Just outside the small town of Zillah in central Washington State stands a premier example of roadside architecture — the Teapot Dome Service Station. Built in 1922 and named after the infamous Teapot Dome oil-lease scandal, the station was originally located about a mile east of where it now sits, on an original alignment of the Yellowstone Trail at a tiny spot called Dalton. The building was hand-crafted by Jack Ainsworth; it has a conical roof atop a circular frame, a sheet-metal handle and a cast concrete spout.
Ownership of the station passed to A.J. Thomas in 1928; he and his wife erected a small store and soda fountain to provide refreshments to weary travelers. When the I-84 interstate built through the area in the 1970s the station and store were saved from destruction and moved to their current location. The station continued to serve motorists well into the 1990s but it now sits empty and in need of restoration. The city of Zillah purchased the station in 2007 and a non-profit organization was created to assist in its preservation. Their site (Friends of the Teapot Association) has more information.
