Small town Stroud was mostly in the saloon business as the 20th century began, went dry with Oklahoma statehood in 1907, then benefited around this same time with the discovery of all that oil nearby. Route 66 was built through the center of town in the 1920's, and in 1946 Jack Rittenhouse reported on the Mother Road's local benefits. He found several tourist courts, a few gas stations and a hotel, local small businesses all. The Rock Cafe (top) was built in 1936 for the hungry Oklahoma traveler passing through Stroud. Rittenhouse also reported that the thriving town was also a busy agricultural trading center. But times change. The construction of the Turner Turnpike (now I-44) in the 1950's, a real early 66 bypass, slowed the tourist trade. The Oklahoma oil booms finally went bust in the 1980's. Since then Stroud has had to scramble a bit, and there is today a 90 acre industrial park in town looking for tenants. I commuted for a few years into New York City, and assume a number of the town's 2,700 residents can always do the same, if need be, with an interstate drive to Tulsa (48 miles) or Oklahoma City (55 miles). On the positive side, Stroud was recognized in 2005 as the Grape and Wine Capital of Oklahoma, with 15 wineries within 50 miles. This an excellent tourist draw, no doubt, as is the city's downtown, which has an authentic and friendly Route 66 look to it.
Stroud is a fun little 66 stop. You can always tell your friends you lunched at the Rock Cafe, a place built from the stones left over from the construction of Route 66. The town's murals are most awesome, as is the turn of the century architecture, including the Stroud Trading Company building (4th photo) which also served for a while as the town's opera house. Become a Stroud American for a couple of hours. Log Book: 789 miles motored on old 66.
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