Lucille's Service Station
Lucille's Service Station
Lucille's Service Station, a classic and historic gas station along Route 66 near Hydro, is one of only two upper-story, out-thrust porch style stations left on Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66. Built in 1929 by Carl Ditmore, the service station was renamed by Provine Station in the 1930s. In 1941, the Hamons family took over the operation of the station and Lucille Hamons, for which the service station is named, ran the business for 60 years. Lucille, who quickly became known for her friendly assistance to motorists, earned the nickname "Mother of the Mother Road."
Lucille's Service Station is one of similar rural service stations that sprung up in the late 1920s in response to increasing automobile travel across the country. This mom-and-pop station was built with the owner's living quarters located above the service station and exists as an interpretation of the Bungalow Craftsman style popular during construction. Lucille's Service Station features an open service bay supported by tapered piers and vintage gas pumps.
In 1971, the completion of I-40 cut Lucille's off from direct access to the new highway, but Lucille kept the station running until the day she died on August 18, 2000. While the service station is no longer in operation, visitors are welcome to stop by for a photo of this unique slice of Americana. The outside of the service station has been restored and an historical marker on-site recounts the tale of the family that lived there and ran the station for years. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, Lucille's still attracts tourists and Route 66 enthusiasts from around the world.
Lucille's Roadhouse, a Route 66 themed restaurant in Weatherford, was inspired by the original Lucille's Service Station.