Exploring Oklahoma with Children
Did you know? The name “Wakita” almost didn’t make the film. The original plan was to repaint the water tower to depict the town as Guthrie. But a hefty price tag for that paint job clinched Wakita’s red carpet moment. Visitors can pose on Main Street with an Instagram- worthy view of the water tower in the background. During my family’s visit, my kids particularly enjoyed flipping through the scrapbooks filled with snapshots of the filming process, watching the home video footage and hearing Wade recount tales of what it was like to see Hollywood magic in action, as well as the town’s ongoing connections to the actors through present day. The authenticity of the artifacts on display represents the profound impact the film had on area residents and the town itself. Visitors can also step inside a Suck Zone Simulator to experience what winds up to 80 miles per hour feel like. At the entrance, check out the two maps that track where museum guests have journeyed from, showcasing the film’s popularity across the world. Just this year they had a visitor from Antarctica! While most of the structures seen in the film were destroyed as part of the storytelling process, you can stand on the same sites as the movie actors and producer Steven Spielberg once did. After your museum visit, you can find six posts around town that pinpoint where famous scenes were filmed. The museum is free to explore. The gift shop offers unique souvenirs from t-shirts, magnets and keychains to Dorothy sensor replicas, pet tornadoes and cuddly stuffed cows. The museum is located about two hours north of Oklahoma City and is open during the winter months by reservation only. From April 1 through Aug. 31, the museum opens Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Plan your visit at twistermuseumstore.com.
TOURISTS COME FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO VISIT THE MUSEUM, INCLUDING ANTARCTICA!
THE SUCK ZONE SIMULATOR MIMICS WIND SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MILES PER HOUR.
60 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JAN-FEB 2024
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