Best Bed & Breakfast: Willows Inn
By Laura Araujo S
tories sometimes give birth to dreams, and for Marketta Kidwell, it was a story that propelled her into a new career after
retirement. “I had read a book about a bed and breakfast
and I thought it sounded like something fun to do,” she says. In 1997, Marketta and her husband David,
TCEC members, purchased their retirement home in Guymon, Okla. Soon after, Marketta went about transforming the fi ve-bedroom house into the Willows Inn Bed and Breakfast. The Willows Inn is situated on four acres
Willows Inn Bed & Breakfast in Guymon, Okla. Photos by Hana Kimberling/TCEC
southeast of town. The ornamental grasses and 50-foot Austrian pines surrounding the B&B give guests the feeling of being at a mountain retreat— without having to travel to the mountains. Inside, Marketta decorated each of the four
guest rooms and the Great Room, a common space, in an elegant-casual style, complete with leather furniture and local artwork. One of the guest rooms, the Heartland Suite, features a fi re- place and a Jacuzzi tub. Marketta ran the B&B by herself until her hus- band retired in 2006; today, it’s a team effort. “David loves to cook and I love to socialize,”
she says. When it comes to food, David cooks up a full
breakfast each morning. He enjoys serving guests a meal they can’t get everywhere—dishes like crepes, coconut-crusted French toast, frittatas, and stuffed croissants. While David is in the kitchen, Marketta pro-
vides hospitality to help her guests feel welcome and at home. “I love visiting with all of the different people
and sharing our home with them,” she says “We’ve made lots of friends over the years.” The Willows Inn is open 365 days a year. Book reservations online at
http://www.thewillowsinn. net or by calling 580-338-1303. Use your co-op connections card for a 10 percent discount.
Best Bucket List To-Do: Drive Route 66 T
By Gail Banzet-Ellis
he Mother Road is timeless. Opened to travelers in 1926, Oklahoma’s 408 miles of Route 66 draw thousands of motorists each year. The historic eight-state highway from Chicago, Ill., to Santa Monica, Ca., has experienced a resurgence in popular-
ity and preservation. While some of the extra attention is due to the animated movie “Cars,” Route 66 experts say the road draws travelers searching for a sense of nostalgia. “People drive the road to remember a simpler life,” says Marilyn Emde, executive di-
rector of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and a member of Central Electric Cooperative. “They enjoy the retro motels and diners. Die-hard fans will only stay at mom and pop businesses along the route.” Ken Busby, executive director of Tulsa’s Cyrus Avery Plaza and chief executive offi cer
of the new Route 66 Alliance, says there are at least 10 major landmarks along Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66. The Rock Café in Stroud, Blue Whale in Catoosa, Round Barn in Arcadia and many other iconic locations attract motorists from the United States, Europe and Asia. “People are starting to talk about the road in a more meaningful way,” he says. “International tourists like the openness and freedom the route offers.” Busby and his Tulsa colleagues established Tulsa’s Route 66 Alliance in 2015 to promote
the road and the cultural richness of its host communities. As local efforts expand to preserve the decommissioned highway, the appeal of Route 66 will continue to grow. “We want to promote the Mother Road and everything that goes along with it,” he says. For more information, visit
www.route66alliance.org,
www.route66interpretivecenter. org and
www.drivingroute66.com
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Driving Route 66 is a bucket-list wish for many OKL readers. Photo by Leonardo Politano
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