Unearth The Voyage
There is a small roadside bakery in southern Oklahoma that has people pulling off the highway without a second thought, and once you smell what is coming out of that kitchen, you will understand exactly why. The golden, hand-crimped fried pies here have been drawing devoted fans for decades, and the lineup of flavors runs from classic fruit to creamy custard to hearty savory options that could easily pass as a full meal.
With over 4,300 five-star reviews and a reputation that stretches far beyond state lines, this little pie shop punches well above its weight. Keep reading, because this place is absolutely worth your detour.
The Story Behind the Shop: A Family Recipe That Became a Legend
Back in 1954, E.W. and Maude Pletcher started something special just south of the Arbuckle Mountains in Davis, Oklahoma. What began as a humble family recipe quickly turned into one of the most talked-about roadside stops in the entire state.
Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies sits at 4145 US-77, Davis, OK 73030, right off Interstate 35, making it an easy and very rewarding exit for anyone passing through. The shop has kept that original spirit alive through every generation, staying true to the handmade process that made it famous in the first place.
The founders believed that good food did not need to be complicated, just honest, fresh, and made with care. That philosophy has never changed.
Today, the shop still makes its own dough, its own fillings, and every single pie from scratch each day. Decades of loyal customers and a 4.7-star rating across thousands of reviews prove that the Pletcher family was onto something truly worth preserving.
The Setting: A Charming Corner of Oklahoma You Will Not Want to Rush Past
There is something quietly beautiful about the spot where this bakery sits. Large, mature oak trees shade the property, and scattered picnic tables underneath them give the whole place a relaxed, unhurried feel that is rare for a highway stop.
The scenery around Davis, Oklahoma is genuinely lovely, with rolling hills and green countryside framing the view in every direction. Sitting outside with a warm pie in hand while a breeze moves through those big oak trees feels like a reward in itself, not just a pit stop.
The outdoor seating area has a casual, community feel to it. Families spread out at the tables, road-trippers stretch their legs, and everyone seems to be in a noticeably good mood.
That kind of easy, shared happiness is hard to manufacture, but this place seems to produce it naturally. The clean, well-kept grounds and peaceful atmosphere make it clear that the people running this shop take pride in every detail, right down to the last shaded picnic bench.
The Dough: Why That Crust Is the Real Star of the Show
Ask anyone who has visited Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies what surprised them most, and a good number will tell you it was the crust. Not the filling, not the variety, but the crust itself.
The dough is made fresh every single day on-site, and you can actually watch the process from the counter. The kitchen is open to view, so you get a front-row seat to the whole operation, from rolling and filling to crimping and frying.
That transparency is part of what makes the experience feel so trustworthy and satisfying.
The finished crust is light and tender, not dense or greasy, with a golden color and a gentle crisp that gives way to a soft, almost pillowy interior. It is the kind of pastry that holds together beautifully in your hand while still feeling delicate enough to remind you that someone made it with real skill.
The dough alone is reason enough to stop, and that is a sentence not many roadside shops can honestly claim.
Sweet Flavors That Keep People Coming Back Again and Again
The sweet pie lineup at Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies reads like a greatest hits collection of classic American flavors. Cherry, blueberry, apple, strawberry, peach, coconut cream, lemon, vanilla, pecan, and German chocolate are just a few of the options waiting for you behind that counter.
The coconut cream pie has earned a particularly devoted following. People describe it with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for life-changing experiences, and the pecan pie is consistently mentioned as a top pick among first-timers and regulars alike.
The peach version has drawn its own crowd of admirers, with its warm, fruity filling sitting perfectly inside that tender crust.
With 22 different flavors on offer at any given time, narrowing it down to just one is genuinely difficult. The shop even makes seasonal varieties, so there is always a reason to come back and try something new.
Getting a full box to share, or to keep entirely to yourself, is a decision that requires zero regret and zero apology.
Savory Pies: The Underrated Half of the Menu That Deserves More Attention
Most people pull up expecting to grab a fruit pie and move on, but the savory side of the menu has a way of completely changing plans. The broccoli and chicken pie, loaded with creamy cheese sauce, is the kind of thing that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about fried pies.
The Tex-Mex option brings a bold, spiced filling that feels right at home in Oklahoma, while the sausage, egg, and cheese pie is a breakfast-style choice that arrives hot, filling, and deeply satisfying. At around six dollars with tax, the savory pies offer serious value for the size and quality you get.
One practical tip worth knowing: keep the pie in its sleeve while it is still hot, because the tender crust can soften quickly once the heat starts to escape. The savory pies are made to order and typically take around seven to eight minutes, which is a small wait that pays off in a big way.
This half of the menu is too good to skip.
