KINGMAN — Country music, cheers, and the unmistakable aroma of grilled beef filled Locomotive Park as the Big Texan Route 66 Centennial Caravan rolled into town, bringing with it one of the most famous eating challenges on the Mother Road.
The traveling crew from Amarillo, Texas is celebrating both the Route 66 Centennial and the Big Texan Steak Ranch’s 66th year in business by taking their world‑renowned 72‑ounce steak challenge to communities from Santa Monica to Chicago.
“This is one of the oldest businesses on Route 66,” said Hannah Weeks, public relations director for the Big Texan Steakhouse & Ranch. “We’re celebrating our 66th year in business. We are traveling Route 66, celebrating the Centennial and our birthday by bringing our world‑famous 72‑ounce steak to towns across Route 66.”
At each stop, the caravan promotes the restaurant’s ability to ship steaks and meat rubs nationwide. But the real draw is the challenge itself: not just a 72‑ounce top sirloin, but also a large baked potato, three fried shrimp, a side salad, and a dinner roll, all to be eaten in under an hour.
Co‑owner Bobby Lee said the tradition began shortly after his father opened the Big Texan in 1960.
“It was right across the street from the stockyards, and all these real cowboys would get off work and bring their paychecks in because he would cash them,” Lee said. “Dad would sell them nickel beer and seat them right in the middle of the dining room, and that’s what developed the Big Texan persona — the drunk cowboys.”
As the story goes, those cowboys began betting each other on how much they could eat, giving birth to the challenge that still draws competitors today from around the world. Anyone who finishes the full meal in under an hour eats for free.
“We’re very lenient on it,” Lee added. “We want people to win because the marketing value of somebody going out and beating their chest, saying ‘I beat the 72‑ounce steak challenge,’ far outweighs the $32 price of the actual piece of meat. And if you lose, you’re not going to brag about it.”
Kevin Bellm of Kingman completed the entire meal in 44 minutes, earning cheers from the crowd and securing his place among the Big Texan’s traveling legends. Bellm polished off the steak, potato, shrimp, salad, and roll with time to spare, winning the Route 66 Centennial Caravan Big Texan Steak Challenge.
As for the spectators — just hearing the list of required foods was enough to make some rethink dinner plans.
