The Big Texan Steak Ranch

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The front view of the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

The Big Texan Steak Ranch is a steakhouse restaurant and motel located in Amarillo, Texas, United States which opened off of Route 66 in 1960 and moved to its present location on Interstate 40 in 1970. Fire gutted the west wing of the restaurant in 1976, destroying $100,000 in antiques, but in 1977 it was reopened as a bigger facility.

Its reputation revolves around its 72 oz (2 kg) steak ("The Texas King"), which is free if you eat the entire meal (which also includes a bread roll with butter, potato, ranch beans, shrimp cocktail, and salad) in less than one hour (otherwise, the cost is $72.00). According to the official website, "You don't have to eat the fat or gristle (if you can find any), but we must judge this. Again, we want you to win but we do know our meats and will judge accordingly." [1] The building is painted a bright yellow, with blue trim. A large cow statue advertises the free 72 oz. (2 kg) steak. The now-closed Texas Tornado Museum resided off in a far corner of the parking lot on the property.

In the center of the large open floor of the main dining room of the restaurant is a raised platform. On the platform is a single chair and a table for one, with a bucket beneath the table. There are two full shakers of salt on the table, and nothing else. A digital timer stands at the back. On the wall behind the platform hangs an enormous cattle skull.

As the steak finishes cooking, the cook tells the host staff to encourage the participant to go to the bathroom. Before eating the steak, a manager explains the rules of the dinner, then the participant signs an agreement of health liability.

The restaurant also features a giant rocking chair, "shooting gallery," slot machines, limo service, and gift shop.

The restaurant has been featured by numerous television programs, including an episode of the Food Network show Unwrapped and was named the World's tenth "Best Place to Pig Out" by the Travel Channel.

The credits for the Disney/Pixar film "Cars" mentions the restaurant, and well-known Route 66 booster Becky Ransom.

The current record for the meal is 9.5 minutes in May 1987 held by Frank Pastore, former pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, his seventh successful attempt at completing the challenge.

[edit] Big Texan Motel

A view of the Texas themed motel and Texas-shaped pool at The Big Texan Steak Ranch

Located directly adjacent to the restaurant on The Big Texan Steak Ranch property is the 54-unit Big Texan Motel. The cinder-block construction motel is designed to resemble a main street in an old west town, and features Texas themed decor and a Texas-shaped pool. In 2004, a 20 stall stable was added behind the main motel building.

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