Elbow Inn Bar & BBQ

The Elbow Inn building dates to the early 1930s when it was constructed as a gas station and small store to serve Route 66 travelers crossing the recently-opened Devils Elbow Bridge. The original layout included two service bays for vehicle repair, a small office and store area, and a pair of gas pumps out front. The structure was modest — wood frame on a concrete pad, a sloped roof, and the simple commercial signage typical of 1930s rural gas stations. The location, just a quarter-mile from the bridge, made it a natural stop for travelers refueling or pausing for refreshments.

Through the 1940s and 50s, the station operated as a typical Route 66 service business with gas, basic auto repair, snacks, and cold drinks. The construction of Fort Leonard Wood just south of Devils Elbow brought massive military-related traffic during World War II and the Korean War era, and the station did brisk business. As gasoline retailing consolidated in the 1960s and Route 66 traffic shifted to I-44, the gas station functions became less viable, and the building was converted to a bar/tavern operation sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

The building has been a bar continuously since then, with various owners and various names over the decades. The current 'Elbow Inn Bar & BBQ' configuration dates to the early 2000s, when ownership committed to the BBQ focus alongside the bar operation. The original 1930s building structure remains essentially intact — the same concrete pad, the same wooden frame, the same general layout though without the gas pumps. The transformation from service station to BBQ destination is itself a small parable of Route 66 history.

The BBQ is the headliner and what most travelers come for. Smoked meats are cooked low-and-slow over hickory and oak in an outdoor smoker that runs much of the operating day. Pulled pork is the most popular option — tender, well-smoked, with good bark and a balanced rub. Beef brisket comes both lean and moist, depending on your preference, with substantial smoke ring and slow-cooked tenderness. Ribs are St. Louis-cut and finished with a glaze. Smoked sausage (link-style) and smoked chicken round out the meat options. All meats are served by the half-pound or as part of platters.

The standard order is the BBQ platter — your choice of two meats with two sides and a dinner roll for $16-18. Sides include house-made mac and cheese (the cheese sauce is good, the macaroni is well-cooked), baked beans (sweet with bits of pork), creamy slaw, vinegar slaw, fried okra, and french fries. The two-meat platter is generous — you can easily share between two people unless you are very hungry. Sandwiches and combo plates are also available for lighter appetites.

Beyond BBQ, the Elbow Inn does proper roadhouse classics — a solid burger, fried chicken on Sundays, blackened catfish, country-fried steak, and a daily blue-plate special that varies. The kitchen handles fryer items well, the burger is hand-formed, and the chicken is consistently moist. Salads are present for the unconverted. Desserts are usually pie or cobbler, made in-house and rotating by season. The bar pours a solid selection of Missouri craft beers, basic cocktails, and the expected American spirits.

The bras hanging from the ceiling is the Elbow Inn's most famous and most-photographed feature. The tradition started in the 1990s — accounts vary on exactly how — and has continued steadily since, with hundreds of bras now suspended from the rafters in various colors and conditions. Visitors are welcome (but not required) to add their own contribution, and the staff are well-practiced at the friendly explanation when first-time visitors ask. The bras have become a small piece of Route 66 lore, photographed and discussed in countless travel articles and YouTube videos, and they remain a defining visual element of the bar.

Beyond the bras, the bar itself is a classic American roadhouse — horseshoe layout with stools, friendly bartenders who know regulars by name, a jukebox or Bluetooth speakers playing country and classic rock, walls covered in dollar bills signed by visitors over decades (another fun tradition you are welcome to participate in), and license plates and Route 66 memorabilia filling any remaining wall space. The seating is a mix of bar stools, small tables, and a few larger booths along the back wall. The vibe is welcoming, slightly irreverent, family-tolerant during meal hours, and progressively more bar-focused as evenings progress.

For Route 66 itinerary planning, the Elbow Inn is the natural meal stop in the Devils Elbow area, pairing perfectly with the Devils Elbow Bridge (a quarter-mile away), Allmans Market (a short walk in the other direction), and the overall Devils Elbow community visit. Lunch or early dinner is the typical timing — most travelers spend an hour or two here for a full BBQ meal plus drinks plus time to absorb the unique atmosphere. Tuesday through Sunday operation means you should plan around the Monday closure. For 2026 Centennial visitors, the Elbow Inn will likely host special events and themed weekends; check the website or call ahead for the schedule.