During the Great Depression, a cowboy of Cherokee heritage with a knack for roping was the biggest star in the country. From 1915 to 1935, Will Rogers was the top movie star, top radio star, and top newspaper columnist in the U.S. Following his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, the U.S. government approved the construction of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. The museum, which also houses Rogers’ gravesite, opened in 1938. It is in Claremore, Oklahoma, on land that Rogers had purchased for his retirement home. Almost 90 years after it opened, it remains on one of the most popular attractions in northeast Oklahoma. Now, travelers who are visiting the area and want the full Will Rogers experience can lasso their inner buckaroo at the Will Rogers Homestead.
Two Unique Guest Houses
Situated in the shadows of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, the Will Rogers Homestead comprises a pair of guest houses: the Will Rogers Bunkhouse and the Will Rogers Roadhouse. They are owned and operated by Rogers’ great-granddaughter, Jennifer, who serves as the Rogers family public representative. She’s also a former museum board member and a current member of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. The Foundation provides financial and other assistance to motion picture industry members in need.
“My role is to go out and help keep [Will’s] legacy alive,” Jennifer explains.
One way she does that is by providing travelers with one-of-a-kind accommodations that are adorned with Will Rogers memorabilia and Western decor. Books, artifacts, and commemorative collectibles about Will fill shelves. Photographs and paintings related to Will, including one of his birth house in Oolagah on the Cherokee Nation, line the walls.
The quaint gray bungalows, located on the same lot, are across the street from the museum’s expansive lawn. Guests receive complimentary admission tickets to the museum. On warm nights — Will once said, “If you don’t like the weather, wait fifteen minutes…” — they can relax on the spacious front porch while sipping their favorite beverage. Or they can enjoy a free piece of pie at neighboring Hammett House Restaurant, a Claremore mainstay for more than 50 years.
While the Homestead currently comprises only two rental units, Jennifer has plans to build more.
Staying at the Will Rogers Homestead
If a night or two or three at the Will Rogers Homestead has you shouting “Yee-Haw!”, the next step is deciding on which guest house to rent.
The front guest house is the Will Rogers Bunkhouse. This one-bedroom stay features a queen-size bed and one full bathroom. There’s also a queen sleeper sofa in the living area.
The rear accommodation is the Will Rogers Roadhouse. This property offers two bedrooms, one with a king-size bed and one with a queen bed. There are also two full bathrooms. One includes a jetted bathtub.
Both houses feature fully equipped kitchens, smart TVs, and a washer and dryer. Each has its own private entrance. The two units can also be rented together, sleeping up to eight people. A common door connects the kitchens, providing easy access between the units.
The decor in both guest houses is comfy, cowboy chic. Chunky rustic wood furnishings, Native textiles, cowhides, and muted earth tone walls and fabrics enhance the Western vibe. Fun touches abound, such as a bucking bronco shower curtain, a cowboy boot area rug, and a “Howdy” throw pillow.
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Get a Car Rental
If You Go
Claremore is located directly on Oklahoma’s historic stretch of Route 66. Just minutes away are the iconic landmarks, the Blue Whale of Catoosa and Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park. In addition to the Will Rogers museum, the city offers plenty of things to see and do, especially for history lovers. The J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum is the world’s largest privately owned gun collection. The Claremore Museum of History is home to the original “surrey with the front on top” from the movie musical “Oklahoma!” And, of course, Claremore is just a half-hour drive from Tulsa.
The Will Rogers Homestead is available to rent through AirBnB. The Bunkhouse starts at about $150 per night, while the Roadhouse starts at about $200 per night. Pets are not allowed. For more information, you can also contact Jennifer at jennifer@willrogers.com.
While on your Route 66 journey through the Sooner State, head to Oklahoma City and stay at the Fordson Hotel, a former Ford manufacturing plant turned luxurious industrial-chic stay.
