Filling Station

I thought I'd put up a photo of one of the more unusual gas stations we've encountered in our travels. While the truck is filling up you can go inside and sample some wine. This was in Puxico, Kansas.

Sample some wine and then get in the truck and drive. I hope the samples are small. Interesting combination. They don't have any customers.

Tater

There's something similar at Big Amana on I-80 in central Iowa.

The specialty stop used to be something to look forward to when I was a kid. That was back when traveling cross country was still an event.

I still remember looking forward to stopping at a Nickerson Farms or a Stuckeys when we traveled. They had something for everybody.

TC

Those dried out pecan logs, for example. We HAD to get one every time we stopped at a Stuckeys. They were so rich, we could never finish one.

I think there is a big tourist stop with a gas station on the north end of Georgia. I've heard about it, but we've never traveled that road. Friends of mine who drove down to WDW from NY would talk about it. It was called South Of The Border or something like that.

I'm sure there are members of this forum who have stopped there at one time or another.

Tater

I loved those pecan logs. I was sooooo sad when most of the Stuckey's went out of business.

Tater; I thought I had stopped at all the tourist traps because they normally have a place to park the rig, but I cann't remember one up here on the North End of Georgia. Which HWY is it located on? Thanks Jim

Scruffy and Tater wrote: It was called South Of The Border or something like that.
Tater

This behemoth of a truck stop / tourist trap is on I95 on the border of South and North Carolina. You start to see the bill boards about 200 miles in either direction advertising it! Everything on the billboard says something about Pedro
It has a ~10 story tall tower with a huge sombrero on it! Cant miss it unless your dring with your eyes closed.

restruants, game rooms, hotels, play ground, and I think a small amusement park (small carnival type amusement park).

Ooops!! Wrong state - couldn't remember I-95, even though I've heard so much about it from people traveling down from NJ and other states up north.

We stop sometimes at Cline's Corner on I-40 in NM... somewhere between Tucumcari and Albuquerque. They actually have some pretty nice stuff there. I bought some pictures once and they are above the small living room/dining room windows in the Cat.

Tater

Check these out...

14 bizarre gas stations worth a pit stop:
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/photos/14-bizarre-gas-stations-worth-a-pit-stop

Wildcat Chris wrote:Check these out...

14 bizarre gas stations worth a pit stop:
http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/photos/14-bizarre-gas-stations-worth-a-pit-stop

Very cool Chris.

My MIL that made the door quilt for me would dig the station covered in squares. And I had no idea Frank Lloyd Wright designed gas stations too.

TC

Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

TC

TC wrote:Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

TC

Yup! The Esso station in my town had one. I think it was an 8 ou. bottle and it cost a dime. My Dad would give me a quarter to ride my bike down to the Esso station to fill up the gallon gas can for the lawn mower and a dime to get the Coke as a reward. I loved riding my bike across the rubber hose that set the bell off. NJ in the 50's, gotta' love it.

Thanks for reminding me TC.

schrowang wrote:

TC wrote:Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

TC

Yup! The Esso station in my town had one. I think it was an 8 ou. bottle and it cost a dime. My Dad would give me a quarter to ride my bike down to the Esso station to fill up the gallon gas can for the lawn mower and a dime to get the Coke as a reward. I loved riding my bike across the rubber hose that set the bell off. NJ in the 50's, gotta' love it.

Thanks for reminding me TC.

Now that you mention it, I can recall irritating the mechanic by running over the rubber hose again and again...and again. The bell was out in the service bay.

TC

Thanks Chris for the memories.

We drove past the station in Shamrock, TX a few years ago. I like the art deco architecture.

The one in Odell, IL, on old route 66 - we've driven past that one quite a few times. It's highly likely that we stopped there for gas when I was very young and the family went on a road trip.

Yes, I remember getting Coke out of those old ice chests. Came close to buying one of those old chests about 30 years ago -before they became collector's items - regret that I didn't.

