Meteor City, Arizona
- Retro roadside
- In Meteor City, Arizona
- 0.1 mi from Route 66
Meteor City is a trading post near Winslow, Arizona, on old Route 66 beside I-40 exit 239. It began as a gas station in 1938, and a geodesic dome with a Mohawk-style crest has stood here since 1979. After more than a decade shut, it reopened in May 2025 with a Dino Drive-Thru of about 30 dinosaur figures. Heading west toward Flagstaff, it is the first of three old Route 66 roadside sites, before Two Guns and Twin Arrows.
What is Meteor City?
The gift shop is inside the dome, and the big crest on top can be seen from far off. Teepees stand on the grounds.
The Dino Drive-Thru, added for the 2025 reopening, shows about 30 dinosaur figures to visitors who stay in their cars. There is also gemstone mining, a BB-gun shooting gallery, Paint-A-Bug with old Volkswagens, a ride-on dinosaur, an oddities display, a small western town with a jail and penny-arcade games.
History of Meteor City
Joe Sharber opened a Texaco gas station here in 1938. In 1941 Jack Newsum, known as Lonesome Jack, took over and added a trading post selling souvenirs and groceries. The name comes from nearby Meteor Crater, and Newsum hoped to catch drivers bound there. His sign read Meteor City, Population 1, and it changed to 2 when he married Goldie, who later held the post of justice of the peace here.
Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire later painted a map of the road about 100 feet long on a fence here, billed as the World's Longest Map of Route 66. Volunteers repainted it in 2002, but the fence later fell down and the map is gone. A large dreamcatcher out front was once billed as the World's Largest Dreamcatcher.
The post closed in December 2012 and was damaged by vandals while it stood empty. Joann and Mike Brown of Indiana bought it in 2017 and protected it but never reopened it. The Dole family bought the property in 2024 and opened it to the public again in May 2025 as Meteor City on Route 66.
Visiting Meteor City: tips
Leave I-40 at exit 239, Meteor City Road. A look at the dome and the dinosaurs makes a quick stop, while gem mining or the shooting gallery can stretch it out. Hours change with the seasons, so check the official site first. Two Guns and Twin Arrows, the next Route 66 roadside sites on the way toward Flagstaff, pair well with it.
Practical info
- Address
- 40440 Interstate 40 West Bound (I-40 exit 239), Winslow, AZ 86047
- Website
- visitmeteorcity.com
- Hours
- We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full mapMeteor City with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.
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Stops near Meteor City
All of Arizona
6.8 mi from Meteor City
9.1 mi from Meteor City
9.2 mi from Meteor City
11.4 mi from Meteor City
14.0 mi from Meteor City
14.3 mi from Meteor City
Questions about Meteor City
Is Meteor City on Route 66?
Yes. It stands on the south side of old US 66, right beside I-40 exit 239 between Winslow and Flagstaff. Business on this spot goes back to 1938, when a gas station opened here on Route 66.
When did Meteor City reopen?
In May 2025, for the first time since it closed in December 2012. The Dole family, who bought the property in 2024, reopened it as Meteor City on Route 66 with a Dino Drive-Thru.
Is the World's Longest Map of Route 66 still at Meteor City?
No. Bob Waldmire's map, about 100 feet long, was painted on a fence that later fell down, and no new map was put up when the site reopened.
Own or run Meteor City? Send us a photo or a correction.