Nestled sixteen miles west of Groom, Texas, lies the captivating ghost town of Conway, Texas. This historic settlement, once a vibrant stop on the iconic Mother Road before reaching Amarillo, embodies the classic narrative of small-town America shaped and ultimately transformed by the ebb and flow of progress. The story of Conway, Texas, is a poignant journey from its humble beginnings as a ranching outpost to a bustling Route 66 haven, and finally, to its current tranquil state as a revered relic of the past.
Early Beginnings in the Texas Panhandle
In the late 1800s, the area that would become Conway, Texas, started as a modest sheep and ranching community. The foundation for local education was laid early, with the establishment of the Lone Star School in 1892. This institution is credited as being the first rural school in the Texas Panhandle to achieve lasting success, serving the children of the pioneering ranchers and homesteaders who called this rugged land home.
The Railroad Era and Initial Growth
The turning point for the nascent settlement arrived in 1903 with the extension of the Choctaw Route of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Gulf Railroad. This crucial development spurred growth, leading to the establishment of a post office in the same year. The town was officially named in honor of H. B. Conway, a respected former Carson County Commissioner. By 1905, brothers Delzell and P.H. Fisherin had meticulously platted the town, marking its formal layout.
Early enterprises included a store managed by Edward S. Carr, which also housed the post office by 1907. The community quickly expanded, boasting a railroad depot, a dedicated grocery store, and a blacksmith shop. Wheat farmers in the vicinity benefited from a steam-operated threshing machine, a testament to the region’s agricultural promise. Further solidifying its community spirit, an interdenominational church was erected in 1912.
A Brief Boom: The Roaring Twenties
The 1920s brought an era of prosperity to the Texas Panhandle, significantly boosting Conway, Texas. The agricultural sector experienced a boom, complemented by the burgeoning oil industry that further invigorated the local economy. Reflecting this period of growth and communal spirit, Conway formed its own community club and initiated an annual community fair, fostering a strong sense of local identity. Despite these developments, the town’s population remained small, numbering just 25 residents by 1925, highlighting its tightly-knit character.
Route 66: The Lifeline and the Landmark
The legendary Route 66 was designated to pass through the Texas Panhandle in 1926, forever changing the trajectory of Conway, Texas. However, the exact route remained a subject of intense debate within Carson and Potter Counties, east of Amarillo. This ‘highway tangle’ was finally resolved in August 1930, a momentous occasion proudly announced by the Amarillo Daily News. Federal officials ultimately approved the highway segment between Conway and the Potter County line, aligning it north of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Local residents celebrated this resolution, as the delay had postponed the paving of a ten-mile section of the roadbed. By the close of 1930, the road was paved and fully open, providing a direct link to Amarillo.
The completion of Route 66 spurred immediate development in Conway, which swiftly adapted to cater to travelers. Tourist courts, inviting restaurants, and essential service stations sprang up, transforming the town into a bustling stop along the ‘Main Street of America.’ A new brick school building was constructed in 1930, signifying continued investment in the community’s future. By 1939, Conway’s population had swelled to approximately 125 people, a five-fold increase that underscored the highway’s profound impact.
The Dawn of Decline: I-40 and Isolation
The prosperity brought by Route 66 proved to be ephemeral. Just over a decade after its construction, the Conway school district was consolidated in 1943, leading to students being bussed to Panhandle, roughly 9.5 miles north. The school building, no longer serving its original purpose, was repurposed as a community center. The ultimate blow to the small town arrived around 1965 when Interstate 40 was completed, effectively bypassing Conway, Texas by 1.3 miles. This new, faster highway diverted the vital stream of travelers, slowly but inexorably isolating the once-thriving roadside community.
A Final Effort: The Crutchfield Family and the Bug Ranch
Despite the bypass, some attempted to breathe new life into Conway. In 1967, the entrepreneurial Crutchfield family established a roadside service station, a unique curio shop named the Longhorn Ranch, and an unconventional attraction: the Rattlesnake Ranch. These ventures were strategically located just off Interstate 40 at Exit 96, near Texas Highway 207, designed to draw travelers from the modern highway. This effort seemed to pay off initially, as Conway’s population reached its peak of 175 people in 1969.
