to its final closing as a commercial enterprise in the 1990s, this art deco masterpiece at the intersection of U.S. Highways 66 and 83 has served as a Fina Oil station, a Greyhound Bus station and home to the famous, playfully-named U-Drop-Inn.
In 1999, the First National Bank of Shamrock gifted the Tower Station and Cafe to the city. Plans are in place to reopen the landmark as a welcome center. Jay Firsching, a Preservation Specialist with ARCHITEXAS Architecture, has been put in charge of the project. A grant will provide most of the moneys to restore the buildings to their original glory. Personal and corporate donations are being sought to provide period "artifacts" for display. A new picnic area will be installed. Guided tours of the station will be developed. A cup of coffee and a chance to play dominos with local old-timers will highlight every motorist's visit.
Work on the project is slated to begin in the fall of 2002.
Photo © 1983 by Jerry McClanahan. All rights reserved.