Route 66. The very name evokes images of open roads, classic diners, and a bygone era of American adventure. Stretching from Chicago to California, this legendary highway once pulsed with life, connecting communities and fueling the dreams of those seeking a westward escape.
Hidden along this historic route, straddling the border of New Mexico and Texas, lies a ghost town called Glenrio. Once a vibrant stop for weary travelers, it now stands as a haunting reminder of a time when the rhythm of life was dictated by the flow of traffic along the Mother Road. It even played a small part in Hollywood history.
Founded in 1903 as a simple railroad siding, Glenrio’s name is a poetic blend of Scottish and Spanish – “glen” and “rio,” meaning “river.” But it wasn’t until the birth of Route 66 in 1926 that the town truly began to flourish, becoming a crucial midpoint between Tucumcari, New Mexico, and Amarillo, Texas.
Glenrio quickly transformed into a bustling hub, boasting a motel, service stations, cafes, and grocery stores. The very layout of the town was dictated by the state line that bisected it, a geographical quirk that led to some ingenious – and legally advantageous – business practices.
Fuel was sold exclusively on the Texas side to avoid New Mexico’s higher taxes. Conversely, the lively State Line Bar and motel thrived on the New Mexico side, capitalizing on Texas’s prohibition laws. The State Line Motel famously advertised itself as “First motel in Texas/Last motel in Texas” depending on your direction of travel.
At its peak, Glenrio was home to around thirty residents and even earned a cameo in the 1940 film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s *The Grapes of Wrath*, starring Henry Fonda and John Carradine. It was a place where stories unfolded, and lives intersected.
But the town’s prosperity was tragically short-lived. In 1975, the completion of Interstate 40 bypassed Glenrio, diverting the lifeblood of tourism and leaving the town isolated and forgotten. A slow decline began, and residents gradually moved away.
Today, Glenrio is a haunting landscape of crumbling buildings – the skeletal remains of the motel, cafe, and service station. A few homes still stand, but the town is largely abandoned, a poignant testament to the relentless march of progress.
Despite its desolate state, Glenrio hasn’t been entirely erased from the cultural landscape. In 2007, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and a ghostly echo of the town even appeared in Pixar’s beloved animated film *Cars* as the “Glenn Rio Motel.”
Photographers and history enthusiasts still venture to Glenrio, drawn by its eerie beauty and the stories etched into its decaying walls. The question remains: is a revival possible for this forgotten town?
In 2022, there was a spark of hope. Business partners Gabi Tuschak and Lance Olinger purchased Glenrio with ambitious plans to renovate and revitalize it, envisioning a welcome center, gift shop, cafe, and a restored motel. They spoke of creating a place to disconnect and reconnect.
As of today, however, updates on the project have stalled, leaving the future of Glenrio uncertain. Will it remain a captivating relic of the past, or will it once again become a vibrant stop along the historic Route 66?
