Make sure to get your ‘kicks’ on Historic Route 66

Arguably, no other road or highway in America has received as much attention and fanfare than Historic Route 66. Opened in 1926, this iconic highway, often referred to as the Mother Road, stretched nearly 2,500 miles from Los Angeles, Calif., to Chicago, Ill. Spanning 376 miles across Oklahoma, Route 66 crosses Texola in western Oklahoma and extends all the way to the state’s extreme northeastern border before it exits into southwestern Kansas.

Historic Route 66 has been the subject of many songs, TV shows and movies for decades. Even when it lost its place of prominence following the construction of the Interstate Highway System, i.e. interstates 40 and 44, it has never lost its charm or alure. Although many miles of Historic Route 66, including the numerous businesses and attractions that once lined its shoulders and sidewalks, no longer exist, there are still some unique and interesting Oklahoma stops along this venerable highway.

There is probably no better way to start your journey on Oklahoma’s portion of Route 66 than a visit to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society. There, the museum offers visitors a personal journey through the history of Route 66, complete with iconic memorabilia either found or donated to the museum.

Driving east on the Mother Road, travelers will soon arrive in Weatherford, where they can check out one of the best air and space museums in this part of the country – the Thomas P. Stafford Air & Space Museum. Not too far from Weatherford on Route 66 in the small town of Hydro is Lucille’s Service Station, one of just two upper-story, out-thrust porch style stations remaining on Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66. Owned and operated by Lucille Hamons from 1941 until her death in 2000, Lucille’s remains a favorite stop-over for many Route 66 enthusiasts even though it is no longer open.

Several iconic structures along Route 66 in Oklahoma City still remain, however – some old, some not so old. A few vintage structures, such as the wedge-shaped Milk Bottle Grocery Building located in the Asian District near NW 23rd St., as well as the Gold Dome Building, the fifth geodesic dome built in the world and originally home to Citizen’s State Bank when it first opened in 1958, are both still standing. Although the Milk Bottle Grocery Building was built in the 1930s, the giant milk bottle on top of the building was not added until 1948. The structure has been a favorite photo stop among travelers for years and the supersized milk bottle has been a unique place for various businesses to promote their dairy-related products. Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store’s name and logo have adorned the milk bottle since 1996.

On the outskirts of Oklahoma City and just west of Edmond in the town of Arcadia are two Mother Road icons, the famous Round Barn and Pops Soda Ranch, one of the newest additions to the famous highway. The Round Barn, the only round wooden barn in Oklahoma, has been around (and round!) since 1898 but was closed to the public following a roof collapse in 1988. The roof was ultimately restored, and the treasured landmark was opened once again to the public in 1992. Pops joined the Route 66 family in 2007 and quickly became a hit with residents and nonresidents alike. Known for its 66-foot-tall, color-shifting LED pop bottle that greets visitors when they drive up to the building, Pops serves more than 500 types of soda from across the globe, making it a favorite destination for Route 66 fans.

A short drive east of Arcadia on Route 66 is the town of Luther where several 66 icons still exist, though most have been closed for decades. The limestone rock ruins of an old Conoco Filling Station still remain that once catered to Route 66 travelers during its heyday. Legend has it that the owner was jailed for counterfeiting $10 bills in the back of the station. Another old gas station in Luther called the Threatt Filling Station was built sometime between 1915 and 1920, and "catered to African American travelers along Route 66," according to the NPS. During its early history, the sandstone structure also once served as a grocery store and café. If you get hungry while checking out the town of Luther, you might try The Chicken Shack restaurant on the west end of the community, which specializes in broasted chicken and offers plenty of live entertainment. Worth noting, however, is that The Chicken Shack recently announced that it will be shutting down its location in Luther and moving west to Arcadia later in 2021.   

There are numerous other interesting and places to see and experience as you continue your Historic Route 66 journey east/northeast from Luther, including such iconic attractions as the Rock Café in Stroud; the 75-foot-tall Golden Driller statue in Tulsa; the Blue Whale in Catoosa, one of the most recognizable structures on old Route 66; Totem Pole Park in Foyil; the Hole in the Wall Conoco Gas Station in Commerce; Waylan’s Ku-Ku burger joint in Miami, Okla.; and others.

This article originally appeared on The Better Life blog.