
From Ghost Town to Attraction; The Revival of Glenrio, Texas
You'll find numerous iconic landmarks and towns along Route 66 in Texas; from the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock to all the oddities Amarillo offers. One of the most iconic stops along the Mother Road in Texas is Glenrio. It's a town with a fascinating history, a tragic demise, and a new lease on life.
Glenrio, Texas; The Route 66 Ghost Town Big Enough For Two States
The most interesting thing about Glenrio is where it sits on the map. Glenrio is a town that is unique because it's in both Texas and New Mexico. You got the best of both worlds when you lived in or stopped for a rest in Glenrio.

According to legend, at one point all fuel in town was sold on the Texas side because of the cheaper gasoline taxes. There was a bar and motel built on the New Mexico side because Deaf Smith County in Texas was dry at the time. The railroad station was in Texas, while the post office was in New Mexico.
A lot of businesses made their way into Glenrio. Several of them played on the fact that the town sat directly on the Texas and New Mexico border. It was a hub until the interstate was built and bypassed the community. Over the years, the businesses dried up and people left town. In 2010, the population was listed as zero.
A New Life For A Famous Route 66 Ghost Town In Texas
Glenrio fell into complete disrepair. Several buildings were left to face their demise at the hands of the elements. They were vandalized and falling apart. Once iconic roadside signs were dilapidated and in disrepair. Glenrio was a reflection of an almost forgotten era.
Then, New Mexico did something that created an opportunity for the state straddling ghost town. In 2021, they legalized recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over. Glenrio would soon be back in the spotlight.
A clean-up of Glenrio began. The once-forgotten Mother Road icon was getting a new life. The brush was cleared. The crumbling buildings were cleaned up and given a fresh coat of paint. The Glenrio Smoke Stop opened for business.
In the tradition of those businesses from Glenrio's heyday, the Smoke Stop operates on the New Mexico side of Glenrio where cannabis is legal. They offer a dispensary and consumption patio on the side where prohibition isn't an issue, much like the days when Deaf Smith County didn't allow alcohol sales in the 1930s.
Take a look at this before and after of a once decrepit ghost town that's received a second chance at life.
Glenrio, Texas; Iconic Route 66 Ghost Town Getting New Life
Gallery Credit: Charlie Hardin
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Gallery Credit: Charlie Hardin
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