Route 66 centennial caravan set for Gallup courthouse square stop

A giant cow, a trailer and the Big Texan Steak Ranch’s 72-ounce steak challenge will roll into McKinley County Courthouse Square on June 11, giving Gallup a Route 66 centennial stop that could bring visitors, downtown activity and more eyes on the city’s historic core. The Gallup event is set for 5 to 7 p.m., following the caravan’s stop at Yellowhorse Trading Post in Lupton, Arizona, as the route moves from Flagstaff to Gallup.

The official Route 66 Centennial site describes the caravan as the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission’s official parade, a 2,400-plus-mile run with representation from all eight Route 66 states. The National Trust for Historic Preservation says the three-week journey will cover about 2,400 miles from Santa Monica to Chicago, with multiple daily stops designed to highlight preservation success stories and the revitalization of communities and landmarks along the highway. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and manager of the Preserve Route 66 Program at the National Trust, has framed the caravan as a celebration of the communities that make Route 66 special.

The Big Texan will host local grilling events each evening, inviting two challengers at each stop to attempt the famous 72-ounce steak challenge, which must be completed within one hour to eat for free. KOAT reported that New Mexico stops include Gallup, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Santa Rosa, and that each New Mexico event begins at 5 p.m. Those hoping to be selected must submit a video or message on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, tag @thebigtexan and include their city as a hashtag.

Gallup has spent months building toward the centennial. The city says all of its exits lead to Historic Route 66, the Gallup McKinley County Chamber of Commerce serves as the visitors center, and downtown Coal Avenue once formed part of the route. In November 2025, Gallup and McKinley County unveiled a 16-foot Route 66 monument outside the George Galanis Multicultural Center. Visit Gallup also lists a June slate of centennial events, including the Joy Ride and Run on June 6 and the Lions Club BBQ/Battle of the Bands on June 13, underscoring how the courthouse-square stop fits into a broader month of tourism and community programming. New Mexico tourism officials have called the centennial a major chance to showcase the state, while New Mexico MainStreet says grant funding is supporting events, infrastructure improvements and marketing tied to the anniversary year.