Whirlwind Weekend - Plan a trip to the Twister Movie Museum - MetroFamily Magazine
MetroFamily Magazine

Where OKC parents find fun & resources

Whirlwind Weekend – Plan a trip to the Twister Movie Museum

by Lindsay Cuomo, photos by Ian Cuomo

Reading Time: 5 minutes 

The town of Wakita, Okla. found cinematic glory as the backdrop of the iconic 1996 film Twister. Still today, visitors can step into the vortex of Hollywood’s impact on this small community at the Twister Movie Museum.

From disaster to Hollywood

Oklahoma is well known for its prominent place in Tornado Alley. Cities and small towns across the Sooner state have their own harrowing tales of when the forces of nature have carved destructive paths in their wake, as well as the strength and resilience of our people that often follow.

Those powerful themes are captured in the 1996 American cult classic film Twister.

Arguably the most popular weather-related movie of all time, Twister changed the landscape of storm chasing, inspiring many to pursue storm science as a hobby and even a profession.

“The number of storm chasers boomed after the release of the film,” confirmed Richard Gross, current owner of the Twister Movie Museum.

The film also came to the rescue of the small town of Wakita, Okla.

“A storm with an F3 tornado passed just south of town in 1993,” said Gross. “A hail core with grapefruit-sized hail hit the main part of town.”

Many homes and businesses sustained significant damage.

“Those who didn’t have insurance couldn’t rebuild,” said Linda Wade, one of the founders and the previous owner of the museum. “After a few years, several buildings were [deemed] derelict and needed to be torn down.”

The town of Wakita put in a grant request to the state of Oklahoma in hopes of receiving funding to remove the dangerous, unstable structures. Meanwhile, a film crew was scouting locations to recreate the destructive aftermath large tornadoes leave behind. The crew had their sights set on Guthrie but were, understandably, unable to convince city leaders to allow them to destroy buildings.

When filmmakers expanded their search, Wakita’s unique situation elevated the town to the top of the list, solidifying Wakita into cinematic history as the primary filming location for the blockbuster movie.

Journey through cinematic history

Twenty-eight years later, the Twister Movie Museum, housed in the same building as the movie’s location office, pays homage to the film with an array of artifacts and memorabilia. You can see the original Dorothy I used in the film, which is still operational, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, debris used in the film and items signed by actor Bill Paxton. The townspeople, many of whom were extras in the movie, have meticulously captured the essence of the town’s role in the film.

During my family’s visit, my kids particularly enjoyed flipping through the scrapbooks filled with snapshots of the filming process, watching the home video footage and hearing Wade recount tales of what it was like to see Hollywood magic in action, as well as the town’s ongoing connections to the actors through present day. The authenticity of the artifacts on display represents the profound impact the film had on area residents and the town itself.

Visitors can also step inside a Suck Zone Simulator to experience what winds up to 80 miles per hour feel like.

At the entrance, check out the two maps that track where museum guests have journeyed from, showcasing the film’s popularity across the world. Just this year they had a visitor from Antarctica!

While most of the structures seen in the film were destroyed as part of the storytelling process, you can stand on the same sites as the movie actors and producer Steven Spielberg once did. After your museum visit, you can find six posts around town that pinpoint where famous scenes were filmed.

The Twister Movie Museum is free to explore. The gift shop offers unique souvenirs from t-shirts, magnets and keychains to Dorothy sensor replicas, pet tornadoes and cuddly stuffed cows.

The museum is located about two hours north of Oklahoma City and is open during the winter months by reservation only. From April 1 through Aug. 31, the museum opens Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Plan your visit at twistermuseumstore.com.

Make it a weekend

The short trip to Wakita is filled with picturesque views of rural Oklahoma. Rolling hills and expansive farmlands are as much a part of the Twister experience as the museum itself, setting the scene in anticipation.

Enid is roughly 40 minutes south of Wakita, making it a nice lunch stop. While stretching your legs, visit the new Oklahoma Military Museum in the Oakwood Mall, which houses a collection of artifacts, including numerous aircraft, vehicles, uniforms and more from World War I to Vietnam.

Explore more history of the area at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, which recounts the settlement of the area and the culture and society that developed. Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, also in Enid, is home to the world’s largest community-built outdoor playground, plus engaging hands-on exhibits that explore art and science, making it a great stop to get the wiggles out during the road trip.

Ponca City is an hour east of Wakita and is home to the Conoco Museum, Pioneer Woman Museum and E.W. Marland Mansion and Estate. Tour the restored 1920s Marland Mansion, which belonged to the oil tycoon and Oklahoma’s 10th governor. Then venture to Marland’s first Ponca City mansion, the Grand Home, to see a variety of exhibits featuring Native art and historical artifacts.

Did you know?

The name “Wakita” almost didn’t make the film. The original plan was to repaint the water tower to depict the town as Guthrie. But a hefty price tag for that paint job clinched Wakita’s red-carpet moment. Visitors can pose on Main Street with an Instagram-worthy view of the water tower in the background.

Catch the Twister sequel in 2024!

Twisters, the upcoming sequel starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, is expected to hit theaters this year. Several Oklahoma cities will once again be featured in the film, including Oklahoma City, Chickasha, Okarche, El Reno, Spencer and Cashion.

Born and raised in the Oklahoma City metro and a graduate of the Gaylord College of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma, Lindsay Cuomo has worked for MetroFamily since 2014 covering local stories, people and events. Lindsay is a mom to three school-aged boys and calls Moore, Oklahoma home.

more stories