Over the weekend, I took a trip down Route 66 and ran into the man walking across the United States from Alabama to California, known popularly as AL2LA. Robert Luna, the traveler, showed me pictures of his journey and a gorgeous little town popped up on the screen. "I loved this place," he said. "This is Sam's Town."

What Is Sam's Town?

In a little bitty town just south of Sayre, there's an even smaller town within Erick, Oklahoma, known as Sam's Town. Robert told me that he had a chance to stay and learn from the man who built it all.

The buildings now used as Air BnBs were handmade with wooden logs and a sort of "mud/concrete mixture," if you will. Even from the outside, the unique build looks as sturdy as it feels. Robert said that he didn't doubt that it was safe to be in at all.

Who is Sam?

The owner and creator of Sam's Town, Sam Hagen, gave Robert a tour of the place, explaining that he built the tiny town for travelers on 66 looking for an inexpensive, but safe, place to stay.

@samstownon66 #sams town erick okla#stay ♬ original sound - Sams Town on Route 66

Not only did he build this town to help others, but Robert mentioned he also grows a garden for everyone else. "He doesn't even eat the food himself, he wants to grow it for everyone else," Robert told me.

The Air BnB Experience

Sam's town is one of the only places you can stay at an Air BnB for $7 and support a man who may not have much, but may be richer in experience and knowledge than anyone in the state.

If interested in booking a stay at one of the Air BnBs, you'll need to make a reservation with Sam ahead of time.

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I doubt there's a single topic debated more passionately in Oklahoma than who makes the best BBQ. While they all smoke meat, there are some huge differences in how that process is done. Type of wood, length of cook, foil vs paper wrap, and even the hot topics of seasoning and binders come into play. What you like others may not, and vice versa. Since we can't just pick a top five or ten, here are the Oklahoma barbeque joints that have the biggest fans.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

15 More Amazing Southwest Oklahoma Hole-In-The-Wall Eats

It's far too easy to be lulled into thinking the same old chain restaurants are the "good" places to eat across Southwest Oklahoma. You won't find a single franchise on this list. It's all locally owned, locally run, and sometimes a little run down, but you'll agree the meals are outstanding when you walk away with a belly full of the good stuff.

In no particular order, here are another fifteen amazing local Southwest Oklahoma eats, and be sure to check out the O.G. 15 Amazing SWOK Hole-In-The-Wall Eats right here when you're done...

Gallery Credit: Kelso

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