Tulsa officially named capital of Route 66

TULSA, Okla. — The City of Tulsa was officially named the capital of Route 66.

This comes after a two-year-long trademark process for the City.

FOX23 heard from local businesses in Tulsa sharing the excitement.

Route 66 stretches over 2000 miles through seven states, but Oklahoma has the most drive-able miles of that highway.

Tulsa being named its capitol means a lot of impact for local businesses along the stretch.

Meadow Gold Mack and Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios are just two of several Tulsa business along Route 66 sharing in the excitement after being named the highway's capital.

"Today was the first day we knew it was officially, but we knew it had been coming for a long time," Rebecca with Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios said.

With the centennial celebration for Route 66 just two years away, these businesses are hoping to see an increase of support for shopping local along the highway.

"I know we've been busy, it's been a great excuse to get a second statue up," she said. "It's brought a lot of opportunities, a lot of talk and chatter. So, it's been great."

"I think it's just a really great way to just claim that title," Jamie with Meadow Gold Mack said. "We can keep people coming through here. I feel like we get a really good steady traffic through this area, and people know that we're really proud of this part of Route 66. So I think it's gonna be even better."

The announcement impacts more than just Tulsa. FOX23 spoke with the Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, on Monday after the announcement was made.

"What's good for Tulsa is good for Sapulpa, for Catoosa," she said.  "When people are on Route 66, they just don't go to one place. They travel the road itself, so they go from one community to the next."

For several of those businesses along Route 66, they said Tulsa being named the capital was overdue.

Over at Buck Atoms, FOX23 was told they'd already made stickers saying 'Route 66 Capital,' which sold out by this morning.

Now, everyone is gearing up for the centennial celebration of the highway in 2026.