I Drove The Desolate Oklahoma Panhandle - This Is What I Saw
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- I crossed the Oklahoma panhandle. I entered through the Eastern side, spent some time in Guymon and ended the drive at the New Mexico border. Along the way, I made a pit stop at the ghost town of Wheeless.
Travel Vlog 112
Grew up in Guymon,Oklahoma from 1980 to 1986. We were a Lao immigrant family that was sponsored by the local church.
The town was full of friendly people.
We kids were able to walk safely all over town. I've either walked or ride my bike all the places in the video.
Our house was on the corner of NE 5th and Crumbley.
Loved our years there but you are correct on the poverty then and now. Grew up seeing kids coming to school with hunger pain. And like someone said...the $51k average only due to a few rich families there.
I walked around your town as an epic thunderstorm brewed. Never seen such a pretty and fierce storm but it felt like a normal day for the panhandle.
@wza223-fo3mc been back several times to visit since my father is buried at the local cemetery.
Some things have changed. Many things have stayed the same. The "jungle gym" at the school where we attended is still there. The playground at the local park is still the same . Unfortunately, it's not as safe as it was before...all the drugs and crimes that moved in.
Many who could, have moved away.
@tybarker5038 missed the "sunny rain" where it's may be pour where you standing but sunshine a few blocks away! And the smell of dried grass after it get wet by the first rain!
$51K wasn't the average. It was the median, and it's now over $55K. That means half of households are higher than that.
Thanks for another cool video! I was born in OKC and moved around a ton as a kid *father in pipeline* I'm now settled back in Oklahoma in a small town, there's just someone special about our state though I cant put a finger on it! I absolutely love how Oklahoma has such a unique landscape in almost every corner of the state are different, thanks for exploring our state :)
Totally agree, Kelsey.
Yes. I've lived in South Central Oklahoma just north of lake Texoma. Western Oklahoma off I-40 and the Texas state line. And OKC area now. Used to go to Pryor Oklahoma northeastern Oklahoma every year. And deep into the kiamichi mountains in Southeastern Oklahoma. It's all different.
My home state of Oregon has a much more unique and diverse geography. Oceans, lakes, big rivers, mountains, deserts, vast forests. I found Oklahoma to be devoid of geographic interest. I've driven thru the panhandle several times on the way to Tucumcari, NM.
I love rural America. Some folks hate flat land but there's a certain beauty to it .
I agree!
I think everywhere is beautiful in it's own way. From the flat lands of the US to the green hills of Ireland. It's the same with people. If you have eyes to see, you can find beauty everywhere. God does good work.
In Boise City is a nice clean motel run by some folks from India , you can smell the good food cooking .
As someone from North Georgia, I find the vast openness unsettling. I need mountains, hills and ridges to dot the landscape around me or I feel exposed for some reason. I can’t explain why and I know it sounds silly… but that’s how it is
There's a lot of beauty to it. I am from India which is much more densely populated and I love seeing empty vast open lands like these, full of nothingness as far as you can see.
I wish we had this long and straight roads with basically no traffic here in Germany 🙂 Must be so relaxing to put some music on and just cruise along ❤️
That was really interesting to see. Panhandle seems peaceful, spacious and kind of creepy at the same time. Thank you for the tour. I grew up in Tulsa, been in Texas about 40 years now. I can detect your Oklahoma accent. It’s great.
LOL, the accent just won't go away. :)
Amazing! Always wondered what that OK panhandle was like! Thanks.
Yeah, me too. It was interesting, and beautiful in it's own way.
I grew up in Oklahoma and it is home to me, so I love seeing your videos of these small towns. I can only claim to have been in the Oklahoma panhandle once that I can recall, so this was a real treat to see it. I will continue to watch your videos. I wish I could make these travels myself.
I live in west Texas and yea, brick streets are pretty common in small towns. They’re getting pretty rough after so many years, but they were quite the improvement over axle deep mud when it ever rains!
You missed the best part of seeing Black Mesa and a tiny town called Kendrick. Great beef Jerky called No Man's Land in Boise City.
The western area of the panhandle is rugged with hills, canyons, and pretty areas. Kenton is in a different time zone. Hikers, campers, anglers visit the area.
Seemed like a homey place to me. Nice town.
Gone through there many times on US 56. It is wide open with very few people. I love it.
Beautiful. Didn’t see graffiti!! Looks like a good honest place.
