Originally posted to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association blog on 11/7/19 When it was announced this summer that the contents of Afton Station were going to be auctioned off, I was tremendously sad. Afton Station had been a great asset to Route 66, not just in northeast Oklahoma but throughout all 2400+ miles. It wasn't … Continue reading The Waldmire U-Haul
A few months ago, I realized I had a week of vacation I had to take this year and Samantha didn't have matching time available. I wanted to take a long road trip but I didn't feel like spending that week alone. So, I called my mother. "Where have you always wanted to go?" I … Continue reading Going West with Mom (Part 1)
In the summer of 2018, I was put in touch with a man named Robert Brooks. Robert is a successful spinal surgeon in the Tulsa area...but I didn't need surgery. I did have a great desire to speak with him about history. Robert had a connection to an eastern landmark on Tulsa Route 66 that … Continue reading The Brookshire Motel
I spent last weekend in Springfield, Missouri in the company of friends. It was the 8th annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival and I had a vendor booth in the Old Glass Place, a historic venue near the iconic Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque. When I attended my first Birthplace festival in 2015, I told … Continue reading 8th Annual Route 66 Birthplace Festival
On the way home from Missouri this weekend, I stopped for lunch in Vinita, OK. Normally, I'd stop in at Clanton's...but today I opted for the Hi-Way Cafe just west of town. I'd heard good things and the timing was right. I'm very glad I did. I pulled in to the gravel lot to find … Continue reading The Hi-Way Cafe
Last weekend, I took a trip west to the Texas Panhandle. It was finally time for Texas Welcomes the World, the 2018 International Route 66 Festival! It had been a long time since I'd seen many of my roadie friends and I was excited to attend my first "official" International Route 66 Festival. I arrived in … Continue reading Texas Welcomes the World
This weekend, I drove out to Shamrock Texas for the International Route 66 Festival, "Texas Welcomes the World." I'll have a lot to say about my time here later, but today I want to share with you a little place just on the Okie side of the border in Texola. By the time the Post … Continue reading An Oasis in Texola
There's a new mural along Route 66 in Tulsa. Many travelers and locals know of the Meadow Gold sign near 11th and Peoria. Right next to the brick pavilion that serves as a home to that iconic neon structure, on the east side of the building that houses the Corner Cafe, a colorful artistic work … Continue reading You Said We Couldn’t Do It, But We Did
I came across an old Tulsa World article in the archives at the library recently. It was written a few months after Route 66 was federally de-certified and I found it quite interesting. I have transcribed it below (exactly as written) with the photos from the article. I'll chime in a bit at the end. … Continue reading Along Route 66
On the last weekend of April, I headed west to attend a few events as the Tulsa County Representative for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. I had to be in Clinton on Saturday and Weatherford on Sunday, so I figured I'd stay overnight and do a little exploring. As luck would have it, my friend … Continue reading A Western Oklahoma Ramble
Rhys' Pieces 