Greetings: Statues of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe greet visitors at the Automobile Museum at Russell's Travel Center, Exit 359 of Interstate 40, Glenrio, New Mexico. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost .com
Diner: The 1950s diner offers Russell's Travel Center visitors the opportunity to enjoy a meal during a break from their road trip. The diner offers a variety of dishes, as well as floats, malts, and other diner specialties. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Free Car Museum: Russell's Travel Center includes a free car museum. The museum has several vintage cars on display, primarily from his late 1940s to his 1960s, all restored to showroom condition. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Written by Gary Warren
photographer
Formerly from Los Alamos
When traveling on Interstate 40 in New Mexico, the last exit before entering the New Mexico-Texas state line is Exit 369. The closest town is Glenrio. It straddles the state line and was once a vibrant town and Route 66 stop. Glenrio is currently shuttered. A ghost town with no inhabitants.
But in an unexpected location off the beaten path lies Russell's Travel Center. A travel center for truck drivers and travelers. Russell's has all the parking and services you would expect from a truck stop. You can also find food, drinks and other facilities for your solo or family trip at our Travel Center.
But that's just the beginning.
Russell's Travel Center offers a 1950's diner as well as Subway for quick bites. Convenience stores carry grocery store inventory as well as travel supplies for travelers and truck drivers. The centerpiece of this travel center is the museum.
Museum featuring cars, trucks, motorcycles, travel memorabilia, pop culture memorabilia, collectibles, and more from the 1950s and '60s. Inside, you'll find items that are sure to captivate visitors of all ages. With thousands of items on display to attract visitors of all ages, vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles are the stars of the show.
So, how much does it cost to enter the museum inside the travel center? It's free! There is also an opportunity to leave a donation, but the money does not help support the museum. All donations will go to the food bank. This museum is a labor of love.
This travel center was opened in 2010 by Emory and Barbara Russell. Russell and her sons are all now retired and the family business was sold to TA Travel Centers in October 2023. TA Travel Center won't be changing anything for a while. They will keep the diner and keep the current menu. The name of Russell's Travel Center lasted for his 3 years and the museum for his 5 years. The Russells are renting back the space that houses the museum. It's good to know it's going to be around for a few more years.
This unusual truck stop near the New Mexico-Texas border is a hidden gem. As you travel I-40 East, keep an eye out for Exit 369, the last New Mexico exit. I can't think of a better place to fill up and recharge before moving on.
Editor's Note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife, Marilyn, travel the country and are featured in the “Posts from the Streets” series published in Sunday's Los Alamos Daily Post. Share your photos.
Corvette: As I was browsing the selection and variety of cars on display at the Automobile Museum at Russell's Travel Center in Glenrio, New Mexico, this 1955 Corvette and the pink 1957 Thunderbird on its left caught my eye. I stayed in. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
1951 Custom: A beautiful red 1951 Ford Custom stands out in the collection of Ford cars at the Travel Center Museum in Glen Rio, New Mexico. In the background were exhibits, posters, signs, and various vintage exhibits along the walls of Russell's Travel Center. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Cora Memorabilia: In addition to cars and other transportation-related items, the museum has a large collection of memorabilia from the 1950s and 1960s. On display is a collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia and Coke machines, as well as a 1962 Patsy Cline concert poster and Beatles photos. In addition to cars, the museum has many such collections. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Vintage Pumps: A collection of vintage gas pumps is on display at the Automobile Museum at Russell's Travel Center. The museum also has pumps and various other vintage transportation items on display. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Vintage Motorcycles: Motorcycles from the early 1900s to the 1070s are on display along with a Gulf Oil gas pump at Russell's Travel Center in Glenrio, New Mexico. Photo credit: Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
