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Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger

Name: Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger
Address: 915 N Main St, Miami, OK, 74354, US

Diner
In Miami, Oklahoma
On Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger is a 1960s burger drive-in in Miami, OK, on North Main Street, the old Route 66 through town. It opened in the mid-1960s as part of the Ku-Ku chain, which had about 200 drive-ins across the Midwest, and it is the last one still operating. Gene Waylan bought it in 1973 and still works the grill. In July 2026 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

What is Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger?

A small drive-in in the Googie style, the attention-grabbing roadside look of its era: a swooping roofline, bold colors and neon to make passing drivers pull in. The name comes from the chain's cuckoo-clock theme, and the building carries a cuckoo bird. A tall green neon sign with its own cuckoo reads "Waylan's Hamburgers the Ku Ku".

History of Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger

The Ku-Ku chain reached about 200 locations across the Midwest in the mid-1960s, and the Miami stand opened as one of its franchises then (sources say 1965 or 1966). The original design had a roof bird that chimed the hours. Eugene "Gene" Waylan bought the restaurant in 1973, and a drive-through followed in 1977. In July 2026 it was added to the National Register as a piece of Route 66's roadside business history.

Visiting Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger: tips

It stands on North Main Street, the old Route 66 through Miami, so there is no detour. Plan on a meal stop, or at least pull over for a picture: the tall green neon sign with the cuckoo bird makes the obvious photo.

Updated October 14, 2026 · Written by Route 66 Trip Guide