Vinita to Catoosa, Oklahoma. On Route 66 in Oklahoma last month.
This is the second of a series of posts tracing my drive across Oklahoma during week two of my Route 66 road trip in February going east to west.
Vinita is in decent shape. It’s not screaming prosperity but seems to be hanging in there. I had another one of those priceless lunches there at Clanton’s. It is said to be the oldest continually owned family restaurant on Route 66 in the state of Oklahoma. That’s co-owner Dennis Patrick in two of the pictures. He runs the place with his wife (and Clanton family member) Melissa Clanton-Patrick. (In the second picture that’s a staff member and not Melissa.) Very friendly and welcoming. I had the chicken fried steak. I loved this place. Read about it here.
The pictures towards the end of the set were taken in Claremore which also seems to be hanging in there. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma! is set in Claremore and the surrounding area. The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is in Claremore, and Rogers’ tomb is located on the grounds overlooking the city. The fellow in the hat works at the museum.
What’s with the blue whale? It was part of a Route 66 roadside attraction called Nature’s Acres in Catoosa on the outskirts of Tulsa. It has been closed for many years but the iconic blue whale at the swimming hole has ben saved and restored, and that part of the former attraction is now a picnic area. The old trading post is across the highway from the blue whale. It belonged to the brother-in-law of the owner of the Nature’s Acres.
