The human story “Route 66 tourists are heritage travelers,” Friddle explains. “Generally,
people who travel to see historic sites stay longer and spend more money than the average tourist. They tend to be more mature and generally better off, so they’re looking to spend more time in these communities. They want to eat in the restaurants and shop, along with visiting the heritage sites.” The average tourist sharply contrasts from the average citizen who lives in the Route 66 corridor, an area characterized by being on or within one mile of the highway. Rutgers determined more than 15 percent of the corridor population is offi cially impoverished.
“In the 25 case-study communities having some of the most iconic Route 66 resources, the poverty rate was a yet-higher one in fi ve (20 percent),” the report says. “There are almost 200,000 empty housing units in the Route 66 corridor.”
Wallis says it’s important not to over-romanticize the 2,400-mile route stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles.
“For me, it’s not so much the literal road, the concrete and asphalt, that matters as much as the people along the road,” he says. “Those of us who love it and like to travel it also have an obligation to let people know it’s just a symbol, a metaphor, for a time before America became generic, for things we lost.”
The social impact Nearly 20 years after buying The Rock Café, Dawn Welch fi nally has the town convinced of Route 66’s economic vitality. “Our chamber of commerce is working diligently, trying to add other types of attractions and reasons for people to stop,” says Stroud City Manager Tim Schook. “We recognize Route 66 as a huge value to Stroud. We’re fortunate enough to be along a historic route, and we know what a signifi cant impact it could have just looking at the people who travel to The Rock Café.” A Pixar documentary produced in conjunction with “Cars” reported busi- ness on some stretches of Route 66 went up as much as 30 percent follow- ing the fi rst movie. Welch says the café is still reaping the rewards of her participation.
“The biggest thing ‘Cars’ did for us, is it added to our clientele,” Welch says. “A lot of the people who travel Route 66 are European or artistic-minded adventurers. What ‘Cars’ did, is it added the average American and gave us a demographic we couldn’t have captured another way, which is children.” Welch, now an outspoken Route 66 advocate, recently published a cook- book nationwide, and is in negotiations for a British reality show, as well as an American television program similar to The Pioneer Woman by Ree Drummond. She frequently receives requests from documentary fi lmmakers interested in profi ling the Route 66 lifestyle. Needless to say, she doesn’t have to beg people to eat at The Rock Café anymore.
“Economically, our restaurant does really well, and it’s a string of income to help the community,” she says. “But, I think the social impact is more important than any of that. Locals are interacting with people from all over the world every day. It’s like bringing the whole world to them without their feet ever leaving Stroud.”
Blue Whale in Catoosa, Okla.
Route 66 has long been touted to be one of the best road trips in the world—and Oklahoma has more driveable miles than any oth- er state. If you’re itching to get out on the Mother Road, whether for a day trip or an extended cruise, visit
www.travelok.com where the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department maintains a complete list of Route 66 attractions. To get you started, here are a few of Oklahoma Living’s favorite sites:
✓ Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger 915 N. Main Miami
✓ Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame 55251 E. Hwy. 85A Afton
✓ Clanton’s Café 319 E. Illinois Vinita
✓ Totem Pole Park Hwy 28A Foyil
✓ Blue Whale 2600 N. Hwy 66 Catoosa
✓ Blue Dome Service Station 7310 E. Second St. Tulsa
✓ Cain’s Ballroom 423 N. Main Tulsa
✓ Ollie’s Station Restaurant 100 E. Lee Sapulpa
✓ Living Kitchen Farm & Dairy 25198 S. 481 St. W. Ave. Depew
Photo Courtesy of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
✓ The Rock Café 114 W. Main Stroud
✓ Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center 400 E. Rt. 66 Chandler
✓ Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum 336992 E. Hwy. 66 Warwick
✓ Round Barn 107 E. Hwy. 66 Arcadia
✓ POPS
660 W. Hwy 66 Arcadia
✓ Route 66 Park 9901 N.W. 23rd St. Oklahoma City
✓ Robert’s Grill 300 S. Bickford Ave. El Reno
✓ Lucille’s Service Station One mile south of Hydro on Route 66
✓ Mohawk Lodge Indian Store 22702 Rt. 66 North Clinton
✓ Oklahoma Route 66 Museum 2229 W. Gary Blvd. Clinton
✓ Jigg’s Smokehouse 1-40 Exit 62 Clinton OL
MAY 2012 19 MAYY 2012 19
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