FOCUS ON THE BACKROADS: ROUTE 66 – ARCADIA OKLAHOMA

On November 11, 1926 Route 66 was established. Route 66 ran 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illions, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before it ended in Santa Monica, California. It would become on of the most famous highways not only in the US but in the world!

Route 66 became the major westward route for thousands of families that moved to the west during the Great Depression. After World War II hundred of thousands returning GIs traveled Route 66 moving their families to the west in search for a better life – it became a modern day gold rush.

This highway was immortalized by the entertainment industry. The song Route 66 was written by Bobby Troup in 1946. It was recored that year by Nat King Cole and has been covered by Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, A Sleep at the Wheel, John Mayer, Glenn Frey and many others. Beginning on October 7, 1960 CBS began airing Route 66 – a weekly TV series in which two young men traveled across America in a Red Corvette. The adventure continued until March 20, 1964. In 2006 Pixar Studios released the movie Cars. Cars was inspired by the historic Route 66. The movie stared a RED CORVETTE named Lighting McQueen. It is the story of how Lighting McQueen discovers the Life on the Highway not on the interstate.

Driving Route 66 is on my bucket list – I dream of traveling each of the 2,448 miles eating cheese burgers and drinking malts to whole way.

During a recent trip to Oklahoma I visited Arcadia, Oklahoma. Arcadia was established in 1889 during the Oklahoma Land Rush. The original settlers were cotton farmers. Arcadia is a greek word meaning: Any real or imaginary place offering peace and simplicity. It now is has a population of 279 and is famous for an old red barn and POPS! What can be more peaceful than that?

POPS is the newest landmark on Route 66. It is a must stop for all Route 66 travelers. There is a 66 foot soda bottle out front that provides a fantastic light show at night. Inside you can dine on burgers, fries, and your choice of 10 different flavored milkshakes. NOW FOR THE GOOD PART. POPS has over 600 different flavors of soda – ice cold and ready to enjoy. They have over 80 different root beers and 50 different cream sodas (who drinks cream soda). In addition you can fill up with gas so you can continue you Route 66 adventure and they have SUPER CLEAN RESTROOMS!

The Route 66 experience can be summed up in a famous quote by our fiend Lighting Mcqueen: KA BOOM!