A weathered 1949 Nash Airflyte 600 sits on grass in front of a restored 1920s cottage‑style Phillips 66 service station at Red Oak II, with two red vintage gas pumps and a green‑and‑red building framed by overcast skies and surrounding trees.

The streamlined 1949 Nash Airflyte 600 sits beside the 1920s cottage‑style Phillips 66 station at Red Oak II, a recreated village celebrating early roadside architecture and automotive history.


During my Missouri Route 66 planning, I made a note to visit Red Oak II since I wanted to see the cottage-style Phillips 66 service station that had been relocated there and restored from the ghost town of Red Oak, Missouri. That was the extent of my research on this location, and while I knew there were a few other restored buildings on-site, nothing I read prepared me for the magnitude of this Route 66 treasure.


This cottage-style Phillips 66 service station was located on old Route 66 near the turn-off to Red Oak, Missouri. The station was brought to Red Oak II and completely restored in 1989.

This cottage-style Phillips 66 service station was located on old Route 66 near the turn-off to Red Oak, Missouri. The station was brought to Red Oak II and completely restored in 1989.


This place is absolutely amazing and should be a MUST SEE on every Route 66 itinerary! It is, in my opinion, the absolute best gem along the entire stretch of the Mother Road!


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Red Oak II, Missoura, spelled with an "a" not an "i', was the artistic vision of artist Lowell Davis (1937-2020). Sometimes called the "Norman Rockwell of Rural Art," much of his artwork reflects what it was like to grow up in rural America along Route 66 during its heyday. While he is best known for his farm animal figurines, he also painted, sculpted, and created metal art.


The Blacksmith Shop was Lowell's great-grandfather Weber's and was the first building built in the original town of Red Oak.

The Blacksmith Shop was Lowell's great-grandfather Weber's and was the first building built in the original town of Red Oak.


Lowell Davis returned to Missouri after his wanderlust took him to the Air Force, Kansas State University and Dallas, Texas, where he spent 13 years as an art director at an advertising agency.

During his years in the big city all he could think about was getting home to Missouri. Eventually, he bought a farm and made the move.


The Red Oak General store was built at the turn of the century and has been operated by Lowell Davis's family in the original Red Oak, Missouri, since 1921. The store was moved to Red Oak II and restored in 1988.

The Red Oak General store was built at the turn of the century and has been operated by Lowell Davis's family in the original Red Oak, Missouri, since 1921. The store was moved to Red Oak II and restored in 1988.


After arriving home, he was saddened to see that the small rural Missouri communities of his youth, like his family's hometown of Red Oak, were becoming ghost towns and that the buildings were in ruins. So he began collecting old buildings and moving them to his farm, Fox Fire, to restore.


Not every building came from the original Red Oak, but Davis's buildings stay true to the same era, dating from the turn of the century through the 1930s. He couldn't find a couple of the buildings he wanted in Red Oak II, so he created them himself. To think, this all started in a cornfield in 1987 and eventually became the quaint and colorful early 1900s utopian village you see today.


Otis Cabin is one of the most popular buildings at Red Oak II. It is not a restored building but new construction designed and created by Lowell Davis. The cabin was named in honor of Otis, the bullfrog, who lived in the pond surrounding the cabin.

Otis Cabin is one of the most popular buildings at Red Oak II. It is not a restored building but new construction designed and created by Lowell Davis. The cabin was named in honor of Otis, the bullfrog who lived in the pond surrounding the cabin.


The village of Red Oak II encompasses roughly 60 acres. It includes a diner, jail, blacksmith shop, general store, Phillips 66 station, schoolhouse, town hall, country church, cemetery, several homes and other buildings.


The blacksmith shop once belonged to Davis's great grandfather, and his father once owned the general store.


The office of Marshal Ralph Hooker. The Marshal's office is new construction built in 1993 as a museum to house Marshal Hooker's guns, badges, and other items he used during his 50 years of law enforcement. The office of Marshal Ralph Hooker. The Marshal's office is new construction built in 1993 as a museum to house Marshal Hooker's guns, badges, and other items he used during his 50 years of law enforcement.

Marshal Ralph Hooker's office is new construction built in 1993 as a museum to house Marshal Hooker's guns, badges, and other items he used during his 50 years of law enforcement.


Lowell Davis began selling off his collection of homes for people to live in when the upkeep and maintenance became too much—transforming the village of his "childhood memories" from an art exhibit into a living museum.


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There are now about a dozen residents in Red Oak II, helping maintain and care for the town. The landscaping is immaculate, and the village is complete with old cars, farm equipment, and even an airplane! Peppered throughout the village is Lowell Davis's metal art.


I had difficulty knowing which buildings were "lived in" and which were part of the collection, so please be respectful about looking into windows and trying doors when you visit.


The little white house at Red Oak II.

The little white house at Red Oak II.


Red Oak II is open to the public seven days a week from 7 am to 9 pm. The village has several degrees of openness, from some buildings being unlocked and open to the public to just being able to walk the streets and enjoy from afar. When I visited on a Sunday afternoon, everything was closed, but the few people I saw made me feel welcome.


Check out their website before you visit for more information. They hold special events throughout the year and have a weekly Pickin' and Singin' Jam session on Saturday evenings and church services on Sunday mornings at the Salem Country Church. The public is always welcome.


The village is free to visit, but be sure to drop something into the donation box by the General Store to help with maintenance costs. 


Dalton Farmhouse

The Dalton Farmhouse


Red Oak II is quaint, quirky, colorful, and fun, with interesting details around every corner. When visiting, I felt like I had simultaneously died, gone to heaven, and found "my people" it's just that good! I could live here. It's my kind of place...


 Red Oak II, Missoura - 12275 Kafir Road, Carthage, Missouri

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A framed artwork hangs above a beige sofa in a living room, showing a small green building with a red roof, two vintage red gas pumps, and a Phillips 66 sign set in a grassy landscape under cloudy skies.

Bring a touch of classic Americana to your space with this artwork featuring a restored Phillips 66 cottage‑style service station and its vintage red gas pumps, captured with rich detail and nostalgic charm.


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