Route 66 with Our Grandson – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Joplin, Missouri: September 18, 2015
On the morning of September 18, it was time to leave Twin Fountains RV Resort in Oklahoma City. I really can’t say enough good things about this place. The grounds were beautiful, the facilities were excellent, and the staff were wonderful. It’s definitely the kind of campground you remember and want to return to. We look forward to heading back there sooner rather than later.
After packing up, we continued east along Route 66.
Visiting Jerry McClanahan in Chandler
Our first stop was in Chandler, Oklahoma at the gallery of Jerry McClanahan. Jerry is a well-known Route 66 author, artist, and historian who has spent years documenting the many alignments of the Mother Road.
He is the creator of the excellent EZ66 Guide for Travelers, which is a must-have for anyone exploring Route 66. Jerry also co-created the “HERE IT IS!” Route 66 Map Series with Jim Ross, and together they produced the video “Bones of the Old Road,” which explores forgotten alignments and remnants of Route 66.
It’s always great to stop by and talk Route 66 with someone who has dedicated so much time to preserving its history.
Lunch at the Rock Café
Continuing east, we stopped for lunch at the Rock Café in Stroud, Oklahoma.
The café has been a Route 66 landmark since the 1930s and is famous for being built with local sandstone—hence the name. It’s also known among Pixar fans because its longtime owner, Dawn Welch, served as an inspiration for the character Sally Carrera in the movie Cars.
It was a perfect stop for a relaxing Route 66 lunch before continuing our journey.
Cars on the Route – Galena, Kansas
Our next stop was in Galena, Kansas, where we visited Cars on the Route.
This fun stop is famous for the rusty tow truck and old fire truck parked outside. These vehicles helped inspire the characters Mater and Red in the Pixar movie Cars. It’s a great photo opportunity and a fun place for fans of the movie.
Overnight in Joplin
Our stop for the night was the KOA in Joplin, Missouri, located near the interchange of MO-43 and I-44.
Like the KOA we stayed at between Elk City and Clinton earlier in the trip, this campground is primarily geared toward overnight travelers. That said, I give very high marks to the staff here. Any shortcomings in the facility are quickly forgotten because of how helpful and welcoming they were. They went out of their way to offer assistance and make sure we had everything we needed.
The park itself was clean and well maintained, though surprisingly quiet for a Friday night. Someone who saw a picture of our campsite joked that it looked more like a drive-in movie parking lot than a campground!
Jameson’s Favorite Feature
The campground has a nice playground, but the real highlight for our grandson Jameson was the fish pond.
The pond is stocked with perch, carp, and some very large catfish. The campground office even provides free fish food, so you can sit under the shade of the gazebo and feed the fish. Ducks also patrol the pond hoping to share in the snacks.
Jameson absolutely loved this, and honestly, so did we.
I give this campground high marks for the fish pond alone.
Tomorrow would be our final full day on the road before returning home to Indiana.
Links
- Our full September 2015 Route 66 RV trip overview
- Shasta Trailer Adventure: September 12–14, 2015
- Western Oklahoma to Amarillo: September 15, 2015
- Jack Sisemore RV Museum (Amarillo, Texas): September 16, 2015
- Amarillo to Tucumcari: September 16, 2015
- Amarillo, Texas to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: September 17, 2015
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Joplin, Missouri: September 18, 2015
- Final Days on Route 66 – St. Louis KOA and Heading Home (September 19–20, 2015)
- Tips for RV travel on Route 66
Photo Gallery
Route 66 with Our Grandson – Shasta Trailer Adventure: September 17-18, 2015
