The Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita (population 5,193), Oklahoma, is more than just a place to eat - it is a Route 66 attraction that was rebuilt in 1963. It is famous for its generous portions of biscuits & gravy, chicken-fried steak, homemade pies, and hand-pattied burgers. Everything looked delish, but I wasn't there at lunchtime.
Tourist literature indicated that a 1963 Rambler was located at the Cafe and covered with more than 60,000 stickers from visitors around the world - a Guinness World Record. Unfortunately, I photographed the wrong vehicle, which I did not discover until I returned home.
Standing in front of the building are Betty Boop and Big Boy, greeting visitors at the cafe entrance.
Betty Boop is a famous cartoon character from the 1930s, easily recognized by her flapper-style short dresses or red pantsuits, and her signature phrase, "Boop-Oop-a-Doop!" She is present at several Route 66 attractions.
Big Boy is a smiling cartoon character from the 1930s and a mascot for Bob's Big Boy Restaurants. He is dressed in red checkered overalls and holds a giant hamburger. There are still Big Boy Restaurants in the United States, but only four Bob's Big Boy Restaurants remain, all in California.
Adjacent to the Hi-Way Cafe is the Western Motel, another famous Route 66 Attraction. It still looks like it did on postcards from the Route 66 heydays. Guests just drive up and park right in front of their room. People who stay here now usually want a Route 66 experience rather than a luxury room at a newer hotel.
Located on the property are several statues, including a large 20-25 foot Indian chief and a Muffler Man named Big Bill.
For over 50 years, the Indian Chief stood along the scenic Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts, but in 2023, he was tired of the cold winters and decided to retire to Vinita, Oklahoma.
Big Bill, the Muffler Man, started his career as a traveling advertisement for an oil company, but tired of traveling for years and retired to Vinita in 2025. Big Bill stands beside his suitcase and for years held an advertising sign, but the sign has now disappeared. Originally, "Muffler Men" typically held automotive-related products, but in more recent years, the term "Muffler Man" refers to any large fiberglass figure, regardless of what they look like or hold, if anything.
Afton (population 734) was established in 1886 and reportedly named for Robert Burns's poem "Flow Gently Sweet Afton." By 1910, Afton had two schools, a waterworks, two hotels, two banks, a brick-and-tile plant, a creamery, a newspaper, mills, and grain elevators. In 1926, Route 66 passed through town, and business boomed until Interstate 44 bypassed the city in 1957, causing the population to gradually decline to its current level.
As I was driving through Afton, I couldn't miss the Crosstar Flag and Tag Route 66 Attraction. Local artist Al Childs collects license plates and other automotive items and now has over 6,000 license plates, along with a garage packed with Route 66 and 1960s memorabilia.
When I arrived, the building was locked, so I just walked around the outside of the property, taking pictures. I was about ready to leave when Al Childs drove up and offered to let me look inside. Al liked to visit, so I stayed much longer than I had planned, but it was an enjoyable stop.
Located on the outskirts of Afton is a Will Rogers historic marker along with an early section of Route 66. Before Route 66 was established, the State of Oklahoma paved a 9-foot-wide section of this highway, but when the roadway became part of Route 66, the pavement was widened to 18 feet and concrete ribbons were added along the sides of the asphalt. There is a quote on the Will Rogers marker that states: "Columbus discovered a new World, but the old Tin Lizzie has made us discover America."
