November 26, 2025 (Wed.) – Last Day in Oklahoma: Land Run and Stockyards.

Today marked our last full day in Oklahoma, and being in a larger city with RV supply stores nearby, our main mission was to pick up a heated water hose—freezing temperatures were in the forecast for the coming days. So much for Kirk’s earlier promise of “we’ll follow the 70° route so it’ll never be that cold!” Alongside that errand, we had a few more stops planned: another Indian Motorcycle dealership and a roadside attraction.

The morning began as usual for Lynn, up before 7 AM to face a biting 32° that felt more like 26°. Kirk, on the other hand, didn’t stir until 10:30. He admits he sleeps better once Lynn is out of bed, stretching out under the electric blanket. Hard to blame him—it was frigid outside, and thank goodness for heaters.

By noon we were out the door, heading first to McLain’s RV Store. What was supposed to be a quick stop turned into nearly an hour and a half. The salesman was chatty, and Kirk kept spotting “must‑have” items. For one heated water hose, we walked out $750 lighter, with a surge protector, hose, and water connector in tow.

Around 2 PM we drove to Norman, OK, to visit the Sooner Indian Motorcycle Dealership. Kirk thought it was just a short hop, but traffic reminded us it was the day before Thanksgiving. The half‑hour drive took us through Moore, OK—home of Toby Keith, a fun fact we hadn’t known. The dealership impressed us with excellent customer service, and we left with new T‑shirts, a much better experience than the OKC location.

Next on the list was a roadside attraction Lynn had wanted to see: the Centennial Land Run Monument near the Bricktown Canal. Tim and Carol had also recommended it. The Land Run of 1889 was the first major opening of the “Unassigned Lands” in present-day Oklahoma, when over 50,000 settlers rushed in to claim homesteads and town lots. It marked the beginning of organized settlement in the region and set Oklahoma on the path toward eventual statehood. At noon on April 22, 1889, a cannon signaled the start of the run. Settlers surged in on horseback, wagons, trains, and even on foot. More than 50,000 people participated, competing for 160-acre homesteads or town lots. The “Unassigned Lands” were about two million acres in central Oklahoma, previously held by Native tribes before being ceded to the U.S. government.

On our earlier visit to Bricktown Canal, we would have stumbled upon it, but the cold had cut that walk short. This time, we parked near Bass Pro Shops and were blown away by the scale of the monument. It spans over 100 yards long, 30 yards wide and over 16 feet high. There are over 45 bronze figures—settlers, wagons, horses, and riders—one‑and‑a‑half times life‑size, frozen mid‑stride, capturing the chaos and determination of the 1889 Land Run. It was massive, dramatic, and easily one of our favorite roadside attractions.

For our final evening in Oklahoma, we dined at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Stockyards City, a spot we’d been told was a must. Established in 1910, it’s the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the state, with a colorful history—including being won in a craps game in 1945. The steaks were enormous and delicious, served simply with potatoes, rolls and a salad, a true cowboy meal (ok, maybe not the salad part).

As we left, the sky treated us to a beautiful sunset on the drive back to the campground. The night ended with full bellies, Kirk installing his pricey new surge protector and water connector, and the heated water hose tucked away for tomorrow. It wasn’t needed in Yukon, OK, but with Texas forecasting below‑freezing temps, we’ll be glad to have it.

Weather – High 48*, Low 32*. Winds 6-18 mph. No rain. No humidity.

Traffic – Ran into traffic on the way to Norman, OK (probably the day before Thanksgiving traffic).

Food – Cattlemen’s Steakhouse – delicious.

Notable – RV supplies, Sooner Indian M/C, Land Run of 1889 Monument, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse.