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Wed June 20, 2007

Route 66 opens road to pride, tourism

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By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman
Oklahoma, let's talk about Route 66.

I know that for years you've struggled with your identity. You're often compared to the shy, attractive girl at the small town dance — too easily overshadowed by the cocky glamorous homecoming queen named "Texas.”




Why would anyone want to see Oklahoma? We have nothing to offer. Visionaries and Oklahoma City boosters like Lee Allan Smith and Ray Ackerman spent years arguing against such sentiments.

They have largely succeeded in creating a sense of pride in their hometown.

Now it's time for the entire state, especially Tulsa, to join Oklahoma City in the chest thumping.

Start with Route 66. The old highway has no turnstiles, so getting an accurate count of tourists lured by nostalgia for the "Mother Road” is difficult, if not impossible.

This week I'm here to tell you it's a huge draw. In just three days, I've encountered tourists from around the world, driving the highway, spending their money, here just to see what they consider to be the "real America.”

I've seen a couple from Japan taking photos of the Route 66 Motel in Afton. I've spent lunchtime with 11 Norwegians at Stroud's famous Rock Cafe.

I've enjoyed the company of a couple who spent thousands to ship their motorcycles from their home in Hawaii to the mainland to cruise Route 66.

The state is showing signs of appreciating just how big a business Route 66 tourism might be for Oklahoma's motels, restaurants and attractions.

Historic markers are popping up along current alignments of Oklahoma 66 and former traces of the federal Route 66.

But more remains to be done. On some stretches of the old highway, especially in parts of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, tourists might think they are lost because of the lack of any signs or Route 66-related businesses.

From the start, the path of Route 66 was drawn up to drive business into Oklahoma.

The highway was decommissioned two decades ago, but the dollars continue to roll in.

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