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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.
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. |
The Little Juarez Cafe hasn't served a
customer in many years,
November, 2008, Kathy Weiser-Alexander.
This image available for photo prints &
editorial downloads
HERE!
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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 closed Little Juarez Cafe, that looks like
a bricked over old Valentine
Diner, but, is really just a similar
looking building. 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.
©
Kathy Weiser/Legends
of America, updated May,
2013.
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