Arcadia Round Barn

A red wooden circle has been stopping travelers since before the highway had a number. William Harrison “Big Bill” Odor built the Arcadia Round Barn in 1898: oxen cleared the site, local red Permian stone formed the foundation, and green burr-oak boards were soaked until they could be bent and banded into the 60-foot-wide, 43-foot-high form. During construction, three young workers saw what the upper floor could become and paid the difference for hardwood smooth enough to dance on.Hay, grain, and livestock filled the practical barn below; music and neighbors filled the loft above. When Route 66 reached Arcadia in 1928, the unusual dome became a roadside landmark. By the late 1970s the structure was failing, even after its 1977 National Register listing. The Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society acquired it in 1988, and volunteers—including the celebrated older “Over-the-Hill Gang”—rebuilt the collapsed roof with many of the original methods. The barn reopened in 1992 and later received additional Route 66 preservation support.The museum and gift shop currently list daily hours of 10 a.m.–5 p.m., subject to volunteer availability and severe weather. Admission is free and donations support the nonprofit caretaker. A free public tour is scheduled Saturdays at 1 p.m., but check the official site and any reservation instructions before relying on it; event rentals can also affect the loft. Use designated parking and entrances, respect ropes and private-event boundaries, and follow staff direction. This Hop promises no tour place, event access, merchandise, or partner benefit. More

A red wooden circle has been stopping travelers since before the highway had a number. William Harrison “Big Bill” Odor built the Arcadia Round Barn in 1898: oxen cleared the site, local red Permian stone formed the foundation, and green burr-oak boards were soaked until they could be bent and banded into the 60-foot-wide, 43-foot-high form. During construction, three young workers saw what the upper floor could become and paid the difference for hardwood smooth enough to dance on.Hay, grain, and livestock filled the practical barn below; music and neighbors filled the loft above. When Route 66 reached Arcadia in 1928, the unusual dome became a roadside landmark. By the late 1970s the structure was failing, even after its 1977 National Register listing. The Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society acquired it in 1988, and volunteers—including the celebrated older “Over-the-Hill Gang”—rebuilt the collapsed roof with many of the original methods. The barn reopened in 1992 and later received additional Route 66 preservation support.The museum and gift shop currently list daily hours of 10 a.m.–5 p.m., subject to volunteer availability and severe weather. Admission is free and donations support the nonprofit caretaker. A free public tour is scheduled Saturdays at 1 p.m., but check the official site and any reservation instructions before relying on it; event rentals can also affect the loft. Use designated parking and entrances, respect ropes and private-event boundaries, and follow staff direction. This Hop promises no tour place, event access, merchandise, or partner benefit. More