Teapot Dome Service Station

Love quirky things, this is definitely one. Found it via an app. This service station is a reminder of the Teapot Dome Scandal that rocked the presidency of Warren G. Harding and sent Interior Secretary Albert Fall to prison for his role in leasing government oil reserves. Originally built in US Route 12, when Interstate 82 was constructed near Zillah the station was relocated less than a mile down the Yakima Valley Highway. It was purchased by the city in 2007, rehabilitated, and relocated in 2012 to 117 First Avenue. If you are passing the area, then visit it for a pic at least.

Cool, Cool little piece of History, I don’t know if I’d make a Long trip just to see it but if you are passing by on Interstate 82 it is well worth a pit stop. Only open inside on Saturdays but its still fun to check it out. Inside actually has a few novelty items for sale (Shirts, Postcards, Hats, Coins, etc.) There appears to be a computer monitor of the history set up in its new location (which also has a small parking lot and Public restrooms) but the computer wasn’t working the day I was there.
This little gem of a Service Station was built in 1922, located at 117 First Ave in the small little town of Zillah, Washington (Approximately 10 miles from Yakima) It is a great example of novelty architecture and is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Stop by if you’re in the Area, not to many little historical items like this left. As John F Kennedy once said…“We would like to live as we once lived, but history will not permit it.”

The existence of and preservation of this little, teapot shaped gas station surprises me. I understand the name comes from a scandal in president Harding’s administration more than 90 years ago. It is nice to see along the road as you drive along I-​82 but even better to look at or stop at on the frontage road.

I’ve been clamoring to visit this teapot since we were in town. We drove past it several times but we were always on the way to somewhere else, so we didn’t stop until the last day.
It has since been remodeled and looks great. The original restrooms are there. You can peek into the ladies room and see the wooden toilet seat. The men’s room was locked up, which is probably for the best. Heh. There are actual, modern restrooms if you choose to use them.
Inside the teapot is a small counter with souvenirs and other tourist info. There are no hours posted, but the signage inside had events that were happening currently. It would be nice to know when you could go inside and poke around more.
Just a fun stop, glad we made it!

I just wanted to let every one know that the Tea Pot has been moived in to the town of Zillah. You take the exit where the McDonalds is and drive thought town it will be on the right. It is fix up really nice and has bathroom so it a nice place to stop and stretch.

When driving along the boring, dreary, and roadkill infested I-​82, the Teapot Dome Service Station, is a nice diversion. I’d always sneak a peak at it when driving by, but I’d never stop on by (until the other day). This is a direct manifestion of a bygone time. A time when gas was under $ 2, and when funky buildings were built to lure in drivers.
The gas pumps are frozen at $ 1.79.
The Teapot no longer whistles.
But if you are driving through the Yakima Valley, this is a memorable place to take a gander at.

This place is really cute! I really wanted to go out and see this, but I couldn’t convince my friend to drive there unless we had something else to look at. So we visited the dinosaurs in Granger too! The old pumps are really neat and it’s something to see at least once. :)

«yeah, the teapot dome scandal’s one of the few things i remember from u.s. history,» my beau offers as i let him know the history of the teapot dome.
i just love that there’s a sign for it on the freeway, but no signage once you’ve exited — so if you missed it driving by, you’re just wandering lost around zillah.