Check out this eye-catching Art Deco gas station found along Stone Avenue in Tucson. I've spent a few decades traveling through Tucson and this place
Built around 1936, this distinctive Streamline Moderne gem was designed by prolific local architect Cecil H. Moore and quickly earned the enduring nickname the "Ice Cream Cone" station thanks to the sculpted, tapered geometric pillars flanking its facade. With its rounded curves and bold pre-war styling, it was built to turn heads on one of the city's premier highway corridors. 07-22
Over its decades as an active automotive hub, the station operated under several major fuel banners, flying the flag for Shell, Union 76, and Exxon at various points in its history. Movie buffs might even recognize its unmistakable curved profile from the 1980 Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor comedy Stir Crazy, where the duo pulled in for mechanical repairs.
Deco Gas
Tucson,
AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Fuel sales eventually came to an end in the early 1980s, and while weather damage led to the removal of its original pump canopy, the striking main office building has managed to survive by taking on a variety of second careers. Over the years, the unique stucco structure has housed an accounting office, a tax preparation service, a healthcare consultancy, and a bail bonds business.
UPDATE: A check on the old station over two decades later shows that this 1930s architectural treasure is still standing strong. Serving as a private commercial office, the former service station looks remarkably well-preserved, keeping its iconic Art Deco character alive along Stone Avenue. 08-26
Gas Station (Closed)
Ash Fork, AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out this old gas station found along the old route in Ash Fork, AZ. This classic stop dates back to the early Route 66 days when Ash Fork was a busy hub for travelers heading through northern Arizona. 09-21
Sitting right along the old highway next to some of the area's famous native flagstone, the little station was once an authorized Standard Oil dealer. In its heyday, it was a welcome sight for motorists looking to gas up before heading across the open desert. After Interstate 40 bypassed the downtown strip, the pumps went quiet, but the building managed to survive.
UPDATE: Today, the old station is no longer pumping gas and the signage is gone, but the building is still standing along the old road and has been cleaned up and used for storage. 08-26
Old Gas Station (Closed)
Buckeye
AZ Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Check out this old gas station located in Buckeye, AZ. This classic roadside station stood the test of time back in 2002, looking like a scene straight out of the mid-20th century. 07-23
Found just off the main drag on 5th Street, this small-town filling station managed to hold onto its vintage charm long after its active fueling days came to an end. With its vintage pumps still anchored to the island out front, the site has served as a great photo op and a nostalgic reminder of the days when two-lane travel brought steady traffic through the agricultural valley.
UPDATE: Today, the old station is no longer pumping gas, but the historic building and its vintage roadside look are still standing in downtown Buckeye. 08-26
Apache Market (Rem.)
Tombstone, AZ
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Apache Market in Tombstone, AZ is a roadside gas station and convenience store. Back in 1998, gas prices here were just $1.31 a gallon. Check out the towering roadside GAS sign out front, which made this stop hard to miss for travelers heading into town along the old highway. 07-23
Located on Fremont Street (historic U.S. Route 80), the market has served as a handy one-stop shop for both locals and tourists exploring the historic mining town. In addition to fuel, the store offered groceries, snacks, and cold drinks before drivers continued their trek through Cochise County.
UPDATE: While the Apache Market is still open for business as a neighborhood grocery store, the place looks a lot different over 25 years later. The old gas pumps have been removed and the tall GAS sign is now gone. 08-26
Deco Gas
Deco Gas
Gas Station (Closed)
Check out this old gas station found along the old route in Ash Fork, AZ. This classic stop dates back to the early Route 66 days when Ash Fork was a busy hub for travelers heading through northern Arizona. 09-21
Old Gas Station (Closed)
Apache Market (Rem.)
