ozarks
roots
the people, places and traditions that make the ozarks home Submitted Photos
By Sheila Stogsdill
Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger is still an icon along the Oklahoma stretch of Mother Road Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger, one of few remaining original Route 66 landmarks, is still committed to serving old-fashion hamburgers at a American Graffiti price. Located on the Mother Road, Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger is an original fast food drivein chain from the 1960s. Eugene Waylan bought the Miami, Okla., restaurant in 1973 and for almost 50 years he still flips burgers and makes fresh onion rings by hand. “All the food is fresh every day,” Eugene said. A Ku-Ky bird wearing a chef’s hat perched on top of a neon sign calls people traveling Route 66 to stop at the famed burger joint. A cheeseburger and an extra-large cherry limeade will set you back less than $5. “I’ve had people from all over the world stop by for a hamburger,” Eugene said. “I have met someone from just about every country.” Eugene is just as famous as his burgers. He has been featured on the Food Channel, in the New York Times, and the New York Post. Wiping his hands with a dishtowel before he greets a customer, Eugene is always
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quick with a smile and welcoming guests to KuKu’s and Miami. Ku-Ku’s longevity is because the food is made-to-order, he said. Eugene closed the inside dining room leaving open the drive-in window. So sometimes there is a wait for a hamburger, but the thousands of visitors that stop say the wait is well worth it. “Eugene’s Ku-Ku Burgers is a landmark in Miami,” said Amanda Davis, Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director. Visitors often travel hundreds of miles to see drive on Route 66 and grab a burger at KuKu’s, she said. Oklahoma has more miles of Route 66 than any other state and Miami is known as the “Gateway” with the longest Main Street on the famed highway. Just outside of Miami is the last section of the original nine foot wide “Ribbon Road” that is listed as an Oklahoma National Historic Landmark, Davis said. The 13-miles of classic pavement runs between Miami and Afton, she said. Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 915 N. Main Street, Miami.
Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
MAY 30, 2022
