One Word Sunday

 One Word Sunday

Groom TX

Groom Texas

April 2017 -Groom TX

We have passed this cross several times and just thought, yeah big cross. But this time we were sort of meandering on our drive from Amarillo TX to Fort Smith AR and John suggested we stop.

 

It is a 19-story cross located next to Interstate 40 (Route 66) just northwest of the town limits. This 190-foot-tall (58 m) free-standing cross can be seen from 20 miles (32 km) away.

 

What a surprise!

What originally was going to be a large spiritual billboard, transformed into a 19-story, 2 ½ million pound, steel cross. Construction of the cross frame was completed in two shops in Pampa, Texas. It took eight months for the cross to be built, and more than 100 welders worked on it. After much prayer and planning the Cross was erected in July of 1995.

The Groom Cross -- officially named "The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ"

The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries is not affiliated with any church and therefore has no set congregation. However, the Cross continues to minister to the millions of souls from all around the world that drives by it every year.

Entrance is free, but it would certainly be worth paying for. 

We paid $18 each to see the Meteor Crater which was definitely not worth the price.

Surrounding the base of the cross are life-sized statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross.


Click here to read more about the building of the cross.

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These are so lifelike it is stunning. 

Some detail

A bronze Last Supper features Jesus breaking bread facing the Cross. Behind him, stairs ascend a man-made Cavalry hill, where a sign reveals that you are now 3,300 feet above sea level (Many Christians believe that Jesus was 33 years old when he was crucified).


There are looking for sponsors to fund the completion of the remaining apostles.

Such commitment, John getting a shot for me.

The gift shop and restrooms were built around the Divine Mercy Fountain, with yet another Christ statue; its plaque celebrates, "the blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus."

What else is there to see in Groom? Nothing other than this water tower, labeled “Britten USA” has never been a working tower at this location. According to Wikipedia, the water tower was slated for demolition when it was purchased by Ralph Britten and moved to its current location. In Groom, it served as a sign for Britten’s truck stop and tourist center. The truck stop is no longer open but the water tower remains a popular stop along the highway,


Just another quirky find on Route 66!

Ultimate Road Trip - Day 4

Up bright and early and enjoyed our free breakfast at Hampton Inn before deciding to visit Clinton.

We were hoping to visit the Route 66 Museum but it didn't open until 9AM so we drove around town until then.

 The museum is very good and I will post a separate blog highlighting all its exhibits.

We then headed towards our planned destination for the evening with lots of stops along the way.


Oklanoma is so flat!

Elk City had many interesting attractions on its portion of Route 66.

Cowboys shaking hands - sculpture is aptly named Binding Contract.

Elk City

 Canute OK

Elk City OK National Route 66 Museum is in the Old Town Museum and it is like a little town full of old buildings and some museums.

We headed to Erick for lunch and found the Roger Miller Museum, Miller was born here.

King of the Road.

Also born here was Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater

But the strangest sight in town was at the Sand Hills Curiosity Shop. We didn't realize what we had found but we were intrigued with the sight of hundreds of signs on a building. A man walked towards me and I assumed we had happened upon a museum and he was looking for payment. But instead he said "I'm just getting a soda and you are welcome to come in and visit but I can't stay long as my wife is ill". WOW what a place. He insisted on me getting my photo with him. He claimed that I wouldn't be the first to blog about them and showed us a bunch of articles written about them, however I found this blog and this article.
To be honest, he and this place gave me the creeps and my husband later said he wasn't going too far from the door.
The amount of "stuff" was amazing. I had originally asked him (being polite as hubby had wandered off and then asked me where I found this guy) where he was from and he said "came back in '89 after his 4th divorce.

 Do I look comfortable??

Now to find lunch at the only restaurant in town. We had cheese burgers with onion rings (took forever) but it was the most delicious burger at half the price we pay at home at the best burger place.

Once we got back in the car we drove around town and were devastated by the lack of life in these small towns.

We crossed into Texas, the area known as the Panhandle. The town of Shamrock was our first stop.
Among the many restaurants and filling stations that once served Shamrock, Texas' Route 66 travelers were the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Restaurant. Representing the art-deco style that was popular in the 1920s and 1930s, the building was completed in 1936. The building was first constructed as three separate businesses - the Tower Conoco Station, so named for the tall tower gracing its roof; the U-Drop Inn Cafe, named by a local schoolboy in a contest that awarded him $50.00 for his idea; and a retail store. However, when the retail store failed, it was taken over by the cafe for use as a ballroom and overflow dining room.

Groom TX
This water tower was built to lean to attract attention.

The tall free standing Cross of Our Lord Jesus Ministries can be seen from twenty miles away.

Our stop for the evening ended up being Amarillo Texas. We had planned on going beyond Amarillo but stopped at the Big Texan to take photos and discovered they had a hotel so decided it would be a fun place to stay.

We tried their brewery and then had dinner in the dining room.

Our room with saloon doors into the bathroom.