Along the quiet stretch of Route 66 in the Texas Panhandle, the nearly forgotten town of Alanreed still holds a piece of roadside history worth a stop: the 66 Super Service Station. Built in 1930 by Bradley Kiser, this once-bustling gas station was a major stop for motorists navigating early Route 66, and it remains a nostalgic landmark today.
The station sits at the corner of 3rd and Main, the busiest spot in Alanreed during the town’s heyday. In the early days of the highway, this was where the original 1926–1936 alignment of Route 66 turned west. If you were traveling toward California, this was your last reliable stop before hitting the Jericho Gap, an infamous 18-mile dirt stretch known for trapping cars in deep ruts of mud.
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The building itself was considered large for its time. With four gas pumps and two service bays, the 66 Super Service Station lived up to its name. The Craftsman-style brickwork, paired with a Spanish Eclectic red tile roof, gave it a polished look that stood out from other rural stations along the road.
Today, the station is being cared for by the Texas Historic Route 66 Association, and though it no longer serves fuel, it still offers a glimpse into the past. A Texaco gas pump sits out front, locked in time with a price of $1.19 per gallon, and an old bulk oil dispenser adds to the vintage charm. Peek inside the windows and you’ll see reminders of the past: a roll-top desk, a wire-spoked tire, the door to the men’s room, and even a console-style TV that looks straight out of the 1970s or ’80s.
The station operated for over 50 years, remaining part of Route 66 through multiple realignments, until it was bypassed in the 1980s with the construction of Interstate 40. It officially closed in 1982.
Thanks to restoration efforts by the Old Route 66 Association of Texas, the station was given new life in 1993. But after decades of sun, wind, and time, it’s once again in need of care. The roof is still intact, but the building needs a fresh coat of paint and some basic cleaning and landscape cleanup. There’s also hope to restore the front of the garage bays and refinish the gas pumps.
Alanreed might be a small town, but the 66 Super Service Station is a big reminder of how Route 66 shaped communities across the country. It’s a great stop for history buffs, road trippers, and anyone interested in the story of America’s most famous highway.
Photos of the 66 Super Service Station in Alanreed, Texas
