02/16/2026
Wanted to share some before and after photos of the Panther Junction project along with some other points that didn’t make the official owner/operator write-up.
The historic gas station was built in 1958 and is a part of the National Park Service Mission 66 Era Resources. As such, no exterior opening sizes were changed and the character of the existing station was kept with our renovations and upgrades for accessibility, sustainability, and expanded usability of the station.
The Panther Junction Service Station’s central location within the park makes it a key resource for both park guests and the local community. The station is the only venue for basic necessities for over twenty miles for the local community of the park and the border patrol staff who live nearby year-round. The renovation of the station has significantly increased the amount of retail space and products available to visitors and community, helping to reduce trips to stores outside the park, thus reducing the carbon footprint. Additionally, we have given the residents and guests a new dining/gathering option within the park with a food truck and picnic tables under a new shade structure, constructed to follow the existing station’s design with matching roof slope. The shade structure has six photovoltaic panels on its roof for the new structure’s lighting and power. With the improvements to the building, we also wanted to ensure the structure remains a vital part of the park experience for years to come. During construction, existing structural issues were uncovered and repaired to better meet current codes and safety requirements plus a new propane fueled generator was installed to ensure the station stays open during the frequent power outages. Through new fuel pumps, the renovated gas station offers the much needed gasoline and diesel fuels used by guests, NPS, and nearby first responders stationed just down the road, but now also offers EV charging and a bike repair station.
