Route 66 travelers passing through Sapulpa might do a double-take when they spot the weathered old-west storefronts near Heritage Park. The buildings look like they’ve been standing since Oklahoma’s territorial days, complete with a saloon’s swinging batwing doors and hand-painted signs advertising frontier businesses. But this isn’t a preserved historic district—it’s the creative handiwork of local artist and entrepreneur Joe Krout.
What started as a solution to a city ordinance has become one of Sapulpa’s most photographed roadside attractions.
From Metal Garage to Western Town
Krout owns a metal garage building on the northwest corner of Hobson and Poplar, directly across from Heritage Park. When the City of Sapulpa’s ordinance against metal structures on main corridors became an issue, Krout chose creativity over conflict. Using reclaimed barn wood and paint, he transformed the garage into an old-west facade featuring three distinct “businesses:” Dr. I.C. Clearly’s Optometrist, Old Town Saloon, and Diggum-Deep Mortuary.
The facade has attracted attention from Route 66 travelers for years, but it gained unexpected fame when Google’s mapping car mistook Diggum-Deep Mortuary for a legitimate business and added it to Google Maps as an actual casket service. The tech giant’s algorithm saw the hand-painted sign and swinging doors, assumed it had discovered a real funeral home, and promptly listed it as a “Casket Service” business complete with a map pin and review capability.
The mix-up brought international attention to Krout’s artistic creation, turning a local art installation into a viral sensation that draws curious visitors from around the world.
Rest in Peace (and Petals)
The installation has expanded since fooling Google. A new addition called “No Money Do N Cemetery” now greets visitors with weathered wooden posts forming an entrance gate. The cemetery sign hangs between vertical columns, welcoming guests to “Rest Your Bones.”
Rather than fake headstones in barren dirt, Krout filled the cemetery with a thriving pollinator garden. Wildflowers and native plants attract butterflies and bees throughout the growing season, adding unexpected beauty to the frontier humor. The combination of Old West aesthetics and environmental stewardship creates something genuinely unique—a testament to Krout’s artistic vision extending beyond simple visual gags.
More Route 66 Stops in Sapulpa
Old Town Sapulpa fits perfectly into Sapulpa’s larger Route 66 identity. The Mother Road runs directly through downtown, and the city has preserved its connection to that golden era of American road travel.
The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum anchors Sapulpa’s automotive attractions. Located in a former armory building, the museum houses classic cars, vintage motorcycles, and Route 66 memorabilia. Outside stands the world’s tallest gas pump—a 66-foot structure that’s become one of Oklahoma’s most photographed roadside attractions since its completion in 2018.
For more automotive nostalgia, Gasoline Alley Classics on Main Street showcases vintage automobiles and Route 66 collectibles.
History enthusiasts should visit the Waite Phillips Filling Station Museum, a beautifully restored 1920s service station that now houses period automobiles and tells the story of early automobile travel. The Sapulpa Historical Society Museum downtown offers deeper context about the city’s role as a Route 66 hub and railroad town.
Every September, Sapulpa closes down Main Street for the Route 66 Blowout, an annual car show that’s been celebrating automotive culture since 1989. The event draws over 250 vintage, classic, and modified vehicles alongside art vendors, live music, and food booths.
During the holiday season, downtown transforms for the Route 66 Christmas Chute—an 800-foot walkable canopy filled with themed Christmas decorations that attracts visitors from around the country. The seasonal attraction creates a magical experience along the historic route.
Planning Your Visit
You’ll find Old Town Sapulpa at the intersection of Hobson Avenue and Poplar Street, just north of Heritage Park and near the Sapulpa Public Library. The facade faces Hobson Avenue, making it an easy stop for anyone traveling Route 66 through town. There’s no admission fee, no tour operators, and no set hours—just pull over, snap some photos, and admire the craftsmanship.
The installation works perfectly as part of a larger Route 66 day in Sapulpa. Combine it with the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum’s towering gas pump, lunch at one of the downtown restaurants, and some vintage shopping along Main Street. International travelers already make Sapulpa a destination, stopping at Old Town before exploring the restored filling station museum or browsing classic cars at Gasoline Alley Classics.
Whether you’re a Route 66 road tripper hunting for unique photo opportunities or a local showing out-of-town guests around Sapulpa, Old Town provides exactly what good roadside attractions should: something unexpected, genuinely creative, and impossible to find anywhere else.
