Backroads and Small Towns of Alfalfa County, Oklahoma ||| Part 1

Here are all my other Alfalfa County videos:
Alfalfa County Part 2: • Ghost Towns, Cemeterie...
Helena: • Helena, Oklahoma ||| p...
Cherokee: • Cherokee, Oklahoma |||...
Jet: • small town, USA // Jet...
Ingersoll: • Oklahoma Ghost Towns P...
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Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, is a very interesting place to visit. Previously I released videos on the two largest towns - Cherokee and Helena. This week I start to explore the smaller towns and backroads (often red dirt) of the county. There are some really great places in this episode - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it!
T-shirt: Washington Generals
Part 107 certified drone operator
0:00 Intro
3:36 Sod House
5:25 Aline
8:48 Carmen
15:10 Goltry
18:54 Great Salt Plains & Vicinity
21:50 Final Thoughts & Outtakes
Music
Dance of the Fireflies - Nathan Moore
Take Your Time - Dan Lebowitz
Eagle Rock - Wes Hutchinson
Traveller - The 126ers

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Here are all my other Alfalfa County videos: Alfalfa County Part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5fVkmN6fpJgmrs Helena: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoiofJ5_fbVoeJY Cherokee: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maCUn4KHmJx4iaM Jet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5Woeniwh5aJd8k Ingersoll: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2fLZpurrr5np5I

[@larryclark4791]

That last old house would have been beautiful in its day

[@papabear562]

I agree. It's too bad a place like that couldn't be renovated and lived in. Betcha there's lot a of history there. "If the walls could talk..."

[@impalaman9707]

A lot of these towns have really nice old houses like that. Like my mother used to say, "I betcha that house could tell some stories!"

[@papabear562]

@@impalaman9707 On Google Maps that house is called "Green Acres." Interesting that it would be labeled as such. I wonder if there's some correlation to the old TV show by the same name. If I was to ever to be able to visit Oklahoma, I would want to visit that old house. I really would!

[@cmcastor1]

Very nice video. My great-great grandfather made that land run in 1893. We still have our farm northeast of Goltry. Lots of family in that Karoma cemetery. Kinda neat seeing the area in your video. Well done!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very cool! 😎 thank you!

[@pamlaenger6870]

That’s so neat!!!

[@rossbryan6102]

NICE THAT YOU REMEMBER THE LAND RUSH DAYS! MY GRANDUNCLE NOAH KIMBALL DID THE RUSH, AND ENDED UP FARMING IN CANTON OKLAHOMA!!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

The land rush is fascinating. The whole and that history is actually!

[@ischmel3884]

My Great grandfather was also a Boomer Sooner.

[@juanitagarcia958]

Several towns forgotten in time and others still alive and well. It's so interesting to see it all. Some of the back roads looked rough but still beautiful with the red color. LOVE all the dogs you included, and your t-shirt is awesome! 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I know you love a good t-shirt 😂

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I especially enjoy the drone views after seeing the town up close. The town always looks more prosperous from the air! Thanks! Great video.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! The drone always helps me gain perspective while I’m there too!

[@Christina-ge3xr]

I love back roads and small towns. Thanks for taking us along 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@sueelliott3206]

Fun and interesting video! The murals, the merry-go-rounds, and cemeteries are always great to see! I think it's pretty cool that even a town of around 200 has a veterans memorial Thanks so much for showing us around

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I totally agree! Love they put in that effort to recognize their past!

[@janetleeadams7287]

And the red dirt and the sand hills....really beautiful. There is a small sand plum tree that grows in that area and the jam from that fruit is amazing.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for sharing!

[@janetleeadams7287]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Have you seen those books "Roadside Geology >>>>>" of Kansas etc?

[@ischmel3884]

Nothing like Sand Plum jelly!

[@brettstewart2386]

@ischmel3884 OH heck yeah! I remember one summer we went with the guy who ran a dune buggy ride at the Little Sahara Desert out to some areas off the river. We picked plums for what seemed like hours. We took the plums back to Grandma. Plum jamaploosa! That was a very good year!!!

