Route 66 closes at Wellston for about a year; shorter detour is available for regular vehicles

Route 66 in Wellston, Oklahoma, is closed for about a year due to an overpass replacement on nearby Interstate 44, but a shorter detour will be available for regular vehicles. According to Roads & Bridges, the $48 million project that began Tuesday aims to widen a section of the Turner Turnpike (aka I-44) from four … Continue reading Route 66 closes at Wellston for about a year; shorter detour is available for regular vehicles

New Oklahoma Route 66 grants go to Blue Whale improvements, giant dinosaur, neon projects

The Oklahoma Route 66 Commission announced more than $6.6 million in grants, including improvements to the Blue Whale in Catoosa, a 66-foot dinosaur in Tulsa and multiple neon-sign initiatives. The grants, initially reported by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, cover 13 Route 66-related projects in the Sooner State. More about the grants can be found … Continue reading New Oklahoma Route 66 grants go to Blue Whale improvements, giant dinosaur, neon projects

Section of Route 66 in Wellston to be closed for about a year, starting about Aug. 21

A small but significant section of Route 66 in Wellston, Oklahoma, will be closed for about a year while a bridge is being replaced on the adjacent Turner Turnpike. The road closure will begin about Aug. 21, with detours onto county roads. Joe Echelle of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority during a recent meeting provided details … Continue reading Section of Route 66 in Wellston to be closed for about a year, starting about Aug. 21

Oklahoma Route 66 Midpoint Corridor hosting inaugural Road Rally on June 22

The Oklahoma Route 66 Midpoint Corridor will be hosting its first-ever Road Rally on June 22 in 11 cities along Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma. The towns along the Midpoint Corridor, from west to east, are Edmond, Arcadia, Luther, Wellston, Chandler, Davenport, Stroud, Depew, Bristow, Kellyville and Sapulpa. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association posted this … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Midpoint Corridor hosting inaugural Road Rally on June 22

Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston secretly adds a 1970s-inspired bar

The acclaimed Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston, Oklahoma, secretly constructed and recently opened a 1970s-inspired bar attached to its Route 66 restaurant. The bar is called Uncle Mark's -- a tribute to restaurant owner Levi Bouska's uncle and his mother's childhood home, reported KFOR-TV in nearby Oklahoma City. It’s a living room-size addition to take … Continue reading Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston secretly adds a 1970s-inspired bar

Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston expands on tradition from old Pioneer Camp site

Though the historic Pioneer Camp restaurant in Wellston, Oklahoma, has been closed for more than a decade after a fire, Butcher BBQ Stand set up camp at the property eight years ago and has proven to be phenomenally popular. The Oklahoman newspaper recently published a feature about Levi Bouska and his establishment at 3402 W. … Continue reading Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston expands on tradition from old Pioneer Camp site

Will new exits off the Turner Turnpike improve the fortunes of Route 66 towns in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority's Access Oklahoma initiative plans to add 14 new exits from its toll-road system, including several near Route 66 towns between Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Oklahoman examined that stretch of Route 66, especially the small town of Davenport, which hopes the new access from Interstate 44 will bring them new businesses … Continue reading Will new exits off the Turner Turnpike improve the fortunes of Route 66 towns in Oklahoma?

Captain Creek Bridge in Wellston is reopened after reconstruction

The historic Captain Creek Bridge along an alignment of Route 66 in Wellston, Oklahoma, recently reopened after the state's Department of Transportation improved and reconstructed the span using its original pony trusses. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association on Facebook noted the completion of the project: "Although the original 1932 trusses no longer support the bridge, … Continue reading Captain Creek Bridge in Wellston is reopened after reconstruction

How to update but preserve vital parts of a historic structure: the Captain Creek Bridge in Wellston

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association posted on Facebook a very good example of how to update a historic bridge to modern standards, yet keep the essential elements that make it unique. Behold the work being done to the Captain Creek Bridge in Wellston, Oklahoma: https://www.facebook.com/OklahomaRoute66/posts/10158426691872775 Oklahoma also is updating the iconic William H. Murray Bridge, … Continue reading How to update but preserve vital parts of a historic structure: the Captain Creek Bridge in Wellston

‘World’s largest Route 66 sign’ planned in Wellston won’t be the world’s largest

Longtime Route 66 researcher and artist Jerry McClanahan flagged an article in a local newspaper that reported Wellston, Oklahoma, is planning what reputedly would be the "world's largest" Route 66 sign. In a Facebook post, McClanahan posted a photograph of an Oct. 8 article from The Lincoln County News, based in Chandler, Oklahoma, that stated … Continue reading ‘World’s largest Route 66 sign’ planned in Wellston won’t be the world’s largest