A visit to 4 Women on the Route

It was nearly a year ago when I went to 4 Women on the Route‘s event to show off the boom truck that was the inspiration for Mater in the movie “Cars” and fledgling Route 66 visitors center at Front and Main streets in Galena, Kan.

I’d driven by the 4 Women on the Route’s place several times since, noting the progress being made on restoring the 1930 gas station, but it always was at time when it was closed.

I went to 4 Women on the Route last weekend. Tow Tater, the Mater-inspired boom truck, was there as usual.

But check out the nice paint job on the station and the retro gas pumps.

And the souvenir part of the station has been fully operational and stocked for about five months.

Behind the counter is 16-year-old Shelby Rigg, a daughter of one of the 4 Women, Melba Rigg. Shelby will be happy to show you a scrapbook that tells the history of the former Kan-O-Tex station. The guestbook contains signatures of visitors from all 50 states and more than a half-dozen foreign countries.

There are plenty of Route 66 souvenirs in the shop. Of course, there are plenty of Mater souvenirs, too.

These Mater key chains are hand-made by a local woman.

That’s Melba behind the counter of the 4 Women on the Route grill, which has been open about two months. It offers hamburgers, hot dogs, Frito pies, tuna melts, Polish sausage and grilled chicken salad. It also has funnel cake and more than a half-dozen flavors of smoothies, including “Booberry” for the Halloween season.

While eating, you can gaze out onto Route 66 through the garage door windows. Outdoor seating is available, too.

The grill is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. But Melba says, “If someone comes early, we’ll open.” The phone number is 620-783-1366.

The next big project for 4 Women on the Route is to rehabilitate a 1930s house on the other side of Front Street (aka Route 66) and convert it into a bed-and-breakfast and teahouse. Melba Rigg acknowledged it will take a lot of work, at least a year. Here’s what the house looks like.

4 Women are keen to add tourist lodging in Galena because the only motel in town is always booked. Needless to say, if there’s a B&B operation right on Route 66 and across the road from a cool Mother Road-related business, it won’t have any trouble getting customers.

(4 Women on the Route is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.)