Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch

On Saturday, August 12, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch near Oologah will host the annual Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In. Gates open at 7:30 am with free admission, though donations are appreciated. The event will take place from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on the 2,000-foot grass strip adjacent to Oologah Lake. Pilots will fly the Oklahoma skies and land on the grass strip, a few yards from the home in which Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879. Tours of the home will be available.

The annual fly-in commemorates the date that Will Rogers and Wiley Post died in a plane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska, on August 15, 1935. It also celebrates their dedication to the aviation industry. Pilots of antique aircraft, vintage warplanes, new and late model small aircraft, helicopters, and powered parachute planes will gather to showcase their aircraft and reminisce with fellow flyers. Visitors can get a close-up view of the planes and meet the pilots. Lee Somers will be one of the pilots showcasing his airplane this year. Somers has been part of the fly-in event since 2008. There also will be a classic car and motorcycle show, Cherokee storytelling, activities for children, and food vendors. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

During the past three decades, families have enjoyed the fly-in event. Among the most popular guests are Will and Wiley, who roll down the runway and up to the front gate around 10:30 a.m. to cheers of adults and children alike. Lester Lurk of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, portrays Will Rogers, and Joe Bacon, pilot and Will Rogers Memorial Museum docent, portrays Wiley Post.

Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, also called Dog Iron Ranch, is located at 9501 East 380 Road near Oologah. The Dog Iron Ranch Airport’s FAA identifier is OK37; CTAF: 122.9. For more information please call 918-341-0719 or visit www.willrogers.com.