Of course there's no graffiti...there's no blacks. Paradise.
Because there's no hope for young people and therefore no young people..
You really missed the businesses and all the beautiful homes. So much more to Guymon than a deserted town. Sunset lake is beautiful. The north part of town is where the growth is.
Not a good representation of Guymon at all. You literally stayed south of 6th Street in the very oldest origional part of town where everything was built in the 40's or earlier. There are many nicer neighborhoods and better business areas. You are however accurate about the historical brick streets. They are rough....
I miss my small town vibes. I've lived in so many small towns. Shattuck is one. Someday I'd love to do this . Drive around Oklahoma. Such a great idea!!
I drove through Shattuck! Stopped at that Indian themed convenience store. That is an interesting looking town. :)
Do it! You'll never regret jt.
Despite poverty , the people are humble and kind , in Oklahoma ,hardworking too
Excuse me where are you from?
Poverty doesn't have to equate to crime, it's culture and parenting that makes the difference between poor but safe and poor but dangerous.
it doesn’t have to, but it by far statistically does
@@twistedmonkey17 So are you saying they are not reporting the cash as income and affecting the statistics? , so they are in actuality criminals on the federal level as tax evaders as part of the underground economy?
@@twistedmonkey17 Well,$2.2 trillion dollars per year goes unreported in the underground economy (thats at least$ 200Billion in revenue per year going missing 1/3 of the defense budget..) So I'd say some percentage of govt assistance users aren't reporting all income because they'd get kicked off their programs if they did . And I'd say the people that work in the "Cash" economy( handymen , roofers, deck builders, landscapers, hair stylists, painters , back yard mechanics etc), don't report so they can qualify for govt assistance programs and even disability in some cases. So some are criminals at both the state and federal level, it would be nice to have $200 billion more per year to either pay down the trillions in debt or build a few prisons or improve rural hospitals and infrastructure..
@@twistedmonkey17 I'm fine with a consumption tax with some type of income tax reduction across all brackets. I don't think you could replace the income tax with just a consumption tax on luxury items so it would have to be on daily staples (excluding food, tampons, maybe paper products) , it would have to be 25% maybe higher. And then you'd catch hell from every retailer and manufacture lobby out there because consumption of higher end stuff would drop.. But maybe drop the income tax bracket amounts by 2 % (i.e 25% would be 23% and add a 4 % federal consumption tax to try to catch at least some of the underground economy.. Car , Boat and RV lobbies would just scream holy heck..
Cap
You should have gone to Kenton ,Oklahoma it's the only town in Oklahoma thats on Mountain Time Zone also the Mercantile is over 100 years old still open with its tin ceiling and old wooden floors it just brings you back in time. Also Kenton is at the base of Black Mesa the highest point in Oklahoma and not far from the Tri state marker. Did you know Boise had a bomb dropped on it. Another interesting fact Boise is the county seat for Cimarron County which is the only county that has no stop lights.
I'll be doing a separate Black Mesa/Kenton video this fall. I'll check out that bomb site in Boise City then. In this video, I was just passing through.
The story I was told is Air force was practicing bomb runs at night and the target was lit up like a box. The run was off course and seen the four lights of the city square thinking that was the target. Bomb away
I enjoy your videos, keep up the great work.
I visited kenton after visiting my hometown after my family moved a decade ago and the mercantile was not open, I think the population there is actually down to only about 3 people now from the research I've done. I could still be wrong tho!
@@deadlychicken915 nope the population is less than 50 but I couldnt believe it when i crossed the base of Black Mesa that the time changed back an hour 😂 i had incredible times traveling all the oklahoma panhandle and it is interesting how every small town has its own character
When I was a kid in the Texas panhandle, our family would go to the Guymon auction in the 1970's.
I really like the music, it's a perfect match to a landscape without people! It must be hard to drive for hundreds of miles without ever meeting anybody!
Especially at night, one would have some chance to fall asleep at the wheel!
Thanks a lot for another episode of "drive - through America"! I think it's an expression I got right here🙃.
I enjoy the heck out of your shares. Thank you.
It's funny to see that the closest big city to OK panhandle is Amarillo, TX - and not Oklahoma City, OK.
7:13 Boise Cuty, bombed by B17's of the USAAF Jul 5th 1943
Love these kinds of videos. Retired, disabled. My chance to explore America, THANK YOU!!
