Some of the most fascinating abandoned sites may be found in Oklahoma, a state with a rich history and a varied geography. Every location narrates a tale from a bygone era, reflecting the people and pursuits that formerly occupied these deserted areas.
Oklahoma’s past is revealed through these sites, which range from the dilapidated buildings of a long-forgotten circus to the eerie remnants of a once-thriving ghost town.
These five abandoned locations in Oklahoma serve as sobering reminders of life’s fleeting nature and the unstoppable passage of time:
Picher Ghost Town
When Picher was founded in 1918, its population numbered 9,726 by 1920. Picher’s population peaked in 1926 at 14,252, but after a gradual decline due to a decline in mining operations, there were only 2,553 people living there in 1960.
The 2000 census showed that there were 1,640 residents in the city, 621 homes, and 417 families remaining. On September 1, 2009, the state of Oklahoma formally disincorporated the city of Picher, and as a result, the city ceased to exist. By the time of the 2010 census, there were just 20 people living there, down from 1,640 in the 2000 census.
Meridian Community Church
The Indian Meridian that passes through Meridian is the source of its name. The townsite was developed in 1902 by the Meridian Right-of-way and Townsite Company, and several homes were constructed there quite soon.
In 1902, the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad went through the town. A fire in 1908 destroyed much of the downtown area. A little economic boom brought about by 1920 saw the establishment of grocery stores, cafes, music parlors, blacksmith shops, and other businesses in the town.
The deserted church slowly deteriorates. A custodian keeps the lawn around the church trimmed even though the windows are boarded over and the building shut.
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Texola Ghost Town
Texola is a town in the United States that is situated in Oklahoma’s Beckham County. 36 people were living there as of the 2010 census.
Texola, also known as Texokla and Texoma, was a town established in the early 1900s that was claimed by both Oklahoma and Texas. Following statehood in 1907, Beckham County annexed it, and the neighborhood flourished for many years.
In 1980, the population of Texola was 106. By the time of the next census, which was conducted in 1990, Texola had lost more than five8% of its population, leaving just 45 people living in the town.
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Historic Route 66 Gas Station
Although the building’s exact age is unknown, its architecture and original purpose suggest that it was constructed somewhere about 1920.
In the early 1930s, during the height of the Great Depression, things were hard for small businesses, particularly in rural farming villages like Arcadia. Upon receiving a set of currency plates from a man who stopped by for a fuel refill, the owner noticed dollar signs, or more accurately, ten-dollar signs.
They started printing $10 notes in the station’s back, giving them to gullible patrons and even using some of them for personal expenses while traveling the city.
Over the years, it had crumbled to the point that all that remained were brick walls and stone pillars, with some sympathetic graffiti within.
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Gandini’s Circus
Beginning in the early 1900s and ending in the mid-1930s was Gandini’s Circus. The circus traveled to several states and stayed in Edmond for the winter.
The remnants of Gandini’s Circus were acquired by a guy named Howard Suesz in 1943, who used them to form the Clyde Bros.
Circus, an indoor circus that raised a lot of money for the Shriners by performing in arenas and stadiums. In 1949, Suesz established the Hagen Bros.
Circus as an outdoor version of the more conventional tent show, Clyde Bros. Both Clyde Bros. and Hagen Bros. used the Edmond property as a camp during the winter.
There’s a generally eerie atmosphere about the entire site. There have been multiple reports of ghost sightings on the property.
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Final Words
The state’s varied past, from the prosperous mining cities to the little yet active villages, can be discovered at Oklahoma’s abandoned sites. Every site has a narrative to tell and acts as a memorial to the people and businesses that were once prosperous.
These abandoned locations serve as a reminder of the transience of human pursuits, whether it is the eerie remains of Picher or the relics of a touring circus.
Thus, the next time you’re in Oklahoma, think about straying from the main route to investigate these historical sites. Just make sure to prioritize your safety when visiting the sites and do your homework on them in advance.
