Miami
has the beautiful Coleman Theater, and a picture shot at the right angle can
capture this Rt 66 splendor. With some luck, the reader board will even give Face
Book followers and Instagram investigators even more info on where and when the
photo was taken. Those that make their way down the Ribbon Road of 66 don’t
want to miss the chance to take a pic of their feet with that famous interstate
66 image painted on the narrow asphalt.
Every
community needs something that says this is “us.” More than a name etched on a
water tower, towns that invest in art invite visitors to slow down and get out
and look are also inviting visitors to spend money. The free publicity that goes
along with all those selfies that wing their way onto the World Wide Web is
pretty effective, too. I’ve had the opportunity to see many cities’ art. Some
of it, I loved. Some wasn’t too impressive (that’s art!) but the point is, that
art was part of the tour that the city wanted us to see as we visited.
In
Northeast OK we do have some iconic backdrops, the big McDonalds over the
turnpike, the long span of the Pensacola Dam and the many bridges we have
crossing the rivers and lakes. They are symbols of Green Country, but pretty
darn hard to photograph without an aerial view. HarBer Village offers some
great structures that are recognizable, but that is seasonal and not always
available. I looked around Groovy Grove today for art. I know the Angel of Hope
in Lendonwood exists as that is one of my favorite places for visitors to
discover, but it takes some effort to find.
Nope, the only art I found was the
giant metal giraffe chained by the back leg to the sign in front of Cheapo
Depo. Well, and his friend the giant rooster. Somehow I’m not really crazy
about the idea of tourists doing selfies in front of high in the hindquarters
giraffe and posting “I’m in Grove on Grand Lake!” I’m not sure that is the
image we want to be identified with.
Grove
has an opportunity to become home to an amazing aircraft, the F-4 Phantom,
which could become an iconic image for our town. If you haven’t heard about it,
start reading the Grove Sun! There was a wonderful article in Tuesday’s paper.
Or, talk with a member of the Grove Rotary, Dave or Beverly Helms of Grand
Prosthetics in Grove. I hope our local folks rally to make this happen.
This
will be a piece of history that will invite travelers to stop, look and learn… and
that is something to see.
