Re-created early twentieth-century village featuring relocated historic buildings, vintage automobiles, folk art, and a nostalgic tribute to rural Midwest life and Route 66 culture.
How to Get There
From Carthage (4 mi): Take MO-96 east from Carthage, turn north onto County Road 130, then turn right onto Kafir Road and continue to the preserved village located on the right side of the road.
Overview
Red Oak II is one of the most imaginative roadside attractions along Missouri's Route 66 corridor. Created by internationally known artist Lowell Davis, the village was built as an effort to preserve the memory of the small community of Red Oak, Missouri, where he spent his childhood. After discovering that much of the original town had disappeared, Davis began relocating historic structures from the area to family property near Carthage, carefully reconstructing a vibrant representation of a rural Midwestern town. The result is a living landscape of vintage homes, a general store, gas station, schoolhouse, church, and other structures that capture the character of life during the early twentieth century.
Visitors exploring the grounds encounter an extraordinary collection of classic automobiles, period signs, folk art installations, and restored buildings that create the feeling of stepping back in time. Unlike a traditional museum, the village functions as an immersive environment where history, art, and community preservation are woven together. Its popularity among Route 66 travelers stems from both its authenticity and its whimsical atmosphere, making it one of southwest Missouri's most memorable attractions. Red Oak II stands as a lasting tribute to rural American culture and the vision of an artist determined to save a disappearing piece of the past.
This article uses material from the official Red Oak II website, local tourism resources, and historical references for Red Oak II, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0.
