Points of Interest & LandmarksObservation Decks & Towers

Monday

9:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Friday

9:00 AM - 5:00 AM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 5:00 AM

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About

The historic Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café was built in 1936 to serve travelers along Route 66. Used as a model for Ramone's Body Art in the movies Cars and Cars II, it now serves as the Shamrock Visitor Information Center. Housing many interesting displays, there is also "Cars Corner" for the kids and grown ups alike with numerous photo opportunities. The center has an expanded gift shop and offers free coffee & tea along with free internet and encourages everyone to "sit a spell" and enjoy the ambiance of this historic icon along the "Mother Road".

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Best nearby

Restaurants

16 within 3 miles

Rusty's On 66

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0.1 mi$ • American • Bar • Pizza

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Grif’s Steakhouse

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Hasty's Restaurant

54

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0.4 mi$ • Pizza • Vegetarian friendly

Taco Bell

29

0.4 mi$ • Quick Bites • Mexican • Fast Food

The Metropole

9

0.7 mi$$ - $$$ • Steakhouse

Tower Plaza Station

1

0.8 miPizza • Fast Food

Farmhouse Cafe

8

0.9 mi$$ - $$$ • American

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Attractions

5 within 6 miles

Conoco Tower Station

9

20 ftHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Blarney Stone

47

0.8 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks

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16

0.7 miSpeciality Museums

Shamrock Water Tower

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0.8 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

See what travelers are saying

MsSylviaM
239 contributions
Great place to stop for lunch or a rest break.
Inside this beautiful art deco building is a small museum, gift shop, visitor's center and cafe. This is a great place to stop for lunch or a snack. They have items like sandwiches, pies, ice cream and coffee. We had sandwiches and freshly made chess pie. All the food was delicious! You can also sit in the same booth that Elvis Presley used. It's a fun place to visit if your are interested in Route 66 historic places or if you just need a break from driving. If you are a Bill Mack fan, be sure and see the tribute to him behind the building.
Visited September 2023
Traveled as a couple
Written September 22, 2023
TJboard56
Indiana58 contributions
So Glad We Stopped!!!
What a fun stop on our drive home from AZ. This town (Shamrock, TX) is so full of history. Built in 1936 and restored in 2003 the Conoco and U Drop Inn Cafe are so cool. It was in the movie Cars. And Elvis visited there and the booth he sat in is a great photo op for all us Elvis fans. Features a gift shop and is a blast from the past. Oh did I mention it is on the Historic Route 66
Visited March 2024
Traveled as a couple
Written March 13, 2024
63impala
Stoneham, Massachusetts1,428 contributions
Got to see it lit up!
So this is our 2nd stop at the U-drop Inn. This time it was after hours. We never got to see the place lit up. Well, we are glad that we did. This is located on the corner of Route 66 and the Road To Nowhere US-83. Even with being closed, you can spend some time here checking things out. This is truly a gem and I think everyone is glad that it has survived over the years!!
Visited May 2024
Traveled as a couple
Written May 26, 2024

These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0

360 reviews

Excellent

295

Very good

60

Average

4

Poor

0

Terrible

1

moviegal226

Las Vegas, NV4,362 contributions

Must-See on Route 66

Nov 2020

In October, hubby and I did a pandemic-safe road trip down part of old Route 66 (a love of ours since we were in our 20s). I was so happy to see that one of my favorite iconic 66 landmarks has been renovated and looks amazing! Shamrock has seen much better days (the town is super sad right now), but this Mother Road icon is glorious.

No longer an operating diner or gas station, the U Drop Inn has classic Art Deco architecture that is timeless. It is a must-see attraction and building for any design nerd. I would put this on my top 10 list of the most photogenic buildings in the U.S.A.

Built in 1936, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the late 1990s. It's served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Radiator Springs in Pixar's "Cars." It's free to stop and take photos!

There's a restroom on-site that was thankfully unlocked when we stopped. Really nice that they keep that open for weary road trippers.

Written May 13, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WednesdayNightGirl

McKinney, TX1,364 contributions

A treasure!

