Volume 9 , Issue 38

Waynoka's Camel History

"This is what I have heard or read (Waynoka's Little Sahara Camels). The camels were a product of the Woods County Chamber of Commerce. Grace Ward Smith of Alva may have had the idea of bringing camels to Little Sahara as a tourist attraction.

I was in high school when the camels arrived. They were penned at the football field before being taken to the dunes. At least one high school boy had a ride on a camel, just for fun and a challenge. I don't know how many camels were brought to Waynoka initially. Through the years, baby camels were born at the dunes. My husband Rex was a veterinarian, and soon after we moved to Waynoka (our hometown), a camel was born, and he was the 'attending physician'. That would have been in about 1966.

The camels were a great attraction. Dale Converse and Ike Ashpaugh are names of men who cared for the camels. Postcards were made. Photos were taken. For several years, a very well-attended Christmas pageant was held at the dunes.

As the popularity of dune buggies increased, the dunes were less and less suitable for the camels, though they were penned near the entrance. The decision was made to remove the camels in the mid-to-late 1970s. I would guess they were sold. I do know that the last camel spent the night at the Waynoka Animal Clinic before being shipped to Arkansas. Our children thought that was very special to have a camel at the clinic.

The Waynoka Historical Society has some nice photographs of the camels, and an original watercolor by Gene Hartsell. Thanks for asking about the camels. People still inquire about them. Some of the funniest stories are about the camels getting out on the highway at night, and drivers doing a double-take, and perhaps feeling a bit self-conscious reporting that they had seen a camel on the highway!" -- Sandie _ Email: sandie.olson@gmail.com
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