We left Lake Eufaula and drove across the state of Oklahoma. Our next stop was Route 66 RV Park in Elk City, Oklahoma. It was not a pleasant drive for Josh as he battled 20-30 mph wind gusts as we crossed the flat plains of Oklahoma. He did handled the truck and trailer expertly but he was spent by the time we got there.
We pulled in to a park that didn't look like much located in a city that didn't look like much. I started to be concerned that I had made a mistake in the reservation. We settled in though and decided we'd make the best of it.
We saw that there was a city park across the street so we walked over and learned that their hometown Christmas extravaganza was that weekend and if we came back after dark there would be Christmas lights to drive through, a carousel with real wood horses carved by Ed Roth, a miniature train ride, and more.
We played at the playground for a while where the kids instantly made half a dozen new friends. Here is where this man continues to impress me. After an arduous drive of several hours he still answers the pleas of children wishing to be spun in a circle until they're sick. I married up.
We ate at a regional favorite called Braum's. And no wonder it's a favorite. The food was delicious, reasonably priced, and quickly served. They also had ice cream made at their farm. And a market attached where you can buy dairy products as well.
By the time we were done with dinner it was dark and we headed back to the park. This was nowhere in our plans when we pulled into the city, but it became a night to remember. The carousel was amazing, the lights were fantastic, but even more so were the people that we met. Everything was free and you could tell that the people putting this on were passionate about what they were doing.
The next day we walked to the national Route 66 museum across the street from the RV park. That was our intention anyway. We saw an old Victorian house that had Old Town Museum on a sign out front. We walked into that one first where we were warmly greeted and asked if we were there to see Santa. We had no idea! Turns out Santa and Mrs. Claus were there to greet the kids of the town and had goodie bags for everyone as well. We then walked around the museum with rooms that had antique furniture, antique toys, quilts, rodeo memorabilia, and more.
There was another room where two ladies were serving cookies and sherbet punch. We talked with them for a while and learned the history of the town, what it was known for, what happened, the decline, and now the gradual return. They were of an older generation and we were able to encourage them, as members of a younger generation, that we saw the value in what they were trying to preserve.
We headed back out the way we came and were informed that there was a whole city block of little museums, including the Route 66 one. We were given a map and told to enjoy! Everything was free that weekend. It was almost like we had planned it... but we hadn't. God did though.
We saw a caboose and a train station, a small town square set up with various buildings, some you could walk into while others you could peer in the windows. There was an original one room schoolhouse, the first wood house built in Elk City, Oklahoma which was smaller than most of our present day closets but was a sign of real wealth a hundred years ago. And then of course there was the Route 66 museum.
Everyone we ran into who was volunteering or working, displayed such a genuine love for their town and a passion for what they were doing that it was inspiring. We had arrogantly driven into this small, nothing town and assumed we'd made a mistake. We now realize that those who left this town were probably the ones who made the mistake.
The values that they so tirelessly try to preserve are the same ones that we are trying to build in ourselves and instill in our children. They may look different in some ways, but the roots are the same.
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