EXPLORING OKLAHOMA WITH CHILDREN
Oklahoma’s Top Roadside Oddities BY LINDSAY CUOMO ILLUSTRATED BY GREG WHITE
With the longest stretch of Route 66 in the country, Oklahoma is naturally home to many roadside oddities. Landmarks and attractions began to pop up along the Mother Road back in its heyday. The route was affectionately known as America’s Highway when it was paved back in the 1920s. For many years, it served as a major thoroughfare for millions of drivers between Chicago and Los Angeles. Although it’s now been replaced by new highway systems, Oklahoma’s stretch of Mother Road still features many unique roadside oddities. Here are some great ones to visit with kids throughout the state, both on and off famed Route 66. For specific locations and driving directions, visit www. metrofamilymagazine.com/roadside-oddities.
Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger Hwy. 69 in Miami As the last remaining stand of the 1960s drive-in chain, Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger is a Route 66 landmark, famous for its giant yellow fiberglass cuckoo bird and the huge, green-and-yellow neon sign just as much as the burgers, fries and desserts they have served to hungry travelers for decades.
Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park Hwy. 28 in Chelsea Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, Totem Pole Park showcases a large collection of environmental folk art created by Nathan Edward Galloway. The largest piece on the property is a 90-foot, heavily-carved totem. Nearby, Galloway’s Fiddle House is filled with other hand-crafted treasures to discover.
Blue Whale Rte. 66 in Catoosa The Blue Whale in Catoosa is an iconic piece of Route 66, greeting travelers since 1972. The 80-foot whale was hand crafted and took two years to complete. While swimming is no longer available, families can take a break from the car and explore the cheerful concrete mammal, drop a line in the pond or enjoy a roadside picnic. An on-site gift shop is open seasonally.
46 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MARCH 2019
The Center of the Universe Boston Ave. in Tulsa An old vehicular bridge turned pedestrian pathway has become the site of a mysterious acoustic phenomenon. At the center of a circular brick pattern sits a worn concrete circle. The circle’s location is an amplifier of sorts. If you stand in the circle and make noise, your echo returns much louder. Many experts have offered their theories, but whatever the reason, Tulsa’s Center of the Universe is worth the stop!