Oklahoma, the Sooner State, is our fourth on this cross-country road trip on Route 66, and has a lot to offer as far as old timey Americana attractions go.
Catoosa, OK
Any good road trip includes roadside attractions, and more specifically – curiosities. Weird things you’re not quite sure WHY they exist, but delighted that they exist nevertheless.
Catoosa has one such curiosity. More particularly, a big blue whale wearing a tiny baseball hat. You can find him grinning at you at the local swimming hole.
Tulsa, OK
And speaking of curiosities, Tulsa is home to several of them.
The Center of the Universe may not technically be on the Mother Road, but it’s worth the quick detour. If you stand in the middle of the circle and talk, you’ll be able to hear an echo of your own voice. Anyone standing nearby will not hear the echo. How does that happen? We don’t know. But it sure is cool.
You can also find the Golden Driller and the Milk Bottle Grocery — both of which are more of a photo op stops than anything else.
Chelsea, OK
In the United States, bigger is better, and many of the Route 66 curiosities boast the title of “World’s Largest…” So why not visit the World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole at the Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park? Plus there are a whole lot of other colorful and fun totem poles.
Clinton, OK
If you want to learn more about Route 66 and its history, look no further than the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, which in addition to being educational, it’s also a lot of fun! They have everything from old side-of-the-road diners to the cars that cruised on Route 66 in its hayday.
Chandler, OK
For a more sensory-based experience of Route 66, check out the Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center. It uses visuals and sounds to create a unique experience for each visitor, helping you FEEL what Route 66 felt like back in its glory days.
Warwick, OK
Got a need for speed? Check out the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum. Located at the old Seaba Filling Station, the museum has over 65 vintage motorcycles on display, from 1908 to present day.
Miami, OK
Feeling peckish? Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger used to be a chain restaurant in the 1960s, but now the only location left is the one on the Mother Road, in Miami, OK. Other than a great burger, there’s also a yellow bird involved.
Texola, OK
Texola is technically defined as a ghost town, and it is essentially abandoned. There’s something eerily fascinating in abandoned towns, as structures give way to the forces of nature. Don’t forget to check out the jail cell!
Hydro, OK
But not all old buildings on Route 66 have fallen into disrepair. Many are still standing, waiting for you to come and have a look at a piece of history. Lucille’s Service Station, a gas station first built in 1929, was run by the Hamons family for 60 years starting in the 1940s. Lucille Hamons, after whom the station was named, was well known for her friendly assistance to drivers on Route 66, earning her the title “The Mother of the Mother Road.”
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Next time, we drive in the great state of Texas for a short, but awesome, stay!