Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger

Our Snapshot location is Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger! This Mother Road icon is a must-see (and must-eat) when you're in Miami, OK.

Located on Route 66, Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger is an original fast food drive-in chain from the 1960s and is the only location still standing. You can't miss the Ku-Ku birds greeting you at the drive-thru or on top of the building.

Austin and I can testify that everything is cooked to order and served up piping hot. From barbecue buffalo burgers and fries to onion petals and a pork tenderloin sandwich, we ate our way through their menu and it did not disappoint.

If you go, be sure and chat up the owner/operator Eugene Waylan. He's always there and I'm not kidding. The day we went he said he had a funeral to go to the next week so he was closing for a bit since he wouldn't be able to be in both places. He takes such pride in the restaurant's food and service that he personally oversees it's day-to-day operations. I saw him supervise the making of my delicious burger first-hand.

Another sign of a good dining spot is that locals love it as much as tourists. This was evident by the number of locals who recommended the place to us and were also eating there themselves.
 
I also love the unexpected details of Waylan's, such as this car parked out by the sign. It fits right in, don't you think?

On a related note, congratulations to Brandon Bowman our Oklahoma Dispatch Facebook Friend who posted the snapshot location and was randomly selected as the winner! We've got some Oklahoma goodies to send your way!

Snapshot: 8.23.11

The Green Buff has been busy traveling around the state and took a recent snapshot at one of his favorite places. To guess the location, just leave a comment on this blog or post on our Oklahoma Dispatch Facebook Page.

We'll gather the correct guesses and randomly select a winner tomorrow when we post the answer. We've got a t-shirt and trivia cards up for grabs so get guessing!

And This Week's Snapshot Answer is...

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid!

Per TravelOK.com:

"The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, located in Enid and operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, is a 24,000 sq ft facility that features five exhibit galleries interpreting the settlement and development of northwest Oklahoma. In addition, the Humphrey Heritage Village, a living history village on the grounds of the complex, features four historically significant buildings including the only remaining 1893 Land Office. Come to the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center to celebrate the spirit of the Cherokee Strip pioneers and to experience one of the most significant heritage visitor destinations and educational resources in northwest Oklahoma.

Visitors to the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will enjoy more than 12,500 sq ft of climate-controlled exhibit space. Connect to the excitement, hardships and determination of the people who made the land run in the museum's Land Run Theater, or visit the "End of the Day" exhibit to witness a three-dimensional, authentically reproduced camp scene complete with a covered wagon and other items settlers would have brought with them. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center also features beautifully landscaped grounds that include "The Homesteader," a bronze statue by renowned Western artist Harold Holden.

This museum houses a varied collection of historical material including numerous eyewitness pioneer accounts, oral and video histories and more than 8,000 original and reproduced photographs, many of which depict the drama of the historic Cherokee Strip Land Run. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center houses 10,000 artifacts including the first portable drilling rig invented by George E. Failing in 1930.

Come to this museum and browse through exhibits containing household objects and agricultural tools that were necessary for homesteading in the Outlet. The center also features material related to the discovery and development of the region's oil and gas industry and items documenting the development of the nation's first fully-integrated petroleum company. Using its rich collection of artifacts, photographs and documents, the museum expertly traces the history of the Cherokee Outlet and the people who settled there, making the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center a must-see."

Snapshot: 01.26.11

Alright dispatchers, its time again for another snapshot! Can you tell us where we were when we took this shot?

And This Week's Snapshot Answer is...

The Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, OK. Congratulations, several of you got it right!

Here are a few more shots of the Center, which sits on more than 100 acres adjacent to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The exhibits and campus utilize the latest technology, ancient artifacts and natural outdoor spaces to tell the Chickasaw story.

The complex beauty and spirit of this place is difficult to capture in a photograph, so I hope you will add the Chickasaw Cultural Center to your list of places to visit. If any of you have been there, please share your experience in the comments section or on our Oklahoma Dispatch Facebook page.

 The Stomp Dance Exhibit

The Honor Garden

A traditional village which includes the council house, two summer houses, two winter houses, a corn crib, ceremonial mound and traditional stockade fence

 The Kochcha’ Aabiniili’ (“outdoor seating”) Amphitheater  

Snapshot: 12.06.10

We've decided to test your Okie knowledge a bit with a new post series we call Snapshot. It's easy to play, just check out the image below and post a comment if you know where or what is in the photograph.

We'll follow up with the answer later this week, but for now can you tell me where I was when I snapped this picture?