This article is part of our ongoing series on traveling Route 66 in 6 parts. Check out our previous chapter, Section 2 | St. Louis to Tulsa.
This section of Western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle doesn’t get much love, but there are plenty of lesser-known gems along this part of Route 66. From new businesses helping to revitalize forgotten towns, to historic gems that predate the road that introduced them to a whole new generation of travelers, the drive from Tulsa to Amarillo offers “plen’y of heart and plen’y of hope.”
KOAs along the way:
Oklahoma City East KOA Holiday
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios｜Tulsa, OK
Kitschy souvenirs and roadside giants are not in short supply across Route 66, but arguably the best collection of both can be found across the street from Tulsa’s historic Meadow Gold neon sign on the former site of a 1950s PEMCO gas station. Buck Atom’s, a relatively new addition to the route, only gets better with each new addition; what started with a space cowboy Muffler Man (the titular Buck Atom) constructed by the wizard of fiberglass, Mark Cline, has grown to include Buck’s female fiberglass counterpoint, Stella, and their porcine companion, Piggy Stardust. Buck Atom’s is the perfect place to stock up on top tier trinkets with a vintage flair, including mugs, pennants, t-shirts, bobbleheads, pins, keychains, and more.
Rock Cafe｜Stroud, OK
Adequate fuel—for both your vehicle and body—is a necessity out on the road, and you won’t be disappointed if you come hungry to the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Built in 1936 and operating as a restaurant off and on since 1939, the Rock Cafe gets its name from the local sandstone used in its construction. This institution has survived devastating tornadoes, fires, and other calamities in its storied history; in 2001 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and subsequently restored thanks to a federal grant. Even in a dilapidated state, the cafe served as inspiration for the crew of Cars, and has since been featured in the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Old Round Barn｜Arcadia, OK
Built by a local farmer in 1898, Arcadia’s Old Round Barn is an extraordinary feat of engineering that predates the designation of Route 66 by two decades. Thought to be tornado-proof thanks to its curving shape (60 feet in diameter), the barn was constructed using green bur oak boards soaked in water to give them their distinctive curve. Considered to be the country’s only truly round barn, Arcadia’s landmark was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and restored by volunteers in the early 1990s. Today, the barn is a beloved tourist attraction and community gathering space with a museum, gift shop, and domed event space available to rent for weddings or other events.
National Route 66 & Transportation Museum｜Elk City, OK
Of the more than 10 museums dedicated to the Mother Road, the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma, is one of the best. Unlike other spaces that concentrate only on regional history, this museum covers all eight states lucky enough to be home to a stretch of historic pavement. The sprawling complex actually comprises several separate buildings, each worthy of a visit in their own right: the National Route 66 Museum, National Transportation Museum, Old Town Museum, Farm and Ranch Museum, and Blacksmith Museum. The artifacts and attractions spill outside, with photo-op-worthy sculptures, vehicles, signage, and Myrtle, a two-story kachina doll and homage to the region’s Native population.
Sandhill Curiosity Shop｜Erick, OK
The Sandhill Curiosity Shop defies classification. It’s not a traditional shop because none of the vintage signs, petroliana, or artifacts collected by the proprietor, Harley Russell and his late wife Annabelle, is actually for sale. Still, visitors from all over the world come to the small dusty town of Erick, Oklahoma, 20 miles east of the Texas border just for Russell himself, who is a world-class musician, collector, historian, and quintessential Route 66 character. If you’re lucky, you might have Russell—who once had aspirations to become a session musician—all to yourself for a private performance that you won’t soon forget. Handpainted signs above the shop’s entrance hint at what’s to come: “Welcome to the redneck capital of the world, yee-haw! Insanity at its finest.” (If the shop appears closed, wait around and Russell might emerge from his house next door and unlock it for you.)
Tower Station and U-Drop Inn｜Shamrock, TX
Fans of art deco architecture and Route 66 history will find luck is on their side after they cross into Texas and stop in the tiny town of Shamrock. Home to the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café since the late 1930s, the town now owns the historic structure which has been fully restored as a visitor center, chamber of commerce office, and community center. Eagle-eyed Cars fans may also recognize the building’s distinctive shape and green neon details as the inspiration for Ramone’s automotive body and paint shop.
Everything is bigger in Texas, and that’s true even of the state’s distinctive panhandle, of which you’ve only just seen half. After you cross into New Mexico, the scenery will change quite drastically, so soak up the sweeping vistas and humidity of the plains before you hit the dry deserts of New Mexico and Arizona. As Harley Russell would say, “Yee-haw!”
Continue to Section 4 | Amarillo to Albuquerque
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
