Part of Our Route 66 Everytown Collection – Bushland Edition
Own a piece of Mother Road lore with this ultra-soft unisex jersey tee, expertly crafted from 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton. Featuring the notorious slogan "Home of the Death Trap," our Bushland design celebrates the small Texan community that once held the deadliest distinction on the entire 2,448-mile Mother Road journey.
Perfect for Route 66 lore masters, Texas lovers, and collectors of our exclusive Route 66 Everytown Collection, blending comfort with a dash of frontier grit.
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About Bushland, Texas: Home of the Mother Road's "Death Trap"
Bushland, a small but storied community just west of Amarillo, holds a chilling yet fascinating place in the history of Route 66. Founded in the early 1900s as a railway station for the Chicago, Rock Island & Gulf Railway, Bushland served nearby ranches and settlers across the windswept plains of the Texas Panhandle.
But its notoriety came later, with the arrival of the Mother Road in 1926 and a deadly stretch of highway that would go down in local legend as the “Death Trap.”
The Infamous Underpass
The so-called “Death Trap” was a dangerously designed underpass with a sharp S-curve, a challenge even for skilled drivers of the early automobile era. As traffic increased through the 1930s and 1940s, the tight turns, poor visibility, and narrow lanes turned this section into one of the most hazardous points on all of Route 66.
Numerous accidents occurred here, giving rise to its grim nickname and underscoring the growing need for safer highway engineering. By the early 1950s, the treacherous underpass was replaced with a new alignment that eliminated the curve altogether, but its legend still haunts the lore of the open road.
Bushland Today
Today, Bushland has evolved from a quiet rural stop into a small but thriving suburban community just outside Amarillo. While little remains of the original “Death Trap,” Route 66 travelers still stop to reflect on its history: a sobering reminder that America’s most celebrated highway was also one of its most perilous.
Just a short drive east, the Amarillo Route 66 Historic District, Cadillac Ranch, and the Big Texan Steak Ranch continue to celebrate the region’s deep ties to the Mother Road. Slip on your Bushland tee and carry a piece of this dramatic chapter of Route 66 history—a story where adventure met danger, and every mile was hard-won across the rugged Texas plains.
Product Features:
- 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton for premium softness
- Side seams for added structure and durability
- Tear-away label for comfort
- Classic crew neckline with a flattering unisex fit - true-to-size for all day comfort (see size chart for details)
- Fulfilled in the USA
Care Instructions:
- Machine wash: cold (max 90°F / 30°C)
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Non-chlorine bleach as needed
- Iron or steam: medium heat
- Do not dry clean