The Air force wasnt around in 1943 , they were formed in late 1947. I bet it was the Army air core. I lived in Baca county ,Co . I have found .50 cal brass where they would spray rounds over ranch land where people lived.
@@PaulShaw-ex7ri Paul, it was known as the United States Army Air Forces - USAAF. The designation USAAF changed to USAF, September 26, 1947, by order of the Secretary of Defense. So in 1943 it was still USAAF! Google the article of the Boise Ok bombing, you will find the term USAAF!
Im 88, I was around when these things happened. LOL
I think you went right through Slapout! That's an interesting place...
,my dad was from slapout. And we moved to guymon before I was born. Lived there 17 years
Was waiting for a comment from him about Slapout!
Some precious friends that lived in Dumas TX, moved to Guyman Okla in the 70s, he was a pastor and had since passed, my best friend was his son Jimmy Maddox. Haven't seen them for about 45 years. Brought back more memories of my childhood. Thanks
My hometown is Goodwell OK. My family moved when I was 8 and I've been wondering what guymon and that area look like now, I definitely need to take some time and visit there now that I'm almost 21. It's nice to get to see what that area is looking like now, thank you
Very cool trip you guys!. We take that route when we visit Angel Fire - Eagles Nest, NM. It's pretty easy to cruise at 90 if you want to just put the miles down.
I just found your channel a couple months ago and love the nostalgia of the old rural towns and their history/population facts. I was anxiously waiting for this episode of the One true Panhandle. only to be disappointed that you didn't hit my home town. I can't believe you didnt see the name Hooker on the map only 20 miles from Guymon and and think "I just have to take a short detour for the name alone." I grew up and moved from there in '01 to Detroit. You should definitely hit the Panhandle again on US54 for the every ten minute highway, (A town every ten minutes/miles) Tyrone to Texhoma.
We will be. And we'll visit Hooker. :)
I did enjoy this. I am new to Oklahoma. I live in Ponca City and always wondered about the Panhandle Thank you for this. Very interesting. Now I can tell my CA people the fun facts I learned!
Ponca City is where I live now also
I'm from California but I have at least one hundred cousins that live in Ponca city. My Great grandfather and Great grandmother are buried there. They had ten children.
There's Literally No Traffic there.....Until.....you are 5mph over the Speed Limit!! Then there is a Cop with a OLD OLD Analog Radar Gun that says you were traveling at Twice the speed of sound
Thank you so much for these videos. Takes me back to when I was kid growing up there. I’m now back in Texas where I was born and belong.
I am sorry you didn't look at Hardesty while passing thru or Boise City, you didn't look around. You also didn't go thru Goodwell where there is Oklahoma Panhandle State University where I graduated in 1964. You also missed Texhoma, SW of Goodwell which is on the Oklahoma/Texas border. Half of the town is in Oklahoma in half is in Texas. You seemed to place more interest in going the entire length of the Panhandle rather that looking at old towns past their prime.
That was literally the purpose of this video - a drive through the panhandle. Nothing else. It's in the title. It was never a "explore every corner of the panhandle" video. That all being said, I will be doing videos of many of the places you listed in time.
My roadtrips I actually love exploring the downtowns....trying to figure out which store was the Woolworths, Mintgomery Ward etc. and the old remnants of painted signs or facades. I keep finding new/old US roads and prefer those to the Interstates. Too bad Walmart and the urban sprawl have taken over many smaller places
It's almost always the most interesting areas in cities, and definitely where the most unique architecture is.
@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip when I drove truck I used to stop for my coffee at a truck stop in Ferhus Falls.Minnesota. . This past year i took another highway and went into the town and found so mamy signs and treasures including many old houses plis the signs and stores. Live 200 miles from there tet never knew what kimd of gold was there
I’ve always wanted to drive through the panhandle. Thank you for these videos!
As part of a year long internship, I took English classes for a morning at Guymon HS in 1986. It was great to exchange with the students - a real experience for a young Briton!
This town (Guymon) has the same look and feel as Brawley Calif (Imperial County).
I remember driving through that area on a sunny morning with blue clear skies and being able to pick up an AM radio station in San Diego! Amazing the signal could travel that far.
Awesome content spoda especially for those of us who can't get out there thank u!
Thank you!! :)
I love living in rural Oklahoma.
Your lucky to see green grass. Good place for dove and pheasant hunting when they get enough rain. If your lucky you will see pronghorn, elk, and mule deer. They do however need to work on their BBQ not the best pretty tuff.
