ENID, OK - When you ask folks about iconic restaurants in Enid, Oklahoma, it's practically impossible to find someone that doesn't name The Wagon Wheel. That's usually followed by, "They had the best chicken fried steak."
The Wagon Wheel was a staple on the northeast corner of Van Buren and Maine for decades. Below is a 1988 photo that shows the diner as it was prior to closing and eventually being torn down. The sign on top of the building is the newer sign, as a kid I remember a bigger chuck wagon sign.
The Wagon Wheel was opened in 1959 by W.E. "Ernie" Mankin and stayed open 24 hours a day. The restaurant was run by Ernie, his son Sam and his family until 1988. Ernie's sister, Mary Worthen, owned the Alamo Cafe located on south Van Buren.
Floyd Harrington and his daughter Pam Jantz took over in 1988 and ran it until 1991 when it was closed for good. His special was his homemade chicken noodles.
In its earlier life, the building had been a drive-in selling ice, drinks and groceries. Mankin turned the cafe into a popular spot for his world famous chicken fried steak and specialty called Ernie’s Manifold Meatloaf. It was also a perfect location for late night travelers that could pop in for breakfast and coffee at the counter. It had the old fashioned spinning stools and was decorated with many prized fish that the family had snagged over the years. Fishing was a big part of the Mankin family.
Ernie and Sam served anyone that entered their door and everyone felt like family. President Richard M. Nixon even slipped into the Wagon Wheel for a bite to eat while on his 1973 stop at Vance, AFB.
Sam later opened Door Step Diner while his son Rob stayed in the restaurant business in Enid for many years.
The original Wagon Wheel sign with the back of the chuck wagon.
Enid's Wagon Wheel restaurant in 1988.
This photo was most likely from the 80s.
Rob Mankin and some of the crew. Gotta love the fish.
An old Wagon Wheel menu.
What if I said I have came a something of the wagon wheels you maybe interested in!!
What is it?
Their gravy and thick cut fries were to die for at 3 am!
My favorite was French fries and gravy! The best at 2am in the early 70s!
My folks have pics of the old Wagon Wheel. If you would lile me to get them and send you copy’s I can.
Yes! Please send to buzz@enidbuzz.com.
My husband, Chuck Patton and I went into the Wagon Wheel to eat when President Nixon was there. We didn’t know he was there until we were seated.
Berta Patton
Enjoyed your article and others that you post.
I was stationed a Vance AFB at that time guarding the fuel for Air Force One. But later ate many of meals there while on EPD.
The Wagon Wheel is older than 1959. My friend in high school was Carole Shelp, and her parents owned and operated it during our high school years. We graduated EHS in 1955.
They had a lot of stars eat there when they came to town to go hunting out by Ringwood
Before it was the Wagon wheel, it was an open air market, w big overhead doors across the front that they rolled up when open. In the back there was a watermelon garden w gravel follr n a trellis over top. Somewhere l have a photo which ran in the News-Eagle of my mom, Virginia Entriken, my brother Dea, sister Sallie n me enjoying it all.
The hunting out by Ringwood was the Grand National Quail Hunt largely at YoLo Ranch, owned by Joe n Margaret Scannell. I remember Lee Majors n Johnny Bench were two of the big names.
I remember the little jukeboxes at the tables and the phones to order your meal.
We went to the Wagon Wheel in the sixties after dancing, and perhaps drinking, at the Town Club back in the days.
What memories!