Starting with the map …. Zoom in on Amarillo and find TX 136. Go north to Fritch, At Fritch we stopped at Lake Merideth (Just Beautiful!!) then we took TX136 to Ranch Road 687 and we stopped at the dam. Then Ranch Road 1319 north to FM 1913 north to TX 152 west to Dumas. From Dumas we took US287 North to Stratford. From Stratford we took US54 to Dalhart. From Dalhart US 385 South to Channing then on to Vega. From Vega we took I40 west to Glenrio then back east to Adrian and on into Amarillo using Business 40 (historic Route 66).
Lake Meredeth National Recreation Area … We entered the area between Fritch and Sanford on Fritch Fortress Road. The drive into the area was Awesome. Red Bluffs on both sides. Winding two lane blacktop road following the walls of the canyon. At the end of the ride this is what we found waiting:
We didn’t stay long, but, we were there long enough to know one day we will get back to see more of this place. Next we drove over to the dam in the town of sanford. There is a park and the road down is on a steep grade. Once at the bottom, the valley floor is open and inviting. No pets are allowed in this park, so we didn’t stay long at all. We looked around a bit, took in the scenery and the early morning fresh air and off we went.
Dumas, Texas. Nice little town. Main Street and the town square were nice, just off main street was all but totally dilapidated. They do have an old theater in operation, a few stores with nice wares and antiques for shopping and a beautiful courthouse for a backdrop.
Stratford, Texas. Stratford has a small museum in the old Rail Depot. Lots of artifacts and history on the town and its inhabitants. Photos of the dust bowl, WWII era, Family histories, uniforms, trinkets, furniture. That little depot is stuffed to the gills. And the lady in there the day we went was an amazing host. Was definitely worth the stop and the donation for admission.
Dalhart Texas had quite a lot going on. First off, their downtown area was really very nice. Everywhere you look there is some sort of connection to the legendary XIT ranch. XIT cleaners, XIT western wear, XIT used cars … OK, I am starting to exaggerate, but, you get the point. What is this XIT? Well, it must have been really important to Austin, because, Austin provided the theater in Dalhart with Pink Granite from the state capital. We tried to see the XIT museum, but, it was closed at the day/time we were in town. Maybe on some future trip we can learn more about it. Dalhart has a statue on its courthouse grounds that Officials in China sent to thank the town for one of its sons. An active playhouse called the LaRita Theater is the Gem of Main Street. Memorial to the 305th Airdrome Squadron is an imposing memorial on the grounds of the courthouse. The 305th had been assigned to Dalhart Army Airfield and saw action in several Pacific Theater places including Layte and Okinawa. We tried to find a famous sculpture called the “Empty Saddle” unsuccessfully. We just may have to go back to Dalhart one day to see the stuff we missed.
Channing, Texas is a sleepy little town. That’s a nice way of saying there is absolutely nothing there, except the courthouse (and it appeared to be closed).
Vega was the last town on our “County Seat” tour and first town back on the “Route 66” tour. The County Courthouse in Vega is Newer than the others we photographed on this tour. Vega is home to several Route 66 Attractions including Dot’s Mini Museum (Dot Passed, but, the museum lives). A fully restored Magnolia Station and some abandoned buildings.
Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico straddled the border of the two states. The motel in Texas (First Motel In Texas / Last Motel In Texas) depending on which side you were coming from and which side of the sign you were looking at on the road. The rest of the town is in New Mexico. There are very few signs of life, Glenrio is effectively a Ghost Town.
Finally, We stopped in at Adrian, Texas on the way back to Amarillo. There isn’t a lot there other than it is the old midpoint of Route 66. The Mid Point Cafe still operates limited hours, The Bent Door Cafe is said to be preparing for restoration. A few Abandoned Gas Stations round out the offerings. The image of the Coke Machine at the top of this page was taken at the Bent Door Cafe Grounds.
One can very clearly see the reason the Bent Door Cafe was named what it was …. legend is the door came from an Airport Control Tower and the building was built around it …
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