Too bad you missed Beaver - located on the “mighty” Beaver River in the center of the panhandle. My family were “early” arrivers there beating the starting Gun for the land rush by some weeks - true “pre” Sooners. Now resting in the Pioneer Cemetery at Beaver - it is an intact and interesting village with a few grand homes and some non grand ones. It is county seat of Beaver County and is an interesting little village.
i go to Beaver every year in October to do some hunting. its quite a nice little town.
i'm from Beaver. Was hoping he would turn right but he kept going lol
True land thieves
Beautiful 😍 thank you from here in Germany. We come to Oklahoma in 2026 💖
I enjoyed your trip across No Mans Land, Oklahoma!
Grew up in the panhandle. Seems like you ONLY found the run down parts to film. How about the wonderful places? Yes, some of these towns are not booming anymore, but there are some beautiful parts left in the three counties also. You missed filming those areas. You give a very biased view of the three largest counties in Oklahoma. I hope people don't think the entire area looks like this film.
It's literally a driving video. It's in the title. I drove on the roads that were there. There is no "ONLY found run down parts to film" about it.
“No Man’s Land” is the correct nickname for the Okla panhandle. We used to drag the brick Main Street back in the 80s.
Ohh cute.
Thanks always wondered what was in that little slice of Oklahoma 😃
Yeah, me too. I was excited to drive through it. :)
@@JesusLovesYou2- I'm sure what video could possibly show everything....
Beautiful ♥️ information 🤔 Oklahoma 👍😊 watching fr jamaica 🇯🇲🏖️🌞😎
Well I've never been to heaven but I lived in Oklahoma. Now I live in Arizona not Oklahoma, what does it matter. Hey, ain't that a song or something ?? 😂
Highway 412 from Boise City looking east to Guymon.. It's a 47.7m straight road & was the geographical inspiration for the Jimmy Webb & Glen Campbell classic from 1968 'Wichita Lineman'
A cut below the usual very good videos.
I was born and raised in Guymon
Enjoyed your video of the Oklahoma panhandle. I've only crossed it to get from Texas to to Kansas. All so desolate, and yet with a charm all its own.
I totally agree.
Your also in tornado alley
I spent several summers in Vici (pronounced with 2 long i's) and 2 syllables. Back in the mid-60's there was a Chevy dealer and several businesses on Main Street. One that I especially enjoyed was the old fashioned soda fountain. They mixed their CocaCola at the bar and boy.... was it good! Nothing like the bottled Coke! Way better.
My Mom passed in '74 and is buried in Harmon.... just west of Vici.... along with my Grandparents and Uncles. I can understand the low crime rate... these people were GOOD people... at least when I was there! Salt of the Earth! But even back then if you wanted do any serious shopping you had to go to Woodward. Even more so now!
Thanks for sharing beautiful scenery 👍🇺🇲
Thank you for the nice videos of Oklahoma I always wanted to explore and see whats out there
Thank you for watching Levi! :)
Skip over to Boise City and show us where a B17 BOMBER from my Dad's training squadron dropped dummy bombs on the City Square while training during WW2.. It was ruled not totally the bombardier's fault. Someone forgot to turn off the lights on the square, which was lit in a box shaped formation similar to the range, north of the city. The bombardier went on to serve over Germany, and led one of the first daylight bombing runs over the Ruhr Valley.
I like the vibe of downtown Guymon. Reminds me of midtown Manhattan New York City at rush hour.
Lol!! Thank you for the laugh. 😀
Cimarron County, borders 5 states. Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and of course, Oklahoma.
No interstate highways pass through the OK panhandle which is interesting.
Can’t say enough about the folks that live out that way. Including West Texas. I like to travel out that way on my bike
Born & raised in Guymon, I've seen that strech of road one too many times lol
I live in Moore oklahoma and Im 21 years old I just said last week how much I want to drive the pan handle and just lost my car! I'm going soon as I get a new one in a month or two ((: or after holidays. Thanks for the cool vid brother . Oklahoma welcomes ya anytime
Thank you. BTW, I'm an Okie myself. I was born in Tulsa.
REALLY enjoy your videos...THANKS
Thanks, Russ!
Several years ago I took a solo Harley trip chasing a band I liked from Tulsa to Santa Fe. I followed your route and even spent a night in Guyman. Interesting ride and I probably went over the speed limit a time or two. I remember a really disappointing Mexican dinner in Guyman too.
