Cushing, Oklahoma
There’s something special about Small Town America. To an outsider, the tiny towns that make up the Midwest are all the same, but if you look close enough you’ll see a million little differences, a unique history, and a culture that’s all its own.
Hence why I recently started the Small Town Travel Guide website with my coworker Dave. We want to help folks get out of the tourist traps of the big city and spend a little more time in the communities that truly make America great.
My love for small towns dates back to my freshman year at the University of Oklahoma. I’m not sure what prompted it but at some point I decided to drive to get off the turnpike and travel the backroads and old state highways to and from Sand Springs each weekend, usually disc golfing along the way.
My habit of taking the long way continued after I founded Sandite Pride News. Trips to road games became opportunities to explore Oklahoma and for the past decade I’ve made it a point to spend as much time as possible perusing my state.
I recently made a trip to Cushing, Oklahoma to watch my buddy Jake Tankersley play a concert there and took the opportunity to see just what it is that makes some 8,000 people call Cushing home.
The Pipeline Crossroads of the World
Cushing is one of the oldest communities in Oklahoma, dating right back to the infamous Land Run. Like many Oklahoma communities, its history is steeped in oil. But while many of those oil towns dried up and gave up the ghost, Cushing is still a boomtown and will soon be home to a brand new multibillion-dollar refinery.
But Cushing isn’t just a last bastion of blue collar opportunity, it also has a thriving downtown shopping, dining, and entertainment economy. This is what drew me, my wife, and our friend Mandi on a recent Friday evening.
We see my friend Jake at any opportunity, and I recommend you do the same. He’s a great singer, a better songwriter, and an even better human. It’s only a matter of time before his shows cost more than a $5 cover. We usually watch him at Life of Riley in Sand Springs, but when I saw he was performing at a swanky pizza joint just an hour’s drive from home, I made sure to put it in my calendar.
I made a point to get to Cushing a little early to explore the town and capture some photography for Small Town Travel Guide before the show. The first place we stopped was Chilly Willy’s, an above average shaved ice stand on Main Street.
I have a particular fondness for snow cones dating back to when Harper’s Hut opened in Sand Springs in 2014 and first introduced me to gourmet shaved ice. As a former member of the Harper’s Hut Taste Test Committee, I have high standards for snow cones.
Chilly Willy’s was solid. The snow was powdery soft and enjoyable, but nothing special. A truly great shaved ice stand should have signature flavors and a unique identity/culture. Everything on the Chilly Willy’s menu could be found at any snow cone stand in Oklahoma. There were picnic tables and a good space to hang out, but no lawn games or anything. Next time I’ll probably get a pineapple whip.
Cushing Murals
After leaving Chilly Willy’s we headed downtown to find all the murals we could. I love public art and always make a point to try and capture all the murals I can wherever I go. My favorite was definitely the 1950s depiction of Broadway Street, though the Sundown Drive-In was pretty neat too.
We also stumbled onto Centennial Park which was wonderful. I’ve seen a growing trend of downtown courtyard microparks in small towns and I absolutely love it. Centennial featured an old oil derrick, picnic tables, art from the local school kids, and some small garden spaces that I was excited to see honey vine milkweed growing in.
We didn’t get to do any shopping unfortunately but I hope to return soon to check out the Copper Penny Trading Company.
Godofredo’s Pizzeria & Tap Room
As showtime approached we made our way to Godofredo’s and were lucky enough to get the table closest to where Jake was singing.
The restaurant’s vibe was excellent. The pizzeria was very upscale and pristine and the food was delicious.
Charity and I split a large pizza - half margherita, half chicken alfredo. Both were fantastic. I’m not a huge thin crust fan but I know a lot of people are and it certainly tasted great. We also split an order of pulled pork nachos that were messy but good. They were served on homemade potato chips instead of tortilla chips. Nachos always leave me a bit disappointed though. You know why - half the chips always end up with not enough topping.
For dessert we shared a s’mores calzone and some “Puff Daddies” (deep fried dough pillows). They were good but the calzone was a bit chewy. Next time we visit I’ll probably go for gelato or a milkshake.
The music setup was nice - there’s no stage or anything but they had solid sound quality so you could hear him well but still have conversation without being drowned out.
Overall it was a great experience and I can’t wait to go back - probably the next time they have Jake out. Next time I plan to explore Copper Penny Trading Company, play a round of disc golf, and maybe visit the Buckhorn Bar downtown that also looked pretty neat.
