A movie starring Matt Damon is being filmed Friday at the Round Barn along old Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma.
According to the Edmond Sun newspaper, most of the “Stillwater” film is being shot in Coyle, Oklahoma, but a scene will be produced in Arcadia.
Arcadia Mayor James Woodard said it’s an honor for the town to be chosen for a film, and it’s not the first time.
“I often wonder what it is about Arcadia that people want to be here,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe the reason is that it’s a unique place.”
Ann Young, president of the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society, said the crew is scheduled to use the restrooms at the Arcadia Round Barn on Friday.
“Arcadia is a friendly and picturesque town with an interesting history. It is clearly the perfect spot to film a movie,” Young said.
The scene is set for Friday, but that may change because of weather conditions and the shooting schedule.
According to the newspaper, the Participant Media film follows an oil-rig roughneck from Oklahoma (Damon) who goes to France to visit his estranged daughter (Abigail Breslin) who is in prison for a murder she says she did not commit.
Arcadia also was included the 2016 movie “Great Plains,” and the town’s iconic Pops restaurant/convenience store was in the 2011 film “Bringing Up Bobby.”
William Odor built the barn in 1898, and its upper floor eventually was used for dances (and still is at least once a month). After years of neglect, the barn’s roof collapsed in 1988. A retired local contractor, Luke Robison, assembled a group of volunteers called the Over-the-Hill Gang to restore the barn. The roof was rebuilt over a four-year period for $65,000. It remains one of the most impressive historic restorations on Route 66.
(Image of the Round Barn in 2012 by el-toro via Flickr)