[@ischmel3884]

@@brettstewart2386 picked sand plums every year...good stuff! Now Little Sahara, went on my 1st. sand rail ride when I was 12. Driver came up to huge dune at high rate of speed and jumped from one dune to the next. While in the air thought we were going die! Came down like a feather. Crazy fun!

[@impalaman9707]

Grain elevators are what I like to call the "Skyscrapers of the Great Plains"! Old timers like my grandfather could tell what town was in the distance by where the grain elevator was located

[@brettstewart2386]

I grew up in Enid. My grandparents at one time owned the Little Sahara Motel in Waynoka. We would travel through that area to see them. I have hunted just north of McWilli. I always get nostalgic when I get out to that part of the state. A lot of fond memories! Very cool!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Nice! Thank you!

[@CindyinArizona]

I love your videos, they're always so well done and interesting.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much!

[@rogerlayne744]

I have enjoyed your videos. It brought back great memories. Our church in Moore went to every town in Oklahoma and prayed an eight minute prayer over each one. Now we are going to every capital of each state doing the same. From Promise Church, thank you for your labor of love.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much 😊

[@aliceevans3357]

Great area to visit. I love seeing open country. Watching the wind blowing over the open lands is so calming, the wind sounds different over the prairies, it has a sound all it's own. Churches were usually not the first in new towns but they and schools provided anchors for new communities. It's good to see so many churches in these sparsely populated areas still thriving and well kept. The same goes with some (not all) of the cemeteries. Those that helped developed the areas aren't forgotten. Love your park visits, I think (hope) there's still a little bit of child in all of us. Great visit of an interesting area, thanks for taking us there. Stay safe and GOD bless

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Good comment! There’s something about being out there in the wide open. Very therapeutic!

[@johnlewis1257]

Love to see you doing on alfalfa county I used to live in Cherokee Oklahoma from about 78 all the way till 82 had a lot of fun thank you very much for the give me a lot of good memories

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Very interesting county to explore and learn about for me 😊

[@takemeback70s]

My Grandpa made a sod house too after the Run of 1893. He said there were no trees for lumber. Sure enjoy your videos.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Wow to think of how hard that was! Thank you!!

[@markmark2080]

In our urban culture today the fortitude of those homesteaders and sodbusters is outside the realm of the average persons imagination... Love seeing what's left of small town America...

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Absolutely 👍🏼

[@evamccray6500]

My family is from that area. Still have a few living there.

[@roberthenry9319]

Wonderful, as always. Thank you.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

My pleasure - thanks!

[@SusanHL]

Wow - another brick grain elevator....will have to look into those sometime. Really enjoyed this video, it was loaded with beautiful countryside and information. Excited to see what comes next!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks again! Fun to explore a place I know very little about. Gives me a newfound appreciation for it!

[@janetleeadams7287]

We used to have family reunions at the Salt Plains---also famous for the selenite crystals that you can dig around there AND tarantulas which you can see crossing the road. Horrible to get trapped in the public toilets by a tarantula creeping into the doorway. Curious videos. Of course I especially enjoy the ones with family connections, but I have also enjoyed the ones from Kansas.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you! I can’t imagine seeing a tarantula while in the toilet 😬

[@ischmel3884]

My father would speak of taking weekend trips to Jet and exploring for giant salt crystals....early 1950's

[@flyingwithrobertjohnston7029]

Wow! You’re doing what I’d love to do! I’m also a part 107 drone pilot and a commercial airplane pilot. I’ve got my own airplane and my own airstrip out here in the middle of nowhere in central Texas. For a long time I’ve wanted to just explore Texas town by town from my airplane and with my drone and film all of it. I love all those small towns and I sure appreciate all the research you do on local history of these places.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much! Your idea sounds awesome - hope you are able to do it someday!

[@UMtiger311]

Another interesting video.. also, props to Elmer

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yes! Elmer is the man 😂

[@phmoffett]

9:03 Carmen, OK was served by the Santa Fe Railroad and the depot was still standing as of 2022.