OMG - I had forgotten about those bells. That was in the days when we could ride our bikes anywhere without fear. Well, sometimes a dog would snarl a bit.

Tater

TC wrote:Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

TC

TC: You talking about the one that had metal slats that held the bottles up right and off the bottom. When you drop your money in the slot. You slide the drink between the slats to the end of the box and pull it up through triping lever. The Box had water to help chill the drinks?
Those types chilled the drinks the best.
Those types were deemed by Health Depts as Unhealthy.

One other Note: Find a Small Coke bottle with Emporia, Va on the bottom, And you can start a Bidding war on EBay. Emporia Va plant only bottle coke for about 1 year.

Frank, that's exactly what I'm talking about! And you're right, they kept those bottles ice cold.

I still have one of those old coke bottles as a keepsake. My mother used it to suspend her bundt cakes off the counter to cool.

TC

Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

I remember those quite well. Cold cold Coke.

I always stop at Cline's Corner when I go that way. It's seems so far from anything else, it's kind of a must stop for me.

I pass by South of the Border 2 or 3 times a year. Have never stopped there as I'm always on my way to or from Plymouth, NC and in a hurry both ways. The signs they have always bring a smile.

[quote="BobnPi"]

I pass by South of the Border 2 or 3 times a year. Have never stopped there as I'm always on my way to or from Plymouth, NC and in a hurry both ways. The signs they have always bring a smile.

BobnPi:
You go to the Paper Mill there in Plymouth, NC?

BobnPi:
You go to the Paper Mill there in Plymouth, NC?

Yes. We stay in Williamson when we are there. I work shut downs in paper mills all over the country. I do specialized ultrasonic inspections to determine the integrity of piping in their boilers using automated/computer driven equipment.

TC wrote:Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

TC

For me it was the country store Down the road in town we would ride our bikes down there and get a Coke and a candy bar for about ten cents. Used to be a family owned store with barrels of dill pickles and bags of peanuts and in the back of the store was Hardware and stuff. I bought a lot of nails from them to build tree houses.

onetonford wrote:

TC wrote:Since we're on the subject of gas stations, does anyone remember getting coke in a bottle out of a chest cooler, with the bottle opener on the side?

TC

I bought a lot of nails from them to build tree houses.

Never had a tree house. My girlfriends and I would go out into the cornfield across the road, though, and stomp down corn to make rooms. No one could see us. Didn't work when the field was planted in soy beans.... but, those years we got out our pea shooters.

Tater

The house I grew up in was built in a brand new neighborhood when I was about 7 or 8. Our house was one of the first on the circle. There were no mature trees, but a lot of vacant lots. So my friends and I dug a lot of earth forts and tunnels.

TC

BobnPi wrote:

BobnPi:
You go to the Paper Mill there in Plymouth, NC?

Yes. We stay in Williamson when we are there. I work shut downs in paper mills all over the country. I do specialized ultrasonic inspections to determine the integrity of piping in their boilers using automated/computer driven equipment.

I am going to assume you are talking about the Domtar Paper Mill. I am in charge of wood procurement for the Domtar Paper Mill here in Ashdown. If you are ever working here and need somewhere to park, let me know, I may be able to help out. Usually the campgrounds around fill up pretty quick in a shut down.

It really is a small world.

Yes, Domtar. I come to Ashdown a few times a year. We have an office trailer there on the southeast side of the mill. I've talked to you on the phone once before about Daisy State Park you like going to. We went there once and could not get a spot due to the size of our Cat. Mostly problems with slideouts.

When I'm up that way again, I'll try to give you a call and maybe we can have lunch. I usually go to Pizza Hut, there isn't much of a choice in Ashdown.

I remember passing South of the Border as a kid (before I-95). It was a hole in the wall then. It is amazing how it has gotten so huge through the years. I still remember reading all the "Pedro Says" signs and looking forward to the next one and also the "Burma Shave" signs.