Partly buried in this Carthage (Mo.) Press article about a Japanese television crew filming Route 66 sights is intriguing news about the languishing Red Oak II complex northeast of town.
The visit to Red Oak II comes at an exciting time as renovation work nears completion on the Black Hen Restaurant, which will reopen this summer.
Larry Frickenschmidt, who purchased many of the Red Oak II buildings from Lowell Davis, said weather permitting, he hopes to have the restaurant open by June 1 as a key part of the attraction’s rebirth.
Frickenschmidt and his wife, Lois, have overseen renovations of many of the buildings they now own, which includes the blacksmith shop, restaurant and trolley car, town hall, feed store, wren house and corral and marshal’s cabin.
“We have spent a year and a half remodeling all the buildings,” said Frickenschmidt. “They are built to last.”
He said he wants Red Oak II to once again be a family place, where local residents and tourists traveling Route 66 can go to dine and enjoy some quality time seeing the sights.
Red Oak II was artist Lowell Davis‘ tribute to his hometown of Red Oak, Mo. The property has a Phillips 66 station, old schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, feed store, general store and several houses. It’s like a town that’s frozen in time just before World War II.
Red Oak II closed to the public several times because of financial difficulties and Lowell’s divorce. I’m glad it’s apparently getting another life.
Will you have the general store open again, selling Lowell Davis products? I was married in the church and hadd my reception at the Balck Hen restaruant and look forward to having it open to the public again. It is a wonderful part of this area’s history, If you need any volunteers to get it up and running, please let me know. You are doing the community a great service by opening it again.
Are you open? I would like to visit around April 21..
The Black Hen diner is still undergoing rennovations. We will post when it is open on the Red Oak II website.
Just wondering if the Black Hen is open?
I just visited Red Oak II for the first time over the weekend. I am from the Southwest Missouri area and just can’t believe that I had never heard of this quaint little attraction until now. I do hope that the diner will reopen soon. I look forward to taking my 2 little ones to Red Oak II, I know they will love it!!
It’s Feb ’09 now and the new owners of the cafe. Larry and Lois Frickenschmidt are still working hard on the Grand New Opening. No date has been quoted. They have however decided on a new name. It will now be known as the Red Oak II Cafe. They are hoping to post good news this summer.
The Frickenschmidts are also rennovating the School Marm House, the School house, Town Hall, Feed Store, Wren House, Marshall Hooker’s Cabin and Marshall Hooker’s Jail. They have also purchased a 1916 Standard Oil Station that was on old Rt. 66. The building has been moved to Red Oak II and has been rennovated.
Make plans NOW to visit this awesome town this summer!!
Is it open yet? I’d like to drive up from KC.
Is the cafe open? Would like to visit this weekend.
Michele, I’m not one of the residents but I can tell you that it’s NOT open. STILL, lol.
I just re-read what I wrote in 2009 and had to laugh. I had no idea it had been sooooo long.