Great story! :)
Songwriter Jim Webb was driving that road when he saw a lineman up a pole chatting with someone, and it inspired him to write Wichita Lineman.
In an afternoon you can be in five different states….it’s pretty out there!
I’m from Goodwell, it’s 10 miles from Guymon. Guymon is the biggest city in that area. The panhandle is a unique place to live with a big Ag background. It’s a simple but good place to live
I live and grew up here in Lawton Oklahoma but never been in Panhandle.
It took awhile, but people finally realized that 40 acres n a mule, just doesn't cut it anymore.
Cool video, I like the music score.
It’s so FLAT you could just walk & walk or ride a bike and not wish for death.
Heading west is a rise of 1,000 ft. Cross country cyclists are relieved to learn why it felt so difficult when it seemed so flat.
Even poor people can be respectable and law abiding if they want to.
I would love to see you do some video from around Enid, OK. And surrounding area’s!!
I will be in time. :)
The Enid video is up, and a drive through nearby towns as well. :)
"Not a lot going on here." Best thing you can say about a place.
You should indeed feel as if you accomplished something by traversing the entire east/west extent of the Panhandle. I thoroughly enjoyed being with you along the way.
Thank you, David. :)
I've been wanting to go to the across the panhandle and go to the black mesa too someday. Awesome video 😃
There is not much out there. I traveled from Amarillo to Black Mesa state park to do some camping. Had a nice time there. If you go around there keep your eye on your gas tank. Not a lot of gas stations. From Black Mesa traveled to Pueblo, Colorado. America is great!
You didn’t go to Kenton, OK! The only town in Oklahoma that is on Mountain Standard Time. Also home of one of the darkest places too. They have a festival every year of star gazing. You missed it!
We are planning on it.
now I know what the oklahoma panhandle means. thanks for the trip
I was out there twice last summer. God's country as far as I am concerned. Black Mesa area is beautiful. Check out Etling Lake sometime. And Kenton Ok. I hope you saw the NW corner of the panhandle.
I think 🤔 I seen remnants of the Santa Fe trail year ago today just about sixty miles north of Boise city 🏙️ near the James ranch 🤠👻☠️👽
The best chicken-fried steak I ever had was from Cactus Jack’s in Guymon. I hope they’re still around.
Connecticut is the same size with 3.6 million people. Amazing!
Sir, you could have picked a variety of different routes and gone through many different towns!! You chose the path you did just so you could made the OK panhandle look bad!!
The OK panhandle is by far the best place to live in OK!!
We don’t need the hustle and bustle you were seeking!! We have honesty, integrity, love, respect, care, etc!! Those are far better characteristics!!
Also you didn’t mention the fact that the panhandle is home to a major Oklahoma university and the highest point in Oklahoma!!
I L💕 VE the Okla panhandle!!! Drive through there often.
I grew up in Hooker, Oklahoma which is 20 miles NE of Guymon. But partied in Guymon alot
PEEWEE!! GO LIONS!
When I went to guymon Oklahoma, there was one convenience store, one motel, and one gas station, that was it.
I've driven that road many times. It always occurred to me that a few entities or families own the land in that area. Because agriculture has become so mechanized and getting more so all the time fewer and fewer people are employed by those that own the land. Those that could afford to get out did. Those that either couldn't afford to or didn't want to stayed and suffered. Some things don't change: The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It was interesting to see what things are like there now. Thanks for posting.
Would be hard to tell it apart from any other place in rural Oklahoma.
If you come back across take highway 64. You will not see much different though. I love it out here
Love the song to this video.
I knew that panhandle was longer than my state.... ma is small.... has more of a length though..... wonder how they measure the cape....
My ex's sister lived in Beaver,Ok. and we used to go pick up his nephew and take him camping with us. Not missing much.
Such a cool place
My g grandmother is buried in guymon ola bethel my g grandfather clam bethel
Clem bethel from ohio homesteaded along with his brother bill they travelled there in 1905 kids wives and all by wagon
Thanks!
Thank you!
I took highway 83 through the Oklahoma panhandle. the only memorable thing about it was how quickly I moved from Texas to Nebraska. If I ever get back, maybe I'll travel horizontally across the state!
What’s the name of the town you passed through the big courthouse where the road was straight into it and you had to go around
Boise City
We drove this stretch to avoid Texas back in November, 2012. It was bleak.