The following is from a research analysis of the Tower Conoco and U-Dropp Inn cafe done by ARCHITEXAS, to view the whole paper click on the link at the end of the paragraph:
The Tower Station and U-Drop Inn, constructed in 1936, is one of the finest examples of roadside commercial architecture in the nation. Constructed in the Art-Deco style, unusual for commercial buildings of this scale, the building was designed to attract travelers in a very competitive travel and tourism industry. Despite the demise of such businesses, brought on by the advent of the interstate highway system, the building remains an icon to Route-66 enthusiasts around the world. On any given day, the station is visited by a rich cross section of people from diverse backgrounds, all interested in exploring the vanishing cultural resources along the remnants of the old highway. The Route-66 commercial strip in Shamrock has largely disappeared, but the Tower Station/U-Drop inn remains intact and relatively unscathed. In early 1999, a group of Shamrock citizens joined with the local government to develop a plan for the rehabilitation of their most important commercial landmark. The plan, which focused on preserving the building’s role as a tourist icon, called for the use of the building as avisitor’s center and local chamber of commerce office. The city submitted an application to the Texas Department of Transportation for funding through the Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program, TEA-21, and a rehabilitation grant was awarded totaling $1,746,864.00. ARCHITEXAS, Architecture, Planning & Historic Preservation, Inc. (AT) was commissioned by Phillips Swager Associates and the City of Shamrock to preservation and restoration goals of the city. The recommendations of this Historic Structure Report and Master Plan are based on the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Reporting and Reconstructing Historic Buildings. In addition, the project was developed with the guidance of the Texas Department of Transportation who made the rehabilitation possible. The City of Shamrock is committed to the rehabilitation of the station to a 1940c period of significance by preserving materials from this period and removing materials from other periods. This Historic Structures Report and Master Plan was prepared by ARCHITEXAS under the direction of Craig Melde, Principal in Charge and Nancy McCoy, Project Architect, and Jay Firsching, Preservation Specialist along with team of consultants experienced in the restoration of historic properties.
Built in 1936. Sits at the intersection of Route 66 and Highway 83 in Shamrock, Texas. The building was constructed as three separate businesses: 1. The Tower Conoco Station, so named for the tall tower gracing its roof. 2. The U-Drop Inn Cafe, named by a local schoolboy in a contest that awarded him $50.00 for his idea. 3. A retail store, never use
d as such, but soon taken over by the cafe folks for use as a ballroom and overflow dining room. The building was beautiful in its day; neon lighting, deco details and glazed ceramic tile walls. It gradually took a beating, the biggest hit coming in the 70s when it was painted red-white-and-blue and converted to a FINA station. The building operated successfully for most of its life, finally closing completely in the mid 90s. The Shamrock Chamber of Commerce is utilizing a federal transportation enhancement grant (TEA-21) administered by the Texas
Department of Transportation to restore the building to its original grandeur. Soon the chamber will occupy the retail space as the Chamber/Tourism office. The Cafe will be restored as a stopping place for weary travelers to get a cup of coffee, a soda or just to play some dominoes and chat with local old-timers. The station is to be restored as, well, a sort of museum of itself; restored to what it looked like as an operating 1940 station so route-66ers and gas station buffs can stop and walk through. The plan also calls for a picnic area, dump station, and travel info kiosk.
The beautiful Tower Conoco station was used as the inspiration for “Ramone’s Body Shop” in the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ofMilFXlUk
d as such, but soon taken over by the cafe folks for use as a ballroom and overflow dining room. The building was beautiful in its day; neon lighting, deco details and glazed ceramic tile walls. It gradually took a beating, the biggest hit coming in the 70s when it was painted red-white-and-blue and converted to a FINA station. The building operated successfully for most of its life, finally closing completely in the mid 90s. The Shamrock Chamber of Commerce is utilizing a federal transportation enhancement grant (TEA-21) administered by the Texas
Department of Transportation to restore the building to its original grandeur. Soon the chamber will occupy the retail space as the Chamber/Tourism office. The Cafe will be restored as a stopping place for weary travelers to get a cup of coffee, a soda or just to play some dominoes and chat with local old-timers. The station is to be restored as, well, a sort of museum of itself; restored to what it looked like as an operating 1940 station so route-66ers and gas station buffs can stop and walk through. The plan also calls for a picnic area, dump station, and travel info kiosk.
The beautiful Tower Conoco station was used as the inspiration for “Ramone’s Body Shop” in the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ofMilFXlUk
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