[@Kansas66]

Thanks for the tour. I only knew of Alfalfa County was tornado watches and warnings.

[@brucesmith9144]

Some of the worst tornadoes imaginable. Oklahoma City, Moore, El Reno just devastating twisters went through there.

[@janfeuerborn2707]

We toured the Sod House several years ago- fascinating!

[@thoward4051]

Excellent video Coach! Good job on not getting stuck on those red earth roads. I’ve noticed that the populations of a lot of small towns in America were heavily influenced by railroads (#1 factor by far), and more recently by farm policy (especially the 1980s). I saw a lot of farm infrastructure in this video, but I couldn’t tell how much of it was still being used. Thanks for sharing!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It seemed there was still a lot of agricultural activity in those places. Just not as many people around.

[@pamelacrowe4971]

Great history. The drone shots were great. Thanks for sharing John.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very welcome 😊

[@stevemccoy8138]

Well, all the original settlers are gone. I love all that old playground stuff, wish I had some ,for the Grandkids. 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Quality stuff!

[@ColtonCastle-pe3dg]

Thanks for visiting my county!! I’m from Jet and I’ll have to find your video of it.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It was a lot of fun!!

[@randyn5ilq165]

I visited the Sod House Museum just a few days before you, sorry I missed you. The manager is Renee and she is a wealth of history knowledge. She is more of a historian I think and she is proud to tell you the history of the sod house history and the area. There’s more to the museum than just the indoor House including replica schoolhouse, swing, and more. Thanks for the video!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks! Yeah I filmed a lot more including the cellar. I shared that on my Instagram page but I was wanting the video to get going on the road. Could’ve made a whole video about the sod house and museum!

[@bertholini2810]

You found a merry-go-round.... that's good, and, it is still quite functional. I saw the Salt Flats video, very bizarre place, very big place. Really nice video. Thank you for posting, be good, be safe !!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you - yeah very strange for it to be there in Oklahoma!

[@onrycodger]

Very Cool!😎 I visited that sod house when I passed thru last Spring. I could've spent hours there. And the elderly lady at the museum was excited to tell me about it. It's a must stop if you're in the area. As always, Safe traveling annd Thumbs up!👍

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very cool! I would have like to stayed all day!

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

I'll put on 2 of your videos so you have the info to work from: Territorial Governments had from 1869 to 1902 and again a few in 1930-31 just a few records. But the real history is Union Rail BOL & Teamsters Records, Here's some big info your not aware of. All those schools you see that are nearly identical were builds from Kits. Most all in the plains from Nebraska to Texas came from 1 of 4 locations. They were plans and precut parts mostly by Garrison of Pennsylvania. Churches and Schools made and shipped about 50 to 80% complete from: St Peters Missouri, Pittsburg Kansas, Stilwell Oklahoma and Mineola Texas. ( not all those Kit sourcing towns are "accurate" due to expansion. shrinkage, or renaming)

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info!

[@juliogonzales5441]

Thanks Coach 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

My pleasure!

[@lizstyles4611]

Thank you for another fun video! ❤

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

You are so welcome!

[@scottmajor2620]

Alva's just down the road a bit, y'might as well head over there for a show too....

[@empressvogt]

That second dog almost looked like my ex brother-in-law's dog Blue. | I remember hearing about the land rush that some people already heading to Oklahoma even *before* it happened. And that's why it's nicknamed The Sooner State.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Oh yeah that’s a great story! And to think the sports teams at OU are named after it 😂

[@tinman7130]

Started off with a Led Zeppelin moment and before you knew the video went to those dogs There is an old Soddy about 2 miles from place. Family lived in it in the 50's I went to elementary school with. Museum now . The orphanage was very large, must have had a lot of occupants at one time. my pop was an odd fellow. I guessed the county was named after the kid from our gang, good thing they didn't choose Spanky instead .

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Wow in the 50’s! Had to have been fascinating to visit!

