When traveling east on I-40 into Oklahoma from Texas you should take Exit 7 and head south into the town of Erick. This former boom town was founded in 1901 but fell into trouble after WW II. The main street is filled with several nice old brick buildings that unforunately are mostly empty.

Of special interest in Erick is the relic adorned “City Meat Market” building. This brick is covered in old signs the likes of which would make any antique picker green with envy. This is the current home to the Sand Hill Curiosity Shop. We did not hit Erick on a day that the shop was open. A local shared that the shop is owned and operated by a pair of characters named Annabelle and Harley, AKA the Mediocre Musicians. They will play and sing for you if you catch them there.

Erick was the birthplace of Roger Miller who fittingly was the writer and performer of the hit song “King of the Road”. Another native son is Sheb Wooley, an actor on the TV series “Rawhide” and the artist who wrote and sang that unique hit “Purple People Eater”. If you know any of these references you are dating yourself!

A detour off of I-40 to see Erick,Oklahma is worth your effort and time.