However, the town’s fate was sealed. As the bypass took its toll, residents began to relocate, and businesses struggled. By 1970, the population had plummeted to just 50 individuals. Though the town still managed to support two grain elevators, four service stations, three cafes, and a general store at that time, the decline continued. Conway’s post office permanently closed its doors in 1976, followed by the termination of railroad operations in 1980. By the turn of the millennium in 2000, the population of Conway, Texas had dwindled to a mere 20 people.
In 2002, a new Love’s Travel Stop truck stop opened on the north side of I-40 at the same exit, further drawing business away from the Crutchfield’s station. In a final, creative attempt to lure customers, the Crutchfield family conceived the ‘VW Bug Ranch.’ As a playful parody of Amarillo’s famous Cadillac Ranch, five brightly painted Volkswagen Beetles were buried nose-down in the ground, accompanied by signs announcing the new attraction. The Bug Ranch quickly garnered publicity and drew an influx of visitors. Yet, even this iconic roadside stop couldn’t stem the tide of change. In 2003, the Rattlesnake Ranch, the curio shop, and the gas station ultimately closed, and the Crutchfield family moved away. The vibrant yellow ‘bugs’ soon became canvases for graffiti, mirroring their Cadillac counterparts. After twenty years, the cars were removed. However, in June 2024, the Big Texan in Amarillo acquired the original VW Beetles, reopening the Bug Ranch in front of the Big Texan RV Ranch, preserving this beloved Route 66 landmark for future generations.
Conway Today: A Lingering Legacy
Today, the physical remnants of Conway, Texas serve as a stark reminder of its past glory. The old 1930 school building stands boarded up, a silent monument to forgotten lessons. Any trace of the community church has vanished. The Crutchfield’s Longhorn Ranch and service station lie vandalized and in ruins, their former structures now collapsing into the landscape. Only a handful of people still call this tiny town home. At the Conway exit, two motels – the Executive Inn and the Conway Inn – ostensibly remain, though their associated restaurant buildings appeared closed during a 2018 visit, highlighting the challenges faced by bypassed communities.
Despite its current state as a ghost town, Conway, Texas holds a significant place in the annals of American travel, particularly for enthusiasts of the Mother Road. The stretch of pavement returning south to the intersection of Texas Highway 207 and FM 2161, near the old grain elevators, represents a crucial piece of history. This 7.2-mile segment, running west before rejoining I-40, was proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. It is celebrated as the longest and best-preserved section of Route 66 in Texas. Traveling this road today offers a unique immersion into the past. Though local traffic still uses it, the presence of the abandoned railroad bed, the absence of modern intrusions, the sprawling open rangeland, and the profound quiet evoke the authentic feel of old Route 66 like few other places. Even the stately concrete grain elevators along the route date back to 1914, silent sentinels of a bygone era. For those continuing their Route 66 journey, turning west from this historic segment onto I-40, then onto Business I-40 and US 60 (which merges with Amarillo Boulevard), offers further glimpses into regional history. Travelers will pass the former Amarillo Air Force Base property, now part of Amarillo College, which the original Route 66 pavement once traversed. The route also leads past English Field, Amarillo’s inaugural airport, connecting the dots of early 20th-century progress and infrastructure.
Conclusion: An Enduring Spirit on the Mother Road
The story of Conway, Texas, is a powerful microcosm of the American West’s development, rise, and decline. From its origins as a small ranching community and a vital railroad stop, it flourished briefly with the advent of Route 66, becoming a beacon for travelers seeking adventure on the open road. The town’s eventual bypass by Interstate 40 serves as a stark reminder of how progress, while necessary, can often leave communities in its wake. Yet, Conway is more than just a ghost town; it is a living museum, preserving a significant piece of Route 66 history within its quiet landscapes. For those who seek to understand the soul of America’s Mother Road, the remaining structures and the remarkably preserved section of highway near Conway, Texas, offer an invaluable, tangible link to an unforgettable era of travel and resilience. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the communities that dotted the legendary highway, inviting modern-day explorers to connect with a past that continues to resonate.
