Ambler's Texaco Gas Station

What is Ambler's Texaco Gas Station?

The building shows the domestic style well, meaning it was built to look like a small house rather than a commercial box. It goes by two names, Ambler's Texaco and Becker's Marathon, each taken from one of the two men who ran it at different times, and each tied to the brand of fuel sold under that owner.

Just north of the station stands a smaller outbuilding that once worked as a commercial icehouse. Together, the two buildings show how a crossroads business in a small Illinois town served both travelers and locals.

History of Ambler's Texaco Gas Station

For 66 continuous years the station sold fuel, finally stopping in 1999. That long run makes it the longest-operating gas station anywhere on Route 66, a fitting number for this road. It was added to the National Register in 2001. Major restoration work followed from 2005 to 2007, and in May 2007 the building opened its doors again, this time to welcome visitors exploring the historic highway rather than to fill their tanks.

Visiting Ambler's Texaco Gas Station: tips

The station sits at a crossroads on the old road, only about 0.4 miles from the route line, so it is an easy stop. Plan 15 to 30 minutes to look around and take photos. Odell, another Route 66 village, is about 7.6 miles away, a natural next stop heading south. For open land, Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area is about 11.3 miles off, and the ghost town of Tracy is about 11.9 miles away.