[@travis303]

"Goltry Town Hall and Gym." You don't see that combo every day

[@user-gf3lw5pi4t]

Great production❤❤

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks!

[@kristinakahila8914]

That last house you showed us. It looks like it might have been lightly touched by a tornado.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Good possibility!

[@user-kw3so5ux1s]

Interesting at 3:04 Alfalfa Bill is speaking in front of a WCFL microphone. That was an old Chicago radio station. Great video. Thanks!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thanks for the info!

[@MrSquishyb]

Thanks!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much - your generosity is greatly appreciated!

[@joeromo7756]

Oklahoma!here I go!!! Will move there in a month,, coming from where the American Dream doesn't exist anymore, Californnia,will move more to the south if OK,, Blanchard area,prefer to deal with tornadoes,than earthquakes,huge mortgage -rent prices, TRAFFIC,gas too expensive,and 1 if the most serious problem high crime due to millions of homeless Wich the government say "they need Help""expending millions of dollars on them,and forgetting the work law abiding citizens.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Good luck in your move!

[@x.kls.x.7696]

grew up at that sod house when my grandma worked there! haven’t been there in a long time. aline is my hometown, kinda cool to see people visiting it.

[@x.kls.x.7696]

you pronounced the name wrong but trust me, you’re not the first😅

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Are you talking about Aline? I literally asked a local how to pronounce that haha.

[@x.kls.x.7696]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy that’s so funny😂 i believe you tho, even people from the area call it that but i’ve always heard like ahhh lean, idk how else to pronounce without saying it lol

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

@@x.kls.x.7696 Haha I get it - thanks for the info - I really liked your town!

[@melissanossaman3401]

My family is from that area. My grandpa's name was AL. He told me it's AL-lean, like his name. 😁 Even our meteorologist David Payne pronounces it wrong, Everytime. 🤣

[@user-mn5bx3gj4y]

Cool

[@asimplehorseman4648]

So what's to keep a guy from refurbishing a house like we see at the 8:35 mark? Looks like it has "good bones". Anyone care to take a guess of what is pictured at the 20:35 mark? You'd be shocked to learn what lies inside of the sphere. Good episode! Interesting region. Why anyone would rather live in the cement jungle vs a simple life in a quiet town defies reason.

[@evamccray6500]

Jobs. Farming doesn't need the labor it used to. Railroads gone, loss of infrastructure. etc., etc. Sad but true.

[@brucesmith9144]

Nice video. Very interesting places. Have a question though. Those buildings left to deteriorate is a shame. Are those properties actively owned? Aren’t there any ordinances governing dilapidated structures? Looked a bit sketchy walking to a place that looks like it could collapse at any time.

[@ronfullerton3162]

Unfortunately there are not enough people and enough money in many of those old communities to demolish and haul off the remains of the old buildings. And a small county like that may not have a suitable place to dump the remains in. Sometimes property ownership is hard to determine to get permission or assess costs to. It is just A hard situation for these small lost communities to work through . They have the desire but not the ability.

[@wesleygraham2741]

If you approve of a lot of rules for private property don’t move here

[@roberteshaw9520]

Hey Coach. Interesting area. The Sod House provides some insight into what things might have been. The Land Rush start was interesting. Elmer got it right. Happy Trails.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Absolutely agreed on all!

[@jljordan1]

Doggo: wait what? You talking to me?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂😂

[@markmark2080]

The last house is actually named on google earth, it's called 'Green Acres' on Harper Road.

[@travis303]

cool shirt!

[@papabear562]

Another great video. I love it when you find actual ghost towns, places where towns once stood. It's even better when Google Maps has it in their database! I wondered if you'd find any playground equipment this time around. Looks like you did. Looking forward to the next video. Cheers! Hey I just noticed that there is a Byron, Oklahoma in that county. Are you going to visit there? It would be great to have a city that shares my first name highlighted in one of your videos!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Yep Byron will be in part 2!

