Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - An Overnight Success

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

During the 1930’s Oklahoma City began to aggressively promote the aviation industry so when the US Government wanted to form the Civil Aeronautics Administration in the 1940s, Oklahoma City was ready. Today this branch of government is called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA.)

Today, Oklahoma City’s metro population is more than a million, one third of the entire state’s population. Both oil and aviation continue to be most important players in this city's economy.

If you're traveling Route 66 through Oklahoma City, there is very little to see until you get near downtown. When you turn onto Lincoln Boulevard you will soon glimpse the Capitol Building looming in the distance – a great photo opportunity with the boulevard’s wide grassy median.

After you pass the capital you will head west on 23rd Street and before long you will have choice of several alignments before you arrive at OK-66, which is 39th Street in western Oklahoma City. Along the Classen Alignment, you will see a great vintage triangular building with a giant milk bottle on top.

When you arrive on 39th street before you enter Warr Acres, Oklahoma City provides several glimpses of the past, with hotels and eateries that dot the highway. An absolute “must see” is Ann’s Chicken Fry House. Located in what was once a 1948 Cities Service gas station, the building was changed into a restaurant in 1966 called the Three Bulls Steak House. In 1971 Al Burchett and his brother purchased the restaurant and renamed it after Al's sister-in-law, Ann.

Ann's Chicken Fry House at 4106 NW 39th St, August, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Today, this superb restaurant not only features great food, but does it in a pure Mother Road style that just can't be beat. Ann's displays all manner of vintage memorabilia including a classic 1950s police car, a pink Cadillac, gas pumps and more.

Soon, you will pass through Warr Acres and Bethany, without even batting an eye. Seamless, if you’re not looking for the signs, you’ll never know that you passed from Oklahoma City to one of its many suburbs.

Just a few miles west of Bethany, you’ll come to an old steel bridge spanning the northern end of Lake Overholser. One of the oldest reservoirs in Oklahoma, the 1,700 acre lake was developed in 1916 and is familiarly called by locals “Lake Hold Her Closer.” In 1941, the lake was approved as a seaplane base, becoming the first of its kind in Oklahoma. Today, the lake provides hiking trails, picnic spots, boat ramps and fishing opportunities.

A couple of more miles along the Mother Road finds you in Yukon, Oklahoma which proudly displays the fact that it is home to Garth Brooks. Established in 1891 by the Spencer Brothers, Yukon sits at the site where the Chisholm Trail once ran more than a century ago. In no time at all, the town became an agricultural and milling center.

Even today, Yukon is dominated by a large grain elevator proudly portraying “Yukon’s Best Flour.”

Steel Truss Bridge across Lake Overholser west of

Bethany, Oklahoma, August, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

Yukon's Best Flour, August, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints HERE!

While in Yukon, check out Sid’s Diner, a relic from the past that still serves up hamburgers and fries as well as the old Mulvey Mercantile at 425 W. Main Street.

Continue you trek along Route 66 just 13 miles to El Reno, Oklahoma, home of the first Oklahoma Land Rush.

See Oklahoma City Attractions Next Page

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Route 66 Books - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Route 66 Books for our Mother Road enthusiasts. As great as Route 66 is, if you aren't armed with a few good tools on your journey, you'll miss great attractions, eateries, places to stay, and wind up on the wrong path. To see this varied collection that includes "how-to" books, travel guides, photograph books, attractions, and more, click HERE!