Some Sapulpans are hoping that their town will become the site of a renowned “mural event” at some point over the next couple of years, in an inspired effort to draw more visitors to the heart of Route 66 in time for The Mother Road’s 100th anniversary in 2026.
“There are a lot of wonderful things here, and murals and public art can be a big part of that,” says Joe Krout, who was leading the presentation, which included talking points by award-winning artists Scott Lindley and Mike Meyer.
The project sounds like a minor miracle: it would feature 15 murals, created by dozens of artists, and would be completed in just four days. The secret to success is turning it into a community-minded, community-based event. This would include not only raising some $150,000 through private donations but also include host homes for the visiting artists who come from all over the world to be a part of these events on a consistent basis.
“I love doing public art. It makes a difference,” says Lindley, who says he and Meyer have made an impact on numerous towns, holding some 170 such events since 2010. Lindley estimates that they’ve raised just over $1M in total, and the result has done a lot to “put communities in a better direction,” he says.
Part of what Lindley and Meyer say they’re trying to accomplish is not just a neat play for a photo for the visitors who drive by, but an event that connects the community together, even those who wouldn’t normally go for this sort of thing.
“We take everyone,” Lindley said. “There are so many artists out there that don’t have a place. We’ll give them a place.”
Meyer says that the event is a large-scale affair, and has an equally large effect on the hearts, minds, and morale of the residents, and those doing the work. “It becomes our town, too,” Meyer says. “We become connected to the community, too,” Lindley agrees. “(because of these events), I’ve been to birthdays, celebrations, and I’ve even been to funerals,” he said.
Meyer also sees each event as an opportunity to recapture the lost magic of sign-painting, something that’s disappeared with the advent of the computer and the advancement of design software and printers. “There used to be about twelve sign painting schools in the nation. Now there’s one, and it’s in Los Angelos,” he said. “Why not use this opportunity to teach sign-painting in small-town America?”
Joe Krout, who moved to Sapulpa from Tulsa in 2019 and purchased and renovated the Bell Building, is proposing a “halfway-point mural” to be painted when the fundraising reaches the 50% mark. His proposal includes a mural painted on a wall in what he calls “Rumble Fish Alley,” on the north side of Dewey street between Water and Park. The location is one of several in Sapulpa where scenes from the 1983 movie “Rumble Fish” were shot. The movie is the second of S.E. Hinton’s books to become a movie and featured performances by Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Nicolas Cage, Diane Lane, and Dennis Hopper. “It doesn’t have to be historical,” Krout says. “It can just be art.”
Krout says the town can get “more mileage” out of the murals by spreading them around town and not restricting them to the downtown area.
“One thing I’ve learned about Sapulpa, is that Sapulpa wants to be Sapulpa. We don’t want to be Jenks, or Broken Arrow or Bixby, we want to be our own version of those towns, but hold true to what makes us unique.” Presumably, that will include murals regarding Sapulpa’s rich history in railroads, glass, brick, oil, and—of course—our location on the historic Mother Road.
Krout emphasized the importance of getting something done ahead of 2026 in order to be in the best position possible to become even more of a world-class destination for the travelers that are expected for the road’s centennial.
“It takes time to begin promoting something like this,” he said. “And by the time we get to where we want to be, we’re not just quietly promoting it, we’re basically yelling it.”
“I’m always telling people, Sapulpa is full of legends,” says Krout, who believes that Sapulpa’s rich history and renowned characters are going to be a strong part of what draws more and more people to Sapulpa. Krout believes it’s only the beginning. “This is just a pebble in an avalanche.”
