UMVA has learned that Tulsa’s historic 28‑mile stretch of Route 66 is poised to glow brighter than ever as the city prepares to honor a century of American road lore.
When twilight falls over Tulsa, neon lights ignite the long‑awaited highway, turning the old road into a living museum that hums with the rhythm of past and present.
Michael Wallis, a lifelong explorer of the iconic stretch and the voice behind a beloved animated sheriff, says the highway is a living canvas, a winding museum that captures the pulse of America.
Wallis, who lives just a block from the city’s centennial plaza, reflects on how the highway, once the brainchild of Cyrus Avery, still beckons travelers to taste the heart of the nation.
He recalls the day the interstate system surged across the country, leaving Route 66 as a relic on the map, and how the road’s decommissioning left local businesses adrift and the community yearning for pride.
“I knew the road was still there, more than 85% of it, you can still drive,” Wallis tells us, his voice tinged with hope that the highway’s story is far from over.
Julia Figueroa, owner of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios, paints a vivid picture of a once‑derided corner of Tulsa that has transformed into a vibrant hub of eclectic treasures, all crowned by towering fiberglass statues that lure curious travelers.
To spark a renaissance, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission rolled out a matching grant program, first targeting neon signage that once lit the way for weary motorists.
Ken Busby, chair of the commission, shares that the neon grant has already sparked a neon renaissance, with 84 glowing signs now adorning the highway, turning the two‑lane road into a dazzling cityscape at night.
Locals revel in the glow, stopping to capture the shimmering spectacle, while businesses dream of a future where restored facades and fresh branding bring even more visitors to the historic corridor.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the next chapter of Tulsa’s Route 66 will see a bold push to restore building fronts, ensuring the highway remains a beacon of community pride and a living tribute to the American dream.
