LAWRENCE COUNTY LAWRENCE COUNTY, which was founded in 1845, has been shaped by the arrival of the railroad and highways. When Route 66 was routed through the northern part of the county in the 1920s, it crossed through the historic towns of Halltown, Paris Springs Junction, Spencer, Heatonville, Albatross, Phelps, and Plew.
Found in the heart of Lawrence County is the darling ghost town of Spencer, a small community that was developed on the original 1926 roadbed of US 66. The town included a classic 1930 Spencer Store and the Spencer Cafe and Barbershop. Though roadside attractions like the motel and Camp Lookout are no longer around, they are alive in the small town’s spirit and lively residents’ memories. Don’t miss out on the great conversations happening at Gary's Gay Parita Sinclair Station in Paris Springs Junction.
Spencer ghost town, Spencer
Gary’s Gay Parita Sinclair Station
34 | Guide to Missouri’s Route 66
Sign from Route 66 days, Spencer
Gary’s Gay Parita Sinclair Station, Paris Springs Junction
Barbara Barns, Missouri Division of Tourism
The famous pit stop was opened in 1930 by Gay and Fred Mason in Paris Springs Junction. Named after Fred’s wife, Gay, the station became a favorite stop along the old road. After Gay’s death in 1953 and a fire that razed the station in 1955, it found new owners in Gary and Lena Turner who built a replica of the original 1930s Sinclair gas station that stands to this day.