[@papabear562]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy Outstanding! I'm looking forward to it.🙂

[@frankkeltch5260]

Living in Alfalfa County, I would like to say you did well in your history of the area. But to say the name of Aline, it pronounced AL' Leen. Just to let you know. Thank you for showing our area.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Thank you very much!

[@frankkeltch5260]

You are very welcome

[@travis303]

Next time you do a Q&A, I'm never sure what finds are part of the plan or a happy accident. Part of the plan being you knew they existed and went out to find it. What is some of your best "happy accidents"? that being things you had no intention of visiting but just stumbled on it on the way to some place else

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

A lot of times the best ones are old schools that are still out in the middle on nowhere. Just this weekend I found several old ones in Lincoln County, KS.

[@stevehilliard1495]

Perfect closing, wheel of death and dogs!! Very interesting video. Was that your lab at the start? Anticipating part 2😎

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Not my lab - I travel too much and with coaching it wouldn’t be good to have a dog unfortunately.

[@carriebrown4727]

What are you doing there? I grew up north of Burlington and went to school there. They called my roads 'the flats' most are not traveled if there has been any rain.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I was here doing this video 😂😂

[@scottpond5881]

Am I the only one who pauses the videos in the cemeteries to see if there are any family names?

[@davebuser]

Can you call the Arkansas River the Ar-Kansas river in Oklahoma? Asking for a friend.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Very good question haha. I’ve had a couple people correct me lately 😂

[@kd5inm]

Way to go Elmer!

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

😂

[@travis303]

is the sod house the one place I need to make sure and visit in Alfalfa?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I would say so - unique and a lot of great history there.

[@coltenperryman6907]

I live in carmen lol

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Interesting town!

[@travis303]

can you tell me about that bridge in Carmen?

[@x.kls.x.7696]

the bridge in carmen is just going over the pond in the carmen park

[@Nickifoster-hl3ux]

Just a fyi Elmer's last name is probably pronounced rymer.

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

True 😊

[@benjaminhutchcraft3935]

Always enjoy your videos. I will admit I speed them up to 1.5 😊

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Glad you like them! Do I sound smarter at 1.5? 😂

[@benjaminhutchcraft3935]

@@TravelwithaWiseguy very wise!

[@sandiewilliams238]

The sign stated "PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE AIRPLANE." I bet you walked up to the airplane and touched it...after carefully looking around to make sure no one was looking. Tell the truth Coach...😉

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I thought about filming me do it, but these videos are starting to get popular 😂

[@x.kls.x.7696]

i’m from aline and can confirm many people do it😅 as long as people don’t try to climb in and ruin the history i think is the main thing.

[@travis303]

oh what is that park in Aline?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

It’s a military memorial

[@travis303]

Was Thrall part of the plan or a happy accident?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Saw it on a map but didn’t know anything else about it.

[@EliasStonehocker]

Please Vote for myself district 2 co Commisioner alfalfa county

[@gaildrumm4082]

Check Col Andrew Drumm

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Part 2 😊

[@hypeandjive]

C’mon, man. Ark-an-SAW river. Not that hard to get right

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

Well if you’re from Kansas …

[@chrisalbright5669]

I'm just curious, why do you wear makeup?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

huh?

[@chrisalbright5669]

It just looked like you had something on your eyelashes.​@@TravelwithaWiseguy

[@nexttsar]

How do you have the time to do all of this travel? I find your videos very interesting as it gives a good idea what is worth seeing and what is not. A lot of the "ghost towns" you visit are just non-existant. Are there any good ghost towns in OK, with buildings and ruins but NO people?

[@TravelwithaWiseguy]

I talk about that kind of stuff a lot in my newsletter so if you’re interested … hard to explain in a comment but I do a lot of planning and I’m single with no kids 😊 Picher, Oklahoma, is one of the best ghost towns in the world. Tons of abandoned buildings. Zero people.

[@x.kls.x.7696]

@@TravelwithaWiseguyis picher worth visiting?? i’ve always been fascinated with the ghost towns here in oklahoma and thought that one would be fun to check out.