Leaning Tower of Britten
The Leaning Tower of Britten is a leaning water tower which serves as a roadside attraction and decorative item along historic U.S. Route 66 in Groom, Texas. Sometimes called the Leaning Tower of Texas, the tower was originally a functioning water tower which was slated for demolition until Ralph Britten purchased and moved it to serve as an advertisement for his truck stop and tourist information center. The now boarded truck stop can still be seen, set back off the road behind the tower. Falling into disrepair after a fire, the truck stop has not been in use for several decades.
Deliberately leaning at a roughly 10 degree angle, the tower is a popular tourist destination. There is a small gravel road on the site for parking and taking pictures. During the Christmas season, the city of Groom places a large multicolored star on top of the tower. Images of the water tower are common in Route 66 photography books.
