Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center — Attraction in Baxter Springs

Purposely made time to have a pleasure stop in Baxter Springs, KS, on our way to OK. This town seems to grow a bit more each time we visit. On our driving schedule, by time we hit Baxter Springs most places for visitors are usually closed. This stop was intentionally figured in to allow visiting and sightseeing. So grateful for that, because we were able to go inside the Visitors Center to look around. Lots of Route 66 stuff due to Baxter Springs being on part of the original, historic route. The best surprise while there was meeting and chatting with Dean "Crazy Legs" Walker, the living inspiration for "Tow-Mater" in the hit Disney movie "Cars". There was an excellent memorabilia/tribute display. Mr. Walker and the other two volunteers running the center that day were very kind, friendly and helpful. We got pictures with Mr. Walker and look forward to sharing them with our children and grandchildren...look who we met! We enjoy Baxter Springs and now we have even more memories from our...

This location in Baxter Springs, KS, is either your last stop on Route 66 in KS (eastbound) or your first stop in KS (westbound). The Phillips 66 fuel station-turned-Visitors Center is a great stop! Dean (the cowboy with backward knees, and a "friend of Mater") is very knowledgeable about every Route 66 sight thru Kansas. Dean will give you step by step directions and recommendations for your route. He truly is a font of knowledge and will tell you so much! There are a few souvenirs for purchase, and quite a bit of nostalgia throughout the Visitors Center (in addition to the two Phillips 66 pumps outside). This stop easily could last 30-45 minutes (or longer, if you start...

This place was really cool I've been on a lot of stretches of Route 66 but never the stretched it goes through Kansas. This is quite the Pleasant surprise a beautiful little scenery and the attendant inside was a very informative nice gentleman!! I can't imagine all the people over the years that have stopped in the same place in enjoyed this in the way that I just did . There was a number of Walls that were covered in signatures of people over many years I would assume in the man moved a table and found me a Sharpie and I was able to sign it myself I felt...