Friday, June 27, 2008 | by nathan
The Great Oklahoma Road Trip #2: Black Mesa, Kenton Mercantile and the Oklahoma Panhandle
The Great Oklahoma Road Trip #2: Black Mesa, Kenton Mercantile and the Oklahoma Panhandle
We’ve officially planned the next leg of the Great Oklahoma Road Trip. Check the map:
This weekend, while sharing dinner and some mojitos on my front porch, Brian, J&L and I all began discussing the next place we’d like to explore in our great state. Jaye’s wanted to take us to the Oklahoma Panhandle for years now, has been talking at great length about how much we’re going to love Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma. The skies, he says, are so clear that you can see all the way to the next galaxy cluster. We’re going up for the July 4 weekend.
Featured destinations in the Oklahoma Panhandle include a non-existent lake, the chance to stand in three states (Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado) all at once, the only town in Oklahoma that was bombed during World War II, a town called Hooker, and the only town in Oklahoma that is located in the Mountain Time Zone. This last, the town of Kenton, is where we will be staying whilst in the Panhandle, in some lovely cabins that have air conditioning and television. This may seem pointless - why drive 6-7 hours to sit inside and watch TV? - but I assure you, over the July 4 weekend is when the weather in Oklahoma starts to get pretty effing harsh. Also, I can barely contain my curiosity as to what media markets the town of Kenton, Oklahoma belongs to - Denver? Oklahoma City? Amarillo? As a former broadcaster I can’t help but wonder.
Still, the part I’m looking forward to, even more than the cool historical things and the beautifully clear night skies and the chance to see a part of America that has gone largely forgotten, is the part where I get to hang out with three of the coolest people I know. I went to the Panhandle a couple times as a kid, but I barely remember it. This photograph, however, by Flickr user stevesheriw, makes me look forward to reacquainting myself with it. The photo is of Black Mesa itself:
| The Great Oklahoma Road Trip |
Pingback by Okay City » The Bombing of Boise City
[...] become mildly obsessed with this bit of Oklahoma history in advance of our trip to the Panhandle, so here’s this: The Great Oklahoma Road Trip 2008, videos, [...]
28 June 2008 1:58 pm
Comment by South to Stilly
If I wasn’t so afraid of open fields, I’d take a visit to the Panhandle again myself.
30 June 2008 12:55 am
Pingback by Mountain Time in OK? In Kenton, kind of ...
[...] I got the idea to drop by Kenton when I stumbled onto a blog at okaycity.com.) Posted: 30 Jun, 2008 | Categories: kenton , ecoregions , ecology , ecotourism , panhandle , [...]
30 June 2008 8:00 am
Comment by John
I happened to be up that way for work recently and decided to stop by Kenton because I’d stumbled onto this post. Cool, quirky place. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for the tip! — John
PS: You can by a hat that says “Hooker” at the chamber of commerce in that town (yes, they have one). You also might want to check out some of our drought coverage on the Panhandle lately … it’s gotten pretty bad … ranchers selling off all their cattle and people making Dust Bowl comparisons: http://blog.newsok.com/gogreen/2008/06/23/panhandle-drought/
30 June 2008 8:06 am
Comment by Karen
My friend Angela is from Hooker. She’s quite fond of reminding us that Hooker is a location, not a vocation.
P.S. I totally want one of those hats!
2 July 2008 2:43 pm
Pingback by Okay City » All The Best Moments Are The Unexpected Ones
[...] the whole thing would be closed over the Fourth of July weekend. For a moment, it looked as if the second leg of the Great Oklahoma Road Trip might not happen, after [...]
3 July 2008 6:13 pm
Comment by rich bingham
i wish to drive this route with my family enroute from edmond to denver round trip for sightseeing. is it worth it? how much time would i lose avoiding interstates? any recomendations? thanks. Merry Christmas!! rich
23 December 2008 2:36 pm