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This Oklahoma Country Store Grills Giant Longhorn Burgers And Makes A Perfect Fall Road Trip Stop

Daniel Mercer 9 min read
This Oklahoma Country Store Grills Giant Longhorn Burgers And Makes A Perfect Fall Road Trip Stop

The burger here is seven inches across, with a half-pound patty of grass-fed Longhorn beef raised in the same county. Your hands will need a game plan before the first bite.

The building is the last one standing from a 1901 gold rush town. In 1985, a seismograph went in to track a nearby fault line, so lunch comes with its own earthquake monitor.

Old license plates and faded newspaper clippings cover the walls, and water arrives in a giant Mason jar. Even the glassware here refuses to be ordinary.

This corner of Oklahoma sits in the foothills of the Wichita Mountains, where fall colors line the drive.

The gold miners went home empty-handed, but you definitely won’t.

The Burger That Needs Its Own Zip Code

The Burger That Needs Its Own Zip Code
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Seven inches wide is a big number for a burger. Meers Store and Restaurant builds its famous Meersburger around a half-pound patty that stretches about that far across the plate.

The beef is the real headline here. It comes from lean, grass-fed Longhorn cattle raised locally in Comanche County, Oklahoma.

Longhorns are the cattle with those famously wide horns you see on old Western posters. Their beef tends to be leaner than many common breeds, so it has a reputation all its own.

Size matters when you plan your order. One Meersburger can easily feel like enough lunch for a hungry person, and sharing is a smart move.

The Food Network once named this spot the best hamburger joint in Oklahoma. It also called it one of the best in the whole country, which is a lot of praise for a building in the hills.

A good tip is to decide on sides before you sit down and stare. The menu offers plenty, and your stomach only has so much room left after that patty.

Burger fans should put this one near the top of the list. Bring a friend, a fork, and patience.

Not A Burger Person? Barbecue Has You Covered

Not A Burger Person? Barbecue Has You Covered
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Plenty of folks show up for the burgers. Barbecue fans have their own reasons to make the trip, too.

Meers Store and Restaurant serves ribs, brisket, sausage, chopped beef, and chicken. That covers a lot of smoky ground for one small country kitchen.

This is handy news for groups with mixed tastes. Somebody always wants something different, and now nobody has to argue in the car.

The sides fit barbecue like a good pair of boots. Potato salad, coleslaw, and charro beans all sit on the menu.

Charro beans are a Texas and Oklahoma favorite cooked in a savory broth. They pair nicely with brisket and add a little warmth on a cool fall day.

A smart move is ordering one burger and one barbecue plate for the table. You get to taste both sides of what this kitchen does.

Chicken is a good pick for younger eaters or lighter appetites. It still feels like a hearty meal without the giant patty.

No matter what you choose, the setting adds flavor. Eating barbecue inside a historic building dating to the early 1900s just feels right somehow.

Brave Eaters Can Tackle A Full Pound Of Beef

Brave Eaters Can Tackle A Full Pound Of Beef
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Now for the heavyweight champion of the menu. The Seismic Burger starts with a full pound of that same local Longhorn beef.

Then the toppings pile on like they have something to prove. Jalapeno peppers, bacon, cheese, sweet relish, mustard, dill pickles, tomatoes, purple onions, and leaf lettuce all join the party.

The name is a clever wink at local science. The Meers Fault runs through this area, and the burger borrows its shaky reputation.

That makes this the perfect order for anyone who likes a challenge. It also makes it a great photo for the group chat before the first bite.

Be honest with yourself before ordering, though. A pound of beef plus all those toppings is serious business, even for big appetites.

Splitting it between two people is a practical plan. You both get bragging rights, and nobody has to unbutton anything in public.

Spice lovers will enjoy the jalapeno kick against the sweet relish. Those flavors bounce around in a fun way.

Whatever you decide, save a little space. Dessert at this place deserves your full attention, and a pound of burger makes that tricky.

Save Room, Because The Cobbler Steals The Show

Save Room, Because The Cobbler Steals The Show
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Warm fruit, golden crust, and cold ice cream melting on top. That is the dessert people talk about long after the burger is gone.

Meers Store and Restaurant is well known for its homemade cobbler. Peach and cherry are the classic flavors, and each comes with homemade ice cream.

The portions are generous, so sharing is never a bad idea. A bowl split between two forks still feels like a treat.

