Wakita, Oklahoma: Home of the Twister Museum

Remember 1996? I do. Well, I remember Twister being released at least. I remember seeing the movie during my time living in Texas and immediately being annoyed that the chasers called TOTO “Dorothy” in the movie.  Then there was that whole tying oneself to a pipe while an F5 tornado passes overhead and still being left with skin afterwards — but, I digress.

Back on topic… It’s still pretty cool to have weather featured in a movie, and there is perhaps no weather phenomenon more worthy of film than a tornado. The movie Twister turned this sleepy Oklahoma town into a worldwide sensation. Over the years, the quaint “Twister Museum” has seen visitors from all over the world — including some folks there today from South Africa who came out for a chase tour. Now I don’t feel quite as bad for driving from D.C. to see sunshine so far.

We stopped and spoke with several townspeople and went into the local store to buy some drinks. There is something about people in this part of the country that makes them better story tellers than many of those back east. Perhaps it’s the slower pace of life? As much as I’m anxious for the weather to turn stormier as soon as possible, there have been many moments I might have missed had things been more active through now.

Despite the fact that no tornadoes have hit the town center (apparently folklore says there is a spell protecting the area) since it was developed in the late 1800s, there was also a pretty amazing multiple-vortex tornado near the town on May 10, 2010. Multiple touchdowns around the area caused damage throughout the county on that day.

Below is a panorama of the Wakita water tower created by 6 vertical images stitched together. It is available in larger size by selecting the image.