A conference center is being built across the road from Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Missouri, to generate revenue and help preserve re-creation of artist Lowell Davis‘ childhood hometown.
Paul Adler at KY3 in Springfield, Missouri, filed this well-produced report about Red Oak II and hopes to preserve it for future generations:
Enter Larry Frickenschmidt. He’s building a conference center across the road from Red Oak II; a place for weddings, car shows and family reunions.
Larry says, “someday if someone doesn’t preserve these facilities, they’re gonna be gone… The history is gonna be gone.. With it.”
Lowell concedes, “I’ve had my heyday here.. Let somebody else take over …”
Longtime readers may remember Frickenschmidt when he purchased several Red Oak II buildings in 2007. Frickenschmidt in 2013 also moved three vintage duplexes from Joplin, Missouri, to Red Oak II so they could be converted to overnight lodging.
Davis also says in the report he’s broke and can no longer keep up the complex.
Although Davis no longer has the wherewithal to keep Red Oak II going, he told the reporter he intends to be buried there.
The report can be watched in its entirety here:
Red Oak II was Davis‘ tribute to his hometown. The Red Oak II property contains a Phillips 66 station, old schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, feed store, general store and several houses. It’s like a town frozen in time just before World War II. Red Oak II remains a popular side trip for Route 66 travelers.
(Screen capture of the Red Oak II conference center via the KY3 report)
Nice story. With the right facilities (which the event center should bring), that would be an awesome car show location!