1

Red Oak II

Open air museum · Madison ·

Red Oak II

Open air museum · Madison ·
@atlasobscura
4,908 Postcards · 2,018 Cities

22 of America's Best Preserved Ghost Towns

"Located not far from Route 66, travelers are in for a treat when they come across this very real, fake ghost town.  Lowell Davis grew up in the original Red Oak, Missouri, a town that faded into obscurity. Following World War II, many rural communities ceased to exist amid increased urbanization and more people relocating to cities. After a few years away from his childhood town, Davis returned in the 1980s to find it was nothing more than a mere memory. Davis eventually settled about 20 miles from the site of his original hometown and in 1987, decided to rebuild the community on his farm. The town would be known as Red Oak II.  Davis bought buildings from other rural ghost towns and hauled them to his farm to begin restoring the structures and creating a quaint faux village. Davis lives in Red Oak II in the restored home of the infamous outlaw Belle Starr. The site is also home to several of Davis’s original sculptures and other works of art. Davis is now commonly referred to as the, “Norman Rockwell of Rural Art.”  Red Oak II is complete with a diner,  jail, smithy, general store, a Phillips 66 station, a schoolhouse, a town hall, and several homes. The blacksmith shop is where Davis’s great grandfather honed his skills and the general store, once owned by Davis’s father, is where he discovered his love of art.   Update: Lowell Davis died in late 2020." - ATLAS_OBSCURA

https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/americas-best-preserved-ghost-towns
Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)

Information

Recreated town with vintage buildings & artist's sculptures

route 66 attraction
walk the grounds
outdoors
lowell davis artwork
quirky things
movie set
unique things to see
vintage town museum
Google Rating
4.8 (644)
Yelp Rating
5.0
Placeholder

10917 County Loop 122, Carthage, MO 64836 Get directions

Restroom
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
See full details

1

Information

Recreated town with vintage buildings & artist's sculptures

route 66 attraction
walk the grounds
outdoors
lowell davis artwork
quirky things
movie set
unique things to see
vintage town museum
Google Rating
4.8 (644)
Yelp Rating
5.0
Placeholder

10917 County Loop 122, Carthage, MO 64836 Get directions

Restroom
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by Moe Cheezmo (Atlas Obscura User)
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
Red Oak II by null
See full details

More Places For You

Sugarfire Smoke House

Barbecue restaurant · Downtown

Ribs, salmon, brisket, turkey, shakes, cornbread

1 Postcard

Freight House Fitness (West Bottoms)

Gym · Kansas City

30-min strength & yoga classes, personal training, nutrition guidance

2 Postcards

Everest Cafe and bar

Nepalese restaurant · Forest Park Southeast

Nepalese, Korean & Indian cuisines in understated, family-owned quarters

2 Postcards

El Toluco Taqueria Restaurant

Mexican restaurant · Manchester

Authentic Mexican tacos, massive tortas, grocery items

2 Postcards

Green Dirt Farm Creamery

Cheese shop · Hampton

Farmstead cafe & cheesemonger with sheep's milk cheeses

1 Postcard

Missouri Botanical Garden

Botanical garden · Shaw

Botanical oasis with rare orchids, Japanese & Victorian gardens

4 Postcards

Affäre

German restaurant · Crossroads

Modern German plates with art & dramatic lighting

2 Postcards

Farm Spirit STL

Restaurant · Midtown

Fast casual dining with local farm fresh ingredients

9 Postcards

blue bird bistro

Organic restaurant · Crossroads

Eclectic American farm-to-table fare in Victorian space

3 Postcards

Yoli Tortilleria - Retail

Tortilla shop · Crossroads

James Beard Award-winning tortilleria crafting Sonoran-style flour tortillas

16 Postcards