McLean, TX

McLean was founded in about 1900 as a cattle depot for the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway. The land upon which the town was founded was donated by Alfred Rowe, who was an Englishman who founded the 200,000 acre R O Ranch. Rowe died on the Titanic.

During its heyday, McLean had 16 service stations and six motels.

In 1984, McLean became the last town in Texas bypassed by I-40. It s a dusty little place with a few nice Route 66 remnants. The main thoroughfares through town are one way streets, so to see it all you will need to go through McLean going in both directions. The "Rattlesnakes Exit Here" sign formerly in Lela is now at the entrance of McLean.

The 1928 Phillips 66 Station was the oldest in Texas. It operated for over 50 years.

The 1930s Avalon Theater theater is an Art Deco structure from days gone by.

The Texas Route 66 Museum claims to be the first Route 66 museum anywhere. It was opened in 1991 by Delbert Trew, who says he knows all the artifacts are real because he stole them himself. Exhibits include the original statue of a steer that was at the Big Texan Steak House in Amarillo and the Giant Yellow Cobra that once was outside the Regal Reptile Ranch in Alanreed.

The Devil's Rope Museum is in the same building as the Route 66 Museum. It features exhibits about the history of barbed wire. It also has many photos of old Texas ranches and their operation. It's actually a lot larger and more interesting than the Route 66 Museum. You should stop at this place. It is a real delight for western and cowboy history buffs.

The McLean-Alanreed Area Museum features exhibits about Texas Panhandle history and about a nearby WW II prisoner of war camp.

The Cactus Motel at the West end of town is well preserved and has a great neon sign.