Congratulations City of Stroud!

Oklahoma Route 66 Business Neon Light Project Meeting

Saturday, September 14, 2024

First Baptist Church of Stroud

4:00 pm  - 5:30 pm

Meeting is to discuss with the Business Owners that completed the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project Application "Yes".

The City of Stroud has been awarded the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program.

Celeste Carpenter and Charles Palmer have been up and down Route 66 meeting with business owners who would like to participate in the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project. The application period has officially closed!

Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project is a unique opportunity for the state of Oklahoma to demonstrate the pride of a small rural town in Lincoln County with a neon light experience for everyone who travels Route 66.

When the Stroud committee first met, several ideas were discussed. However, after interviewing previous Route 66 travelers from other states and simple FaceBook posts, one common theme emerged, “travelers down Route 66 expect neon.” It is part of the tradition and it is part of the desired experience. Stroud has two of the most iconic Route 66 neon signs in the state of Oklahoma, the Skyliner Motel and the Rock Café.

The business community of Stroud, Oklahoma, has come together to create a unique neon light experience as everyone travels down historic Route 66. U.S. Route 66 travels through the Main Street of Stroud, Oklahoma. Beginning at N. 9thAvenue just as you enter Stroud one block from Highway 99 and ending on the West side of the city is approximately 5,500 feet or 15 blocks of historic businesses. A group of community volunteers has offered to every business in Stroud on Route 66 and all of the businesses visible from Route 66 to join in on the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project. 

The goal is to make each business neon sign special, and unique, and proudly represent the Stroud Route 66 business. The creativity of the business owners has been outstanding. Several of the artwork designs have been included for the Centennial Route 66 committee to enjoy. There are a total of 49 businesses that want to participate in the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project. 

It is important to clarify that each of the signs for the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project are “neon” signs not LED. While LED offers a lot of variety, the Stroud committee is dedicated to the authenticity that neon offers to the Route 66 experience. Each neon sign will be installed with a sensor and a timer. All of the timers will be set for the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. During the timer hours, the sensors will automatically turn the neon lights on at dusk. The timer will turn the neon sign off at 1:00 a.m. The sensors and timers will provide automated maintenance to ensure that the neon signs will light up Route 66 365 days a year. Each of the Stroud businesses will light up Route 66 regardless if the business is “open.” The neon sign provides an experience for the Route 66 travelers. We anticipate that individuals will not just drive down Stroud’s portion of Route 66 once, but just like when we were all kids in high school, they will turn around and drive back bringing back the era of cruising down Main Street.

It is the goal of the Stroud committee to provide an evening experience that will entice travelers to stay overnight in Stroud, Oklahoma. Four hotels in Stroud can accommodate the increase in travelers to the area – the Skyliner Motel, Sooner Motel, Cattle Country Lodge, and Hampton Inn & Suites. In addition, Route 66 travelers who stay overnight can enjoy a wonderful breakfast at one of the many locations before heading out on Route 66 to collect their next passport stamp.

Not only will the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project provide an enjoyable driving experience but walking the 15-block experience will create an interactive experience for the community and visitors who are traveling down Route 66. It is expected that this neon experience will be something that travelers from across the country will come to enjoy. The Stroud committee is confident that this proposal will be an enhancement to the state’s travel and tourism. Especially, since Stroud was the primary sponsor for the official Travel OK US 66 Passport. Individuals and families can get their Oklahoma US 66 Passport stamped at the Rock Café before enjoying the evening neon lights experience.

City of Stroud – The city of Stroud will be the “owner” of the project. They will oversee the city ordinances, the matching fund’s bank account, and the retirement process of the neon signs.

Stroud City Council - The City of Stroud is the applicant of the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant. On June 13, 2024, the Stroud City Council unanimously approved the Stroud Grant Administrator to submit the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light grant application on behalf of the City of Stroud.

Stroud Route 66 Neon Light Committee – Members from the Stroud community joined together to evaluate and determine the best proposal for the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant. There were a lot of ideas and discussions. It was eventually decided and voted on to proceed with the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project where all of the businesses in Stroud that are either located on Route 66 or visible from Route 66 could participate to help with economic growth for the city of Stroud and the state of Oklahoma. Members of the committee have led the business outreach portion of the project. They have dropped off the business forms, explained the project, confirmed the business support, collected the business forms, and collected artwork.

Stroud Chamber of Commerce – The Stroud Chamber of Commerce has provided the facilities for meetings during the application and implementation process.

Neon Sign Vendors – The Stroud Route 66 Committee is dedicated to working with vendors from the state of Oklahoma. Since neon signs are a specialized industry, the committee has researched the neon sign companies in the state of Oklahoma. Three neon sign companies have been identified and have supported the project with an initial quote for a variety of signs to accurately calculate a proposed budget. These vendors include Signs & Wonders of Paden, 405 Neon of Oklahoma City, and Neon Lights, Inc. of Tulsa.

Representative Kevin Wallace – House of Representative for District #32 and Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee has written a letter of support for the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project.

Senator Grant Green – Senator Grant Green has written a letter of support for the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project.

Route 66 Alliance – Ken Busby, Executive Director, and Michael Wallis, the voice of “The Sheriff” in the Cars franchise, have written a letter of support for the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project.

Five Tool Management Consulting, LLC. – Five Tool Management Consulting, LLC. is the grant administrator for the city of Stroud. Leslie Wilbourn has assisted with the organizing and planning of the Stroud Historic Route 66 Business Neon Light Project and will be the official project manager for the project.

Shawnee CTV - Shawnee CTV is filming and producing the promotional video of the Stroud Neon Light Project.