🛣️ 🤪 🤣 Aaron Perry, the Spirit of Gearhead Curios with Stories, Laughter & the Shield of Victory
There are people you meet along Route 66 who somehow become part of your journey forever. For us, Aaron Perry is one of them. Owner of Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas, Aaron is not just a shopkeeper — he is a spark of joy, humor, and pure Route 66 energy, the kind of character you never forget once you’ve crossed paths.
From the very first moment, Aaron greets you with a mischievous smile and the kind of warm enthusiasm that makes you feel instantly at home. He is an entertainer, a storyteller, a dreamer, and a builder — all rolled into one. And yes, he’s also the proud mastermind behind what he calls “the most photographed restroom on Route 66”. Believe it or not, he’s probably right.
That restroom alone is worth the stop: crafted with barrels, tubes, pedals, handlebars, and other mechanical odds and ends, it’s a working piece of art in full workshop style. For me — the daughter of a mechanic — it felt like stepping into a playful tribute to the world I grew up in. Ingenious, funny, a little crazy… and absolutely unforgettable.
But Aaron is much more than the quirky bathroom guy. He’s the life of Gearhead Curios, a man with endless stories, contagious laughter, and the courage to make his roadside dreams real. And if you’re in the mood for something truly unusual, he even offers visitors a personal challenge: for women, it’s about testing a disposable stand-up bathroom device shaped like a funnel. It sounds absurd — and maybe it is — but in that playful setting it becomes a fun way to surprise yourself. Those who succeed earn a photo with the giant victory shield, a hilarious and unique memento of their Route 66 journey. I never thought I would try… and yet I did, laughing the whole time, and walked away with my own “proof of victory.”
In fact, Aaron even shared my photo holding the shield on his official Facebook page, turning a silly moment into one of my favorite memories of the trip.
Step outside his shop and you’ll find even more of Aaron’s touch: a huge American flag made out of license plates, perfect for a photo, and most recently, his newest pride — a towering Muffler Man statuenicknamed Big A the Texaco Man, built with the help of a state grant. Another landmark in the making, right here in Galena.
Our advice? Don’t just pass by. Stop. Grab a Route 66 soda on a hot summer day, sit for a while, and let Aaron pull you into his world. He’ll make you laugh, he’ll surprise you, and he’ll remind you that Route 66 is not only about the road or the landmarks — it’s about the people who keep its spirit alive.
So, if you meet him, say hello from us — the two Italians living in England who celebrated their honeymoon along the Mother Road. He may not remember us, but we’ll never forget him.
