Good to Gather – The 2024 Gathering at the Roc
It’s fun to reach a new milestone, especially when that milestone involves logging scenic road miles in a curated group of several hundred rods and customs. That’s what happened in Oklahoma as the Gathering at the Roc celebrated its fifth running, October 11-12, in and around Bartlesville and the beautiful Woolaroc ranch and wildlife preserve nearby.
Launched in 2020 – at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic – the Gathering at the Roc quickly set itself apart from scores of other car shows and hot rod events. Organizers Jason Smith of the Hot Rod Garage and his good friend Brandon McCullough wanted to create a hot rod and custom get-together for like-minded enthusiasts, one geared toward traditionally styled and influenced cars and trucks. They also wanted a kinetic element – some road tripping to go along with the showing and shining.
The show was an immediate success and has attracted a steady and enthusiastic crowd of participants ever since, with many driving from all corners of the country to enjoy a few days of autumn Oklahoma fun. They gather in Bartlesville at the host hotel and many other establishments, often arriving several days in advance. Friday brings the anticipated Reliability Run, which this year went to the quaint and scenic towns of Fairfax and Pawhuska, before returning to Bartlesville for partying at the host hotel.
On Saturday, the caravan headed to Woolaroc, the 3,700-acre ranch and wildlife preserve founded by oilman Frank Phillips of Phillips 66. There, the hot rods and customs mingled amongst exotic wildlife and were shown off in the sunny grounds surrounding a museum of Western art, Native American artifacts, and Colt firearms.
This year’s Gathering proved to be another homerun, with an incredible array of rods and customs from across the country, many noted builders and shops, plus some great historic vehicles. We were fortunate to have the talented Josh Mishler there capturing images of the miles traveled at this milestone event, plus the cool rides gathered during its fifth year.
Photos by Josh Mishler
