The Hydro Chamber of Commerce of Hydro, Oklahoma, announced the village had received a $496,000 grant from the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission to build a “Welcome to Hydro Route 66 Experience.”
It will be built at the four-way stop at Route 66 and Highway 58, the north-south road leading into Hydro, and yards off Interstate 40. The design will also incorporate an original Route 66 bridge that will be moved to the site, plus a cow food vending machine nearby (more on that later).
Funds also will be used to improve the Hydro Community Center.
Here is the announcement from the chamber, with artist’s renderings of the welcome center.
Jackie Entz at the chamber explained the cow vending machine:
“Regarding the cow food vending machine, think of the vending machines that dispense duck or fish feed and then you get to feed them. Same concept! Ring a bell to call the cows up and they can be fed over the fence and watch them eat. It will be placed approximately 1/4 of a mile west of Lucille’s along Rt 66,” she stated on Facebook Messenger.
Entz also explained about the former Route 66 bridge:
“The bridge was originally located 3/4 mile west of Lucille’s. When this bridge was taken out of service about 15 years ago, we managed to keep the bridge from leaving the area. Our bridge project is located 1/2 mile east of Lucille’s, where the Rt 66 spur originally went north into our town of Hydro.
“This will be a walking bridge and will allow a photo op for travelers in front of the bridge and also on the spur. They will be able to walk over or under the bridge exploring every inch.
“Since westward travelers would have just experienced the newly opened Pony Bridge, we thought they might enjoy this opportunity. It will also be great/unique Welcome to Hydro ‘sign’ encouraging travelers to visit our small western Oklahoma town.”
Route 66 never went through Hydro, though the village endures in Mother Road lore because of Lucille’s Service Station and Motel that operated for decades on the highway.
(Artist’s rendering of the Hydro Route 66 Experience via the Hydro Chamber of Commerce)