Sayre’s Western Motel—and its wonderfully old-school roadside sign—has a starring role this week.
A small Oklahoma City–based film team led by co-directors Wes Davis and William Wymore has been shooting in town the past several days, drawn here by Sayre’s rich 70s/80s vibe and Route 66 authenticity. Their current project is a four-part series; this installment carries the working title “Extended Stay,” tied to a larger project Davis referred to as “Driven by Night.”
Davis said Sayre first hit his radar a couple of years ago during online location scouting. “I was trying to find an authentic Route 66 style motel that’s period accurate with a lot of the original aesthetics and materials from the time,” he said. “What a lot of these motels do is they’ll renovate for tourists… That’s not what it looked like back then.” After months of searching, he landed on the Western Motel—and one detail sealed it. “The sign was what really drew him to it,” a member of the crew explained earlier in the week.
From there, the rest of town fell into place.
“You have a historic downtown area, the stonework in the park, the beautiful swimming pool, the minigolf with the big boy statue and the cowboy boot,” Davis said. “You could shoot anything here… and it would turn out incredible.”
What they’re filming—and where Most of the production has centered on the Western Motel, with additional shots planned at Sayre City Park and nearby landmarks. The team also scouted Crybaby Bridge for a sunset sequence. Around town, folks might have spotted camera carts, cones, and cables in the motel lot or a small crew moving between the park’s stone rotunda, the rodeo arena, and downtown storefronts.
If you waved at them, they noticed.
“If they see us out and about, just… feel free to talk if you want,” one crew member said. “We love to talk about film… and we’re just happy that people are interested and have been so nice and welcoming to us.”
WHY SAYRE WORKS FOR FILM Beyond the look, the filmmakers praised how easy Sayre has been to work in. They offered thanks to motel owners Charlie and family, city staff, and Sayre Police for quick help and friendly coordination. They also tipped their caps to Kay and Ted for making logistics simple, and to the Oklahoma Film & Music Office (“like having an extra producer,” Davis said).
Those little intangibles add up.
“Everything’s so close and there are so many options,” Davis said. “I think Sayre could have a potential film market future.”
The crew’s “extras” list this time is short—this shoot features just three on-camera roles—so no background casting calls were issued. But if they return, they hinted at a different approach. “If we do come out here again… there’s a potential that we could try to get some of the local people in the movies that we shoot,” the crew member said, adding that any future local casting would run through official channels with a public notice.
MEET A FEW OF THE TEAM - Wes Davis – Co-director/writer - William Wymore – Co-director/ writer - James Frederick Spake – Lead actor (“Dave”) - Brett Bower – Supporting actor (motel desk clerk) - Clive Wymore – First AC - James Coplen – Associate producer & sound (also helped with location scouting) - Malia Gross (also known as Malia Eileen) – First Assistant Director (“Without Malia, we would never be on schedule… she does everything and she’s amazing,” the directors said.)
- Lilia Fedorova – Actor (“Diane”) “I feel like [Sayre is] an undiscovered gem,” Davis said. “It’s two hours from Oklahoma City, where there’s a booming film market, and everything’s here.
A SIGN WORTH SAVING If there’s a single symbol tying this whole story together, it’s the Western Motel’s vintage sign. That glowing beacon of Route 66 Americana is the very image that pulled this production off the interstate and into Sayre.
With the Route 66 Centennial arriving in 2026, local leaders and community boosters are exploring a fundraiser to restore the Western Motel sign to period glory—both as a hometown landmark and as a calling card for future film, tourism, and Main Street revitalization. The filmmakers didn’t ask for that; Sayre folks simply recognize a good story—and a good opportunity— when they see one.
WHY IT MATTERS
- Authenticity draws attention. Productions scouting for unrenovated, era-true backdrops notice towns like Sayre.
- A restored sign is a magnet. It signals pride, preserves history, and photographs beautifully— on postcards, on screens, and in memories.
- Centennial timing. With 100 years of Route 66 coming up, the sign is a perfect, visible project for community giving.
HOW YOU CAN HELP (RIGHT NOW)
A formal fundraiser plan is being organized. In the meantime, here are practical ways neighbors and businesses can line up support: - Pledge in-kind services: metalwork, electrical, paint, lift time, sign fabrication, neon or LED restoration.
- Offer materials or matching funds: conduit, hardware, primer, weather-rated coatings, protective clear, or a match challenge to kickstart donations.
- Share your photos and history: old snapshots of the Western Motel and its sign help restorers nail period-correct details.
- Stay tuned: The Beckham County Record will publish donation details and contacts as soon as they’re finalized.
LOOKING AHEAD
No release platform has been announced for this project (“they’re still figuring out the logistics,” the team said), but the crew left the door wide open for a return trip.
“We were thinking about coming out here again in the future… [Wes] really likes this town and was talking about using it again,” a crew member said.
For a production that came looking for the past, Sayre might just be part of their future.
The Western Motel’s sign may soon have another story to tell— one that reaches beyond the screen and into Sayre’s future.
Editor’s note: Watch next week’s paper and our social channels for more on the Western Motel’s iconic sign and how locals hope to see it shine again.
