Oklahoma Route 66 - Stroud

STROUD, OKLAHOMA. Roy Rives, looking for some extra cash in his retirement, built the Rock Cafe in the late 1930's using local sandstone left over from a construction project. With its Giraffe-style (I love that term!) exterior, the restaurant opened its doors in 1939 on a busy Route 66 and was immediately successful. The first manager was a Miss Thelma Holloway, who leased the building from Mr. Rives. (I assume old Roy spent his time fishing.) An on-site Greyhound bus stop depositing customers on the Rock's doorstep helped the business survive during the lean times of World War II, and the restaurant thrived during the post-war travel boom. After a succession of short term operators, Ms. Mamie Mayfield took over the rock in 1959, and she ran her business until the bypassing of Route 66 through Stroud finally forced her to close the restaurant in 1983.

      Dawn Welch bought the Rock Cafe in 1993, which was by then in need of major restorations. In the 2000's, with a grant from the National Park Service, the restaurant was overhauled inside and out. By the time I first visited the cafe in 2006, it was once again a proud Route 66 landmark. Unfortunately, a fire in 2008 destroyed everything but the four rock walls and Betsy, the original restaurant grill from 1939. But with a ton of hard work and help once again from the NPS, the Rock reopened in 2009, and it happily remains one of the must see stops on everyone's 66 list.
      I wanted to meet Ms. Welch, but it was the weekend breakfast rush when I arrived. A crowded Saturday is not the time to interrupt a successful small business owner.