May 2021

This is a beautiful building. I understand that one of the buildings created for the movie "Cars" is based on this building!

It stands on the iconic Route 66 (the old route!) and fits so beautifully into everything you think about like along Route 66. The art deco building served originally as a gas station and the U-Drop-In diner. Today it houses the local Visitor & Information Bureau, but you can still see the old pumps out front, the studebaker truck in the bay and the booths and counter in the diner. It's meticulously maintained and is a popular spot to stop for photos.

Well worth 15 minutes of your time!

Written May 22, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

robert k

Spring, TX139 contributions

A nice little break in a town that doesn't have a lot to see.

Oct 2022

Elvis fans can sit in the same booth he sat in in 1963, and the folks who work here can snap your pic and give you a little history as well. There is also a life size Elvis cutout you can pose with. A clean and well kept diner with friendly employees. The lunch menu was kind of sparse, maybe a better selection for dinner. I got the meatball panini sandwich with a side salad.

Written October 23, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gershwin12

Forest Hills, NY1,895 contributions

Please Give Hazel a Hug for Me; leave with a true sense of Joy

Jul 2023 • Couples

Driving cross country we stopped here based on a review by Atlas Obscura and it was worth the visit. One block away is a chunk of the Blarney Stone, another must see/do when in North East TX. Two highlights of our visit: meeting the amiable Texas native Hazel who chatted with us about the wonders of this place, her photo is included sitting at the Elvis table in the cafe which is the second highlight. A nifty Route 66 gift shop was worth a browse. So yes go, chat with Hazel give her a hug, she gives the best hugs, and have a milk shake. You will feel a sense of joy when you leave.

Written July 3, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

907blaked

Tampa, FL1,456 contributions

Cute stop along the way from Amarillo to Oklahoma City

Mar 2022

We stopped here for about 20 minutes. Very cool old art deco building/gas station, with a gift shop selling Route 66 memorabilia such as t-shirts, ornaments, and magnets. The U-Drop Inn opened at 11am (just as we were leaving) and sold bottled drinks, beautiful looking desserts, and some other things (but not sure how extensive the food selections are). Clean bathrooms.

Written March 20, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hummingbird60

Dunkirk, OH69 contributions

A slice of history!!

Aug 2020 • Couples

So cool. The lady at the center was so friendly, and having been a part of the history of the place herself, was able to offer a unique perspective. She was a waitress at the U Drop Inn as a teen. Her mother actually cooked breakfast for Elvis when he was there. How cool is that?! Well worth taking a look at. You won’t regret it.

Written August 29, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tank1050

Wescosville, PA4,451 contributions

Beautifully restored Art Deco staion and cafe

Sep 2019

This is a great example of the Art Deco style architecture and the station and café are wonderfully restored. It worth the quick stop. The store is the station. It is easily found, just a short distance off of I40 down US83 on the left. Take the time to talk with the very helpful staff.

Written January 16, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MsSylviaM

Oklahoma City, OK239 contributions

Great place to stop for lunch or a rest break.

Sep 2023 • Couples

Inside this beautiful art deco building is a small museum, gift shop, visitor's center and cafe. This is a great place to stop for lunch or a snack. They have items like sandwiches, pies, ice cream and coffee. We had sandwiches and freshly made chess pie. All the food was delicious! You can also sit in the same booth that Elvis Presley used. It's a fun place to visit if your are interested in Route 66 historic places or if you just need a break from driving. If you are a Bill Mack fan, be sure and see the tribute to him behind the building.

Written September 22, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rick B

Round Rock, TX1,402 contributions

what a neat thing to see....

Sep 2020

After a fine dinner at the Calico we decided to drive east on old route 66 through Amarillo and I talked Charlotte into going to Shamrock. We got there after dark and got to see the station in all it's neon glory. what a relic of a by gone time.

Written September 24, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jwalker506

Springfield, MO53 contributions

Just a 100% all around cool place to visit, day or night!

Sep 2020

We are HUGE Route 66 fans! Of course we love this place for its historical value, its day and night beauty, and more. When you walk around this masterpiece, think about it and its role in the movie CARS, too. A real work of art!

Written October 1, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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