Glenrio Texas - A Route 66 Casualty

Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico

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Though Glenrio’s permanent population never rose over about thirty people, the town survived with its tourist based businesses catering to the many travelers along Route 66. In 1955, the small town suffered a severe blow when the Rock Island Depot was closed. But, the town was doomed to extinction when Interstate 40 was built, bypassing the small community.

The Ehresman family, who operated a combination grocery store, filling station and tourist shop pulled up roots and moved their business to Endee, New Mexico, five miles to the west. Endee, now too, is an abandoned town. Charles Jones moved his cafe and filling station north to the bypass in Oldham County, Texas.

Though te Little Juarez Cafe looks like it was one of the

many pre-packaged Valentine Diners, it is not.

Photo by David Alexander, May, 2004.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

By 1985 only two residents remained in the small town and the Texas post office was the only business open. It too has long since closed.

Today, the town is only visited by those travelers wishing to relive the history of old Route 66. The ghost town remains home to the long Little Juarez Cafe, that looks very much like an old Valentine Diner, but is really just a replica. The dusty collection of empty buildings also includes the old motel, a gas station and post office.

Glenrio’s old main street, which still stands intact, continues on to old Route 66, a dirt road following the old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad right of way. Alternatively, you can return to I-40, where you will see an old gas station at the exit to Endee.

Glenrio is located in extreme northwest Deaf Smith County, Texas and along the eastern border of Quay County, New Mexico.

To get to Glenrio, while traveling west along I-40, you will take exit 369 off of I-40 (Endee exit), turn right at the stop, and left onto the north frontage road.

When traveling eastbound on I-40, you can take the Bard Exit 361. Note that the majority of the road from Bard to Glenrio is dirt and gravel.

Glenrio Signs, May, 2004, Kathy Weiser

© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated September, 2007.

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Old watertower in Glenrio. Photo by David Alexander,

May, 2004.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

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