Route 66 Gas Station - Art Deco Gas, Conoco Tower Station, Retro, Art for Walls, Neon, Cream, Pop of Color, Texas, Route 66, Gift for Men

It was a December day that could freeze fire. The kind of cold that seeped into your bones and made you question every life choice that led you to standing outdoors with a camera in hand. Yet, there I was, along Route 66 in Shamrock, Texas, determined to capture the brilliance of the Conoco Tower Station.

The wind was mercifully still, but the air was sharp, biting against my face as I set up my tripod. The neon lights of the Tower Station cut through the icy evening like a beacon, their vibrant greens and reds glowing against the inky black sky. Every detail of the art deco architecture screamed nostalgia—a vivid reminder of a time when gas stations weren’t just functional but also works of art.

The Tower Station was built in 1936 and quickly became an icon along Route 66. Its tall spire, topped with a stylized green spire, served as a lighthouse for weary travelers navigating the "Mother Road." Years later, its fame extended to the big screen when it inspired the design of Ramone’s House of Body Art in Pixar’s Cars. The connection wasn’t something I truly appreciated until this year when my eight year old daughter and I binge watched all three Cars movies over a weekend. To my surprise, I loved them—maybe even more than she did. Seeing the Tower Station in real life made me feel like I’d driven straight into Radiator Springs.

As I clicked the shutter, the world around me seemed to quiet. The hum of the neon lights, and the distant rumble of semi-trucks on I-40 were the only sounds. The crisp smell of winter air mingled with a faint whiff of asphalt. It was as if time had stopped, and I was the only person in the world standing witness to this masterpiece of American road culture.

Despite the cold, my fingers tingled with excitement as I adjusted the camera settings, ensuring every detail of the building’s art deco lines and glowing neon lights was captured. The solitude of the moment was as refreshing as the biting air—it felt like a connection to the countless travelers who had stopped here over the decades.

I finished my shoot, knowing I’d captured something timeless. The Conoco Tower Station didn’t just light up the night; it illuminated a deep sense of history, community, and Americana that made the cold entirely worth it. This wasn’t just a gas station; it was a storybook, a monument to an era, and now, a cherished moment etched into my journey as a photographer.

----------

Production and Shipping Time: 5-7 business days

Premium Photo Paper: 5 days for printing, 5 days for shipping.

Ready-to-Hang Canvas: 5 days for printing, 5 days for shipping.

There are 5 ways to print these images.

1) Premium Photo Paper are high quality, professional paper-prints.
Sharp, Vivid and rich Color sets this apart from a casual photo print.
You'll feel like you're there.
Premium Photo Paper will last a long time.
This option is available in 8x10 inches, 11x14 inches, 16x20 inches or 24x36.
They are designed to be placed in a glass frame, which can be purchased separately (starting at a few dollars at your local Target or online.)

2) Ready to Hang Canvas are ready to hang right out of the box with zero assembly required. Ultimate convenience.
Gorgeous finished look. It comes out of the shipping box finished and ready to hang with a simple nail in the wall.
Canvas Prints are a well-known, high-end way of displaying photographs.
0.75 or 1.5 inch thick (depending on which size that you order) wooden stretcher-bars that give it shape, in the same way an oil painting is traditionally assembled. There are no staples or ugly lines visible on the sides (very important.)
Estimated delivery time for printing, assembling, packing and shipping is around 10 days.

3) Ready to Hang Canvas (split into 3 panels)
This is for larger pieces, and the photograph is split into 3 even panels, 3 separate canvas panels which together make a single large image.
This gives a modern look, and allows spectacularly large sizes on your wall!

4) Aluminum Metal Prints
Create elegant wall decor that shines with high-end, exclusive and unique aluminum metal prints.
Create a polished addition to any home or office. 3/64" thick aluminum panel. Features a glossy coating and rounded edges.
UV resistant ink prevents fading. All metal sizes are ready to hang on your wall, right out of the box.

5) Acrylic Prints
Create eye-catching home decor with modern acrylic prints. Light refracts through the museum-quality acrylic bringing vibrancy and depth to your photos. The 1/8" thick, clear acrylic produces superb image quality from edge to edge and absolutely stunning, brilliant color!
UV resistant ink prevents fading. All acrylic sizes are ready to hang on your wall, right out of the box