Part museum and part gift shop, the Hackberry General Store has become a must-stop destination for travelers crossing northern Arizona.
By ALLISON PARKER
Gas stations serve a critical role in a country as cardependent as the United States. Along interstates, they offer travelers a place to fuel up, get a bite to eat, and use the facilities. In small towns or areas without other nearby businesses, gas stations serve as small grocery stores where customers can grab essentials. Some are even attached to museums and historical sites, giving travelers a reason to pull over and spend some money. In Route 66’ s heyday, fuel stops functioned a little differently than they do today.
In the early 20th century, automobile drivers and motorcyclists bought their fuel from places like pharmacies and hardware stores, either sold in cans or out of barrels. As vehicular travel became more popular and people began driving and riding farther distances, the need for quick roadside fuel arose. The earliest gas stations were little more than barrels housed in rough sheds beside the road. By the mid-1920s and into the 1930s, fuel companies saw an opportunity to sell more gas by catering to long-distance travelers with a welcoming roadside experience. Thus the service station was born.
Service stations offered more than just fuel. The whole experience was about service. Attendants would pump fuel, wash windshields, inspect tires and oil level, and perform other maintenance tasks. The cottage-style service stations that replaced poorly constructed roadside fuel sheds gave travelers a chance to stretch their legs, purchase maps, ask for directions, learn local knowledge from helpful attendants, and share stories with fellow road trippers. In many ways,
RIDERMAGAZINE. COM / AUGUST 2026 / 59