After the mural tour, the Empire Bank group enjoyed a stop at the World's Largest Rocking Chair.
Recently on a bright August Day, Viva Cuba members boarded the large Empire Bank tour bus as it passed through Cuba. It was no act of piracy or highjacking. The Empire Bank Classic Club tour director Jeanne Sleeth from Springfield, Missouri had arranged for the Viva Cuba members to join the tour in Cuba to provide a guided tour of the murals.
The 52 member group was on its way to a Cardinal game in St. Louis and stopped in Cuba for a mural tour and for a group photo at the World’s Largest Rocking Chair.
While Viva Cuba members directed the bus driver around Cuba’s narrow streets, the group was entertained with the stories that go with each mural from the visit by Bette Davis that involved a young newspaper photographer’s footrace through the streets to the visit by a young Harry Truman, who was running for a senate seat. Historic buildings such as the Route 66 Wagon Wheel Motel and Wallace House were points of interest as was the History Museum and the Veterans Memorial at Recklein Commons.
At the Gold Star Boys mural, the travel director asked tour members who were veterans to pose for a photo. As they returned to their seats on the bus, other tour members applauded them.
Veterans from the tour pose in front of the Gold Star Boys mural.
After the tour of sites and murals in Cuba, the group rolled on down Route 66 to the Fanning Outpost General Store and Archery Center. On the way, they were told the history of the small dump truck that sits atop Glen Pasch‘s tombstone in Kinder Cemetery. As they passed the former site of Amanda, where Ridgetop Farm now sits, they heard the story of how Cuba gots its name. Later, tour members expressed the appreciation of Cuba’s history and the town’s art. Many expressed a desire to return to Cuba.
The crowd was suitably impressed as they rounded the curve and got their first sight of the Guinness World’s Largest Rocking Chair. After posing for a photo, they entered The Outpost, where they tasted wine, bought souvenirs, tested the archery range, and enjoyed resting in the rustic rockers and chairs.
These tour members tried their hand at archery while visiting The Fanning Outpost.
Finally, the group re-boarded their bus and were off to their next stop–a Cardinals baseball game. The Cardinals won that night, so that part of their tour was a success too.
It is always fun to share “Cuba Pride” with others. To arrange a tour, contact us at cubamomurals.com. For other activities while visiting Cuba, see the blog 18 Things To Do While in Cuba. Can you think of other advice to give families visiting Cuba? Add a comment to the blog.
The group waited patiently to pay for purchases.
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Thank you all for stopping by the Fanning 66 Outpost. I appreciated the business and hope you all had a good time.
Dan Sanazaro