As you enter town you will see the ruins of the old Shamrock gas station and a faded tavern once known as Carlo’s place.  Just beyond are several falling down shacks and a broken up wooden train car.  Back in the old days, these were often made into rudimentary homes.

Next, you'll see what remains of Wilkerson’s Store and Gulf Gas station, which survived the I-40 bypass all the way up until 1989.  Near here is also a unidentified falling down motel and a small little building with the strangest sign in the window.  It says:  “Figural Bottles,” which are bottles shaped like something other items, such as a pig, a violin, a fish, etc.  Usually these are antiques and this was probably an antique store at one time.

The post office, established in 1910, doubled as a gas station and a store.  Shut down long ago, the fading relic still stands. 

As you head just a bit more down the old road, there is an open Phillips 66 station just off of the I-40 exit.  It’s a bit odd that this entire town, with off-ramps from both directions of the interstate, totally faded into nothingness.  An old church sits just south of the Phillips 66 station next to I-40.  With cracks in its adobe structure and weeds growing right up to its door, this old place of worship hasn’t seen a mass in many days.

Continuing along the old road, take caution as it is rough and narrow with many low spots that could quickly fill with water during seasons of rain and snow.  Cuervo, another ghost town is just about nine  miles ahead.

Newkirk Antique Store featuring figural bottles,

December, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

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