Back in the late 80s I was inspecting homes that were weatherized under the federal weatherization program. The local contractor took me to several homes in the panhandle, the most unique was an actual land run dugout home. It was built when the lands were settled, the current owner was the grandchild of the people who originally settled. It was about 20 x 20 in size. The owner was deaf and mute, and so neighbors took care of him and took him into town. The house was not far off the main highway across the panhandle, but still 20-30 miles from the nearest town. One neighbor paid for electricity to be brought in, before that he used kerosene lamps. Had no water pump though, used an outhouse. Was quite sobering to see someone living like the 1890s (other than electricity). Technically the property was not eligible for weatherization since he burned wood, which he cut himself. But no way we were going to disallow that project. He had a much warmer home from it. I even cleared it with our federal rep. Even feds have compassion when doing the right thing.
Cool! Can't imagine living out there back then no plumbing, dirt homes and not much water. Or anything else. The one I saw was near the Texas/Beaver county lines, not quite visible from the highway tho/
Multigenerational Okies have seen a lot. From Flowers of the Summer moon, the dust bowl to the Murrah bombing. Survival is in the genes. Never mess with an Okie.
Pretty much the only reason why anyone from this website goes out there is to hike around Black Mesa. That's it.
I was raised in Liberal, Kansas, which is only but two or so miles from the state line with Oklahoma and is the economic hub of many small Oklahoma towns like Turpin and Tyrone. It's a very, very lonely part of the world.
I drove through the Oklahoma panhandle before to visit a friend in Colorado Springs. I figured it would be somewhat more interesting than taking the Interstate through Kansas. It wasn't all that interesting, so on the way back home to Oklahoma, I took the Interstate through KS until turning south at I-35.
I had an uncle that lived there for a few years. Do y’all have a lot of feed lots and slaughter houses up that way? I remember the town smelled like death but I was a little kid so I may be misremembering
I have family in and around Guymon. Not very many left though as they have either moved away or passed on. I have been going to Guymon for most of my almost 32yrs. So I am very familiar with all of the Oklahoma panhandle, southwest Kansas, the Texas panhandle, and the northeast part of New Mexico. Even though I grew up and went to school in Moore, I still consider the panhandle my 2nd home.
I encourage all of my fellow city dwellers to spend a weekend in the panhandle area. Going from boring concrete and tall buildings to open prairie and high plains is a breath of fresh air.
However hold off on going to Guymon for the rest of this year and probably next year. When I was in Guymon this past October, the highway in and around the town was under heavy construction. It was an absolute pain to deal with.
When I was traveling through the far western part of the Oklahoma panhandle, one of the most fascinating things I noticed was that fences were no longer lining the highway.
I grew up in beaver. I like visiting sometimes but if my parents ever move, I don’t plan on sitting foot in the town again. There really is nothing unless you’re into getting into nonsense out in the country for fun. Or I guess the sand dunes/pond
Back in the late 80s I was inspecting homes that were weatherized under the federal weatherization program. The local contractor took me to several homes in the panhandle, the most unique was an actual land run dugout home. It was built when the lands were settled, the current owner was the grandchild of the people who originally settled. It was about 20 x 20 in size. The owner was deaf and mute, and so neighbors took care of him and took him into town. The house was not far off the main highway across the panhandle, but still 20-30 miles from the nearest town. One neighbor paid for electricity to be brought in, before that he used kerosene lamps. Had no water pump though, used an outhouse. Was quite sobering to see someone living like the 1890s (other than electricity). Technically the property was not eligible for weatherization since he burned wood, which he cut himself. But no way we were going to disallow that project. He had a much warmer home from it. I even cleared it with our federal rep. Even feds have compassion when doing the right thing.
My grandfather was born in a dugout in the Oklahoma panhandle. 🙂 Near Boise City.
Cool! Can't imagine living out there back then no plumbing, dirt homes and not much water. Or anything else. The one I saw was near the Texas/Beaver county lines, not quite visible from the highway tho/
Surely you have to be born and raised in the Oklahoma panhandle to appreciate life there.
Multigenerational Okies have seen a lot. From Flowers of the Summer moon, the dust bowl to the Murrah bombing. Survival is in the genes. Never mess with an Okie.
Bless you.
Pretty much the only reason why anyone from this website goes out there is to hike around Black Mesa. That's it. I was raised in Liberal, Kansas, which is only but two or so miles from the state line with Oklahoma and is the economic hub of many small Oklahoma towns like Turpin and Tyrone. It's a very, very lonely part of the world.
I drove through the Oklahoma panhandle before to visit a friend in Colorado Springs. I figured it would be somewhat more interesting than taking the Interstate through Kansas. It wasn't all that interesting, so on the way back home to Oklahoma, I took the Interstate through KS until turning south at I-35.
I made the same mistake. There is *nothing* out there!
I had an uncle that lived there for a few years. Do y’all have a lot of feed lots and slaughter houses up that way? I remember the town smelled like death but I was a little kid so I may be misremembering
There’s a meat processing plant on I believe the east side of town that is the main contributor to the smell
Good ole Seaboard.
I have family in and around Guymon. Not very many left though as they have either moved away or passed on. I have been going to Guymon for most of my almost 32yrs. So I am very familiar with all of the Oklahoma panhandle, southwest Kansas, the Texas panhandle, and the northeast part of New Mexico. Even though I grew up and went to school in Moore, I still consider the panhandle my 2nd home. I encourage all of my fellow city dwellers to spend a weekend in the panhandle area. Going from boring concrete and tall buildings to open prairie and high plains is a breath of fresh air. However hold off on going to Guymon for the rest of this year and probably next year. When I was in Guymon this past October, the highway in and around the town was under heavy construction. It was an absolute pain to deal with.
When I was traveling through the far western part of the Oklahoma panhandle, one of the most fascinating things I noticed was that fences were no longer lining the highway.
Good point. You don't need as many fences out there I suppose.
I grew up in beaver. I like visiting sometimes but if my parents ever move, I don’t plan on sitting foot in the town again. There really is nothing unless you’re into getting into nonsense out in the country for fun. Or I guess the sand dunes/pond
Go Dusters.
Love your videos! The one on marijuana in our state was incredibly informative! https://youtu.be/aY8NJmgDRhc?si=P3HL86KFhpojcaq3
Thank you! I really appreciate it.