Route 66 Sighs in Chandler & Warwick, OK

Chandler

West of Stroud, as for most of the way between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, old Route 66 continues along the south side of the I 44 turnpike, which has another of its rare exits at Chandler (pop. 3,094). Chandler is one of the most pleasant old Route 66 towns in Oklahoma, with a wealth of well-preserved sandstone-and-brick buildings, a trio of which house an enjoyable local history center. It stands out for a number of good reasons, not least of which is the classic Lincoln Motel (740 E. 1st St., 405/258-0200, $65 and up), along old Route 66 at the east edge of town. It’s a little time-worn, for sure, but still as neat and tidy as the day it opened in 1939 with two dozen two-room cabins, each with a green bench for watching the world whiz by.

Chandler’s solid-looking WPA era Armory has been done up to house the lively and engaging Route 66 Interpretive Center (400 E. Route 66/1st St., 405/258 1300, Tues.-Sun. year-round, $5), which gives an eye-opening introduction to the enterprising and welcoming Route 66 spirit. There’s a public swimming pool (summer only), a gallery run by Route 66 artist and guidebook writer Jerry McClanahan (306 Manvel St., 405/240-7659, by appt.), and a well-restored cottage-style Phillips 66 station.

Warwick

Heading west toward Oklahoma City, old Route 66 continues along the south side of I-44, passing a metal-roofed barn emblazoned with a photogenic “Meramec Caverns—Stanton MO” sign west of Chandler and crossing under the freeway about 3 mi (4.8 km) west of Warwick. From here, one of the state’s best surviving stretches of Route 66, known locally as the “free road,” runs for more than 30 mi (48 km) along the north side of the turnpike, passing by horse and cattle ranches as it rolls across the red earth.

On old Route 66, about 7 mi (11.3 km) west of Chandler and a few miles east of where Route 66 again crosses the I-44 Turnpike (at exit 158), the old highway town of Warwick has a small gem: the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum (405/258-9141, Thurs. Tues., free), a simple 1920s filling station, thoughtfully renovated to house a covetable collection of motorcycles, memorabilia, fan magazines, and more. My favorite item is a 1970s Evel Knievel pinball machine. Altogether there are around 60 motorbikes on display, mostly one-of-a-kind racing and motocross machines.