Texas Route 66 Turns 100, and the Panhandle Is Glowing for It

Route 66 turns 100 this year, and the Texas Panhandle — the state's 178-mile share of the Mother Road — is throwing the kind of party that involves restored neon, a film premiere, and a slow parade of old cars through very small towns. Route 66 turns 100 on November 11, 2026, and communities across eight states are mounting celebrations and preservation projects, but the Texas stretch, from Texola to Glenrio, is having a moment all its own.

What's happening

Two things, back to back. This Friday, per Visit Amarillo's centennial calendar, on September 25, 2026, Amarillo hosts the world premiere of the documentary ROUTE 66: The Main Street of America — part of a year in which the Route 66 Centennial comes to life in Amarillo with signature events, the official Texas Route 66 Festival, and experiences across historic Route 66.

Then, the first weekend of October, the Old Route 66 Association of Texas runs its centennial Motor Tour across the whole Texas stretch. It opens October 1st with a Pre-Party Under the Neon at the legendary Tower Station in Shamrock — one of the most iconic neon stops on the highway — featuring The Road Crew, America's official Route 66 band. The association says it's a free event, open to the entire community, a centennial kickoff under the neon. From there, the tour starts at the Texas state line in Texola on the 2nd and ends in Vega.

The neon came back first

The best part of this centennial is what got fixed before the party started. Back in June, KAMR in Amarillo reported that one of Amarillo's most recognizable Route 66 landmarks is glowing once again after a years-long restoration project — the historic neon sign at Cattleman's Club and Cafe, restored through a partnership between the Texas Historical Commission and the City of Amarillo's Business Improvement Grant Program. The sign was in rough shape: it had deteriorated to the point that it required a complete rebuild, and crews examined layers of paint to determine the sign's original appearance while preserving the familiar look many Amarillo residents remember.

They did it the hard way, too. Route 66 News reported that the restoration included the installation of true neon tubing, a craft that has become increasingly rare, handled by Casteel Sign, the company known for restoring the neon Pegasus in downtown Dallas. And it's built to last: the total grant was $500,000, which also covered neon signs at The Nat and Eastridge Lanes in Amarillo, with a 30-year easement to ensure the signs remain in good working order.

Why it matters

A neon sign is a small thing until it goes dark, and then a whole street feels different. The Cattleman's Club has been around since 1952 and is considered one of Amarillo's oldest watering holes — the kind of place that doesn't get a press release when it simply keeps showing up for its neighborhood, year after year. The centennial gave towns from Shamrock to Vega a reason to fix what was fading, and they took it. There are even new wayfinding signs going in: a collaboration will restore historic Route 66 signage in communities from Glenrio to McLean, with the Big Texan funding 27 custom signs for towns along the route.

Go see it while it's lit

You don't need a classic car. Drive the Panhandle stretch any evening this fall: Tower Station in Shamrock, the U-Drop Inn's famous silhouette, the Cattleman's sign buzzing on Amarillo Boulevard, the midpoint café in Adrian. Eat something chicken-fried. If you're the type who wears your state on your chest — and around here, most of us are — our Texas collection was made for exactly this kind of road trip, starting with the Texas State Pride Tee. Neon looks better on a warm night with a full tank and nowhere in particular to be.

Common questions

When exactly is the Route 66 centennial?

The route number was assigned April 30, 1926, and the highway was commissioned November 11, 1926 — so November 11, 2026 is the big day, with events running all year.

Is the October motor tour open to anyone?

The kickoff party is. The association describes the October 1 pre-party in Shamrock as a free event open to the entire community. Check the Old Route 66 Association of Texas for tour registration details.

Where's the best neon on the Texas stretch?

Shamrock's Tower Station is the showpiece, and Amarillo now has three freshly restored signs: Cattleman's Club, The Nat, and Eastridge Lanes. All are on or near the old alignment through town.

Reported by Old Route 66 Association of Texas. Details as published at the time of writing.