Sir, please don’t make me throw you down on the highway.
It’s Wednesday, which means it’s Serendipitous Frisbee time again, hosted by the always fashion conscious Marilyn. This week, I was inspired by one of her posts earlier in the week of a highway underpass that had a hotel over it. I could only think of one building atop a highway overpass I had encountered before, and that’s the so-called “World’s Largest McDonald’s” that sits above Interstate 44 near Vinita, Oklahoma.
If you ever went to Oklahoma, you would never guess in a million years that Will Rogers was born there.
Located near the halfway point of the Will Rogers Turnpike that runs from Joplin, MO to Tulsa, this free rest area was turned into a big honkin’ McDonald’s that spans the interstate… allowing it to be accessible for both westbound and eastbound drivers. With the exception of 2014 when it was closed for remodeling, I’ve stopped there at least one way on each of my annual trips I made to Norman for a message board get-together from 2010 to last year. It’s not only a glorified pedestrian walkway with a value menu, but it also houses a gift shop that sells all kinds of souvenirs branded with Oklahoma, Native Americans, Route 66, and of course… it pimps its ownself just a bit…
The fuzzy dots in the background… those are Ody’s eyes. I’m dead serious!
One of my favorite pictures I ever took was when my family went to Chicago back in 1989 and I’d just gotten my 35mm camera… from a pedestrian walkway, I took a neat picture of the highway below bustling with cars driving 50 miles per hour over the speed limit. If I ever find that pic, I’ll share it on one of these photo prompt Wednesdays… but for now, here’s my tribute to that picture I took in 2013 from the dining area of the Vinita Mickey Dee’s looking down on Interstate 44 (Eastbound, I believe)…
The McLane’s truck is probably headed to some unsuspecting Mecca to drop off a shitload of candy.
Like my Mecca was at the time, the Vinita McDonald’s was also plagued by a rather intrusive, unwelcome gang of pests…
Who do you think’s in the burgers?
See the little birdie sitting on that chair in the center of the picture? He and a couple of his fine, feathered friends were flapping all about the enclosed overpass, even dive bombing some unsuspecting patrons who were unwilling to share their fries. Either Oklahoma has some shitty health inspection laws, or Ronald must be in the inspector’s pocket. That photo also exposes just how run down this not-so-prestigious fast food landmark actually is… what with the condition of the tables and chairs. Hopefully, this was all addressed during last year’s shutdown…
Sorry Ronald, but even fast food customers have some semblance of aesthetic expectations.
See ya next Wednesday for the next Photo Frisbee!
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
Our overpass hotel is a 4-star Sheraton with a BIG parking lot. I wonder what the 4 star guests think as the big semis rumble underneath day and night. It’s built over the Mass Pike, arguably the most continuously busy road in the state. I suppose you could declare it very convenient to the highway. You are unlikely to get lost leaving the hotel. And look! It’s WEDNESDAY again!!
I am amazed a hotel can sit atop an overpass without eventually crushing it. The overpasses I see that only only bear occasional heavy traffic are usually in pretty sad shape after 20-30 years. And let’s not go into the state of bridges…
I hope that aren’t the berds the use for the chicken mc nuggets… maybe that’s the reason that Easy would sell his soul for a nugget?
That may be the only way that can eliminate the birds before inspection time. Then again, it would probably also be the freshest meat McDonalds used…
I only know of two buildings built over roads here: my old high school and the convention center in Seattle. Neither has a value meal menu though! My youngest would love if it we had a McDonalds like that. He always wants to stop at them and, most of the time, I can claim they’re on the wrong side of the road and, therefore, inaccessible.
As someone who once got into an accident trying to make a left turn into a restaurant parking lot, I think that is a very wise decision even not factoring in the kid.
Oh, that’s right, you were turning into a restaurant when that happened! Sometimes I still giggle when I think of the photo of the dent your car made. You had the perfect caption for it. 🙂
Ooooooklahoma where the McDs are over the highways! Where Will Rogers was born, and there’s probably corn, and it makes Texas look almighty good!
So – kamikaze birds. And at the library, all we get are bats, squirrels (there was one running around with a bald tail cause someone tried to catch it), and just the other day a snake under the secretary’s desk.
Just thought I’d mention, in case you didn’t see, that I am giving away Sparklepony as a prize in my Disney Hunger Games so she’d better say goodbye to her hubs and kiddos. 😀
Only over Rainbow Donkey’s unstuffed dead body! It is not the American thing to do to tear families apart… even imaginary ponycorn families.
You raise a good point. But at least I got your attention so you can come on over and take bets on which Disney prince or princess I ruthlessly murder first. It’ll be fun!
Oh and good post – my girls fell over laughing at Ronald’s pic at the end.
Is there a choice for all of the above?
WOW – shakes piggy head. I never knew that this existed. The world’s largest Mickey D’s with the largest heartburn and heart attach waiting to happen – snorts. Can you pass me some nuggets please. XOXO – Bacon
I totally want to go there now (I’m not too far away oh yay!) right after I visit the world’s largest ball of twine.
OMP! That sounds awesome too! I hear a field trip coming this way. XOXO – Bacon
Before you plan that trip, it might be wise to make sure it’s still open. Maybe they weren’t remodeling last time i went by, but tearing the world’s unhealthiest McDonalds down? Or it could be the World’s Largest Popeye’s now!
Heads up quickly – now you have my attention. Chicken – licks piggy lips. I need me some chicken tonight. Maybe I can play the poor pitiful me piggy since mom is sending me to camp this weekend? XOXO – Bacon
Oh I wonder what it is like now?
Probably infested with squirrels! 🙂