Elk City, Oklahoma

Contrary to what you may have read elsewhere, Elk City has always been called Elk City. It is true that in an attempt to lure a brewery here, some enterprising townsfolk tried to change the name to Busch, but they were defeated.

Elk City has its Route 66 roots, as the Mother Road stretches east and west across the county and through the city. The 1931 US Highway 66 Association held its annual convention in Elk City. More than 20,000 people attended! the site of the convention was the Casa Grande Hotel, which is now the Anadarko Basin Museum of Natural History. In its heyday, the Hotel was advertised as the only fireproof hotel between Oklahoma City and Amarillo. It is an easy building to spot. Just look for the 179 foot oil derrick in its parking lot.

The Old Town Museum on the west side of town keeps growing and growing. There is an authentic turn-of-the-century gingerbread style home, a pioneer church, a one room school, a railroad depot, a Native American teepee, and, of course, the National Route 66 Museum. There is even a Farm and Ranch Museum in the big red barn behind the Route 66 Museum. Further west is the Queenan Trading Post. Its name painted on the brick is nearly gone and the store is no longer in business, but both of the famous oil drum kachinas that once graced the front have been restored and can now be seen in front of the National Route 66 Museum.

Some of the Route 66 literature refers to the Cozy Cabins. It is an old motel located on Van Buren, the north/south leg of 66 in town. When it went out of business, residents persuaded the owner not to tear it down so future Route 66 travelers could enjoy it. So, it continues to stand. Also along the Van Buren leg is the old Red Ball station. During the oil boom of the early 80s, Elk City underwent a flurry of building activity. Many classic Route 66 sites were lost, but somehow, the Van Buren stretch with its "less desirable" places was spared.