Oklahoma City chose a public art design that features a huge neon boot, paying tribute to the iconic song “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.”
As OKCTalk reported recently, the city will set aside $875,000 in voter-approved MAPS 4 sales-tax funds for the project. More details:
The central element of Kicks 66 is a 35-foot-tall red boot with ‘stitching’ that says, “Oklahoma City looks Mighty Pretty”, lyrics from the famous song composed by Bobby Troup and first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946.
A miniature Route 66 leads to the boot, which rests atop a mound. Another mound in the landscape will contain a time capsule.
A prickly pear cactus also sits near the big boot.
Cameron Eagle submitted the winning design from more than 50 entries. Eagle also designed the “Welcome to Luther” neon sign in Luther, Oklahoma, that was dedicated a few months ago.
The proposed location was on Classen Boulevard, on a sliver of land north of the iconic Milk Bottle building.
But the Arts Commission voted down that site on Thursday due to it being too close to the gateway of the Asian District. The commission is considering another site.
UPDATE 8/26/2025: The Oklahoman reports the new site for the big boot may be the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, which also is off an alignment of Route 66 in the city.
(Artist’s rendering of the public art project coming to Oklahoma City)