One of the Beatles was here – and now you can be too.
Along a quiet stretch of E Old Hwy 66, just east of Arcadia, there’s a simple but special roadside stop that blends music history with Route 66 magic. On August 5, 2008, Sir Paul McCartney — yes, that Paul McCartney — made an unexpected appearance on this very spot during a road trip to celebrate his 66th birthday. And today, you can stop where he did.
It doesn’t take long — just a minute or two to pull over, snap a photo, and smile at the thought that one of the most legendary musicians of all time once stood in the same place, quietly enjoying the spirit of the Mother Road like any other traveler.
What makes it even more poetic is the symmetry: Paul turning 66 on Route 66. Not planned, not promoted — just beautifully symbolic.
In late July 2008, Paul McCartney and his then-girlfriend Nancy Shevell set out from his holiday home in the Hamptons, New York, for a low-key road trip along Route 66. They started in Illinois but tried to stay under the radar. That is, until they reached this very stretch near Arcadia, Oklahoma.
Local resident Toby Thompson was outside his home when a green 1989 Ford Bronco pulled up and the driver asked: “Is this Old 66?” Only after a few minutes did Toby realize who he was speaking to. There were no cameras, no bodyguards — just a Beatle, asking for directions.
It may just be a sign, but for music lovers — especially Beatles fans — it’s a moment worth capturing. A slice of Americana where rock’n’roll, nostalgia, and open-road freedom all come together.
It’s the kind of stop that reminds you why Route 66 is so special — not because of big attractions, but because of these unexpected intersections between everyday life and extraordinary people. Paul didn’t come here for a concert. He came here for the road.