Fall is an especially good time for this dessert. A cool day in the Wichita Mountains makes a warm cobbler feel like a cozy blanket.

Timing matters if you have your heart set on one flavor. Popular desserts can sell out later in the day, so arriving earlier gives you better odds.

Some folks plan their whole meal backward from dessert. That is a wise plan, especially after seeing the burger sizes.

Consider ordering a smaller main dish if cobbler is your goal. Your future self will thank you around the last bite.

In a place famous for giant burgers, it says a lot that dessert holds its own. That cobbler is the sweet ending this drive deserves.

Gold Rush Dreams Built This Little Building

Gold Rush Dreams Built This Little Building
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Back in 1901, prospectors rushed into these hills hoping to strike gold. The town they built was named after mine operator Andrew J. Meers.

The gold boom faded, and so did most of the town. Today, this restaurant building is the only structure left from that original boomtown.

That building has lived many lives over the years. It served as a drugstore, a doctor’s office, a newspaper office, and a general store.

It was also the local post office from 1902 until 1989. That is almost nine decades of mail passing through one small room.

The site is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Meers Mining Camp. Much of the original decor from 1901 still remains.

Kids who think history is boring may change their minds here. It is hard to yawn when you are eating lunch inside a real gold rush relic.

Take a moment to look around before your food arrives. Every corner holds a piece of Oklahoma history worth noticing.

Not bad for a town that never actually got rich. The real treasure turned out to be the burgers.

The Walls Talk, And They Have Stories

The Walls Talk, And They Have Stories
© Meers Store and Restaurant

License plates, business cards, newspaper clippings, and old photos cover the walls. Nearly every surface has something to read or spot.

The look is rustic and down-home in the best way. Nothing here feels shiny or new, and that is exactly the point.

Water arrives in large Mason jars, which fits the country mood perfectly. It is a small touch that makes the meal feel homey.

Here is a fun game while you wait for food. Try finding a license plate from your home state or the farthest place on the wall.

Young travelers especially love this kind of scavenger hunt. It keeps restless kids busy and makes the wait fly by.

Fun fact for science fans. In 1985, the Oklahoma Geological Survey installed a seismograph inside the store to watch for earthquakes along the Meers Fault.

So yes, this is probably the only burger joint you will visit with earthquake history. That is a great story to share at the next family dinner.

Take your time soaking in the details. The decor is half the reason this stop feels so memorable.

A Little Planning Makes Your Visit Way Smoother

A Little Planning Makes Your Visit Way Smoother
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Mark Thursday through Sunday on your calendar. Meers Store and Restaurant closes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so a midweek drive will end in disappointment.

Published business hours differ between sources, so check the restaurant’s current closing time before traveling.

Sunday closing times should also be confirmed before visiting, since published business hours may differ.

That means this is a lunch spot, not a dinner stop. Plan your day so you arrive with time to spare.

Reservations are not accepted here. Showing up close to opening time is a smart way to beat a crowd on busy weekends.

Cash is the payment method, so stop by an ATM before the drive. Having bills in your pocket keeps things simple at the end of the meal.

You will find the restaurant at 26005 OK-115, Lawton, OK 73507. It sits in the tiny community of Meers in Comanche County, Oklahoma.

Cell service can be spotty out in these hills. Download directions ahead of time so your map does not vanish halfway there.

Outdoor seating is available too. On a crisp fall afternoon, eating outside sounds like a pretty great bonus.

Turn Lunch Into A Full Fall Mountain Adventure

Turn Lunch Into A Full Fall Mountain Adventure
© Meers Store and Restaurant

Granite peaks, open prairie, and wandering wildlife sit just down the road. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a close neighbor to this famous burger stop.

That makes Meers Store and Restaurant a natural part of a bigger day trip. Many travelers stop here before or after exploring the refuge.

Fall is a wonderful season for this kind of outing. Cooler air makes hiking more comfortable than the hot Oklahoma summer.

One easy plan is to hike or sightsee in the morning. Then reward yourself with a giant burger and cobbler for lunch.

The refuge is home to bison, Longhorn cattle, and prairie dogs. Spotting a Longhorn after eating Longhorn beef makes for a funny full-circle moment.

Pack layers, water, and snacks for the trails. Fall weather can change quickly in the mountains, so it pays to be ready.

Families will find something for everyone in this area. Kids get wildlife and wide-open spaces, while grown-ups get scenery and good food.

By the time you head home, the car will be quiet and full. That is the sign of a road trip done right.