Giant Travel Center brochure - 1989
Located east of Gallup in Jamestown, NM, I-40 Exit 39
This was the "truck stop of all truck stops" when it opened in 1987. It was built and operated by Giant Industries Inc. which had its own refinery located behind the property. At the time, it was billed as the largest truck stop in the world (I have no idea if that claim is still valid). Indeed it was impressive, still new looking and clean when I visited. Archived newspaper articles (still available online) quote professional truck drivers raving about the facility amenities, great service and especially the food in the Baker's Hearth restaurant. Many said they often went out of their way to make a stop here during their long drives. It also became a destination for the local area residents and was known to play host to community-type events.
Fast-forward to now (2019) and the place is a Flying J truck stop. I don't know what happened to the company that started it all. The Baker's Hearth is gone, replaced with a Dennys and a Subway. The reviews online are not very complimentary and hardly echo what was said about the place some 30 years ago. Oh how the mighty have fallen.....
Giant Travel Center brochure - 1989
Located east of Gallup in Jamestown, NM, I-40 Exit 39
This was the "truck stop of all truck stops" when it opened in 1987. It was built and operated by Giant Industries Inc. which had its own refinery located behind the property. At the time, it was billed as the largest truck stop in the world (I have no idea if that claim is still valid). Indeed it was impressive, still new looking and clean when I visited. Archived newspaper articles (still available online) quote professional truck drivers raving about the facility amenities, great service and especially the food in the Baker's Hearth restaurant. Many said they often went out of their way to make a stop here during their long drives. It also became a destination for the local area residents and was known to play host to community-type events.
Fast-forward to now (2019) and the place is a Flying J truck stop. I don't know what happened to the company that started it all. The Baker's Hearth is gone, replaced with a Dennys and a Subway. The reviews online are not very complimentary and hardly echo what was said about the place some 30 years ago. Oh how the mighty have fallen.....