No Sugar Added Options: Thoughtful Choices for Every Kind of Visitor
One of the more thoughtful things about this shop is that it has not forgotten visitors who need to watch their sugar intake. The no-sugar-added pie selection covers several of the fruit flavors, and the quality holds up remarkably well without the sweetness.
The NSA crusts carry the same handmade texture and golden color as the regular versions, and the fruit fillings still taste bright and satisfying. For anyone managing dietary needs without wanting to feel left out of a roadside pie experience, this is a genuinely appreciated detail.
The shop also stocks the NSA pies in a cooler for those who want to take extras home, though some visitors have noted that the freshly made warm versions feel like the better deal at that price point. Either way, the fact that these options exist at all says something good about how this place thinks about its customers.
Not every beloved small-town bakery makes the effort, and Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies deserves credit for making sure more people can enjoy the experience.
The Open Kitchen: Watching the Magic Happen Right Before Your Eyes
There is a particular kind of satisfaction that comes from watching your food being made right in front of you, and this shop delivers that experience fully. The kitchen sits open and visible behind the cashier, giving every customer an unobstructed view of the entire pie-making process.
The team works in an assembly-line rhythm that is genuinely impressive to watch. Dough gets rolled, fillings get spooned in, edges get crimped by hand, and then the pies go straight into the fryer.
The whole operation moves with a practiced efficiency that makes the wait feel less like waiting and more like entertainment.
Fresh fruit pies are usually ready immediately, while savory pies made to order take about seven minutes from the moment you place your request. That short window gives you just enough time to grab a fountain drink from the self-serve station, find a seat, and get settled before your order arrives warm and ready.
Watching skilled hands build something delicious from scratch adds a layer of appreciation to every single bite.
A Classic Route 66 and Highway 35 Road Trip Stop Worth Planning Around
Road trips through Oklahoma have a natural rhythm to them, and this bakery fits right into that rhythm like it was always meant to be there. Sitting just off Interstate 35 near Davis, the shop is easy to reach and even easier to justify as a planned stop rather than a spontaneous one.
The location also puts it close to Turner Falls and Arbuckle Wilderness, two popular Oklahoma destinations that draw their own crowds year-round. Combining a hike at Turner Falls with a post-trail pie at Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies has become a well-worn local tradition for good reason.
Classic Route 66 travelers passing through the region have adopted this spot as one of their must-visit checkpoints, and it holds up to that reputation without any trouble. The combination of easy highway access, a full parking area, clean restrooms, and genuinely outstanding food makes it the kind of stop that earns a permanent spot on any road tripper’s list.
Once you go, the next time you pass that exit, skipping it will simply not feel like an option.
Prices and Value: Getting a Lot for a Little at This Beloved Bakery
For a place with this level of quality and reputation, the prices at Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies are refreshingly reasonable. Most individual pies land in the five to six dollar range with tax, and the portions are generous enough that sharing one is a perfectly valid strategy.
The shop also offers a bundle box option, reportedly around twenty dollars for a set of eight pies, which makes it easy to stock up for the rest of a road trip or bring a crowd-pleasing treat back home. Frozen pies are available too, so you can take a little piece of Davis, Oklahoma back to your own kitchen without too much trouble.
The value here goes beyond just the price tag. The fact that everything is made from scratch daily, with fresh dough and house-made fillings, puts this shop in a category that most fast-food competitors cannot touch at twice the cost.
Souvenir cups are also available for those who want a small memento, and the self-serve coffee and cappuccino station adds another layer of convenience to an already well-rounded stop.
The Atmosphere Inside: Casual, Clean, and Genuinely Welcoming
The inside of this shop has a no-fuss, comfortable feel that suits the food perfectly. Clean tables, easy-to-read menu boards, and a counter where you can watch your order come together all contribute to an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and organized.
The seating area stays tidy even during busy periods, which is worth noting for a shop that draws serious foot traffic throughout the day. Restrooms are clean and accessible, a small detail that matters more than people admit when you are mid-road trip with kids or a long drive still ahead.
The staff moves quickly and efficiently during rush periods, keeping the line moving at a pace that respects your time even when the place is packed. Most visitors report a wait of around twenty to thirty minutes during peak hours, which is entirely manageable given what you get at the end of it.
The energy inside feels upbeat and purposeful, the kind of place where the people behind the counter clearly know they are making something people genuinely love, and that pride shows in every interaction.
Hours, Contact Info, and Everything You Need to Plan Your Visit
Planning a stop here is straightforward, and the shop makes it easy to fit into almost any schedule. Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies is open seven days a week, from 7 AM to 7 PM, which gives morning travelers, afternoon cruisers, and early evening road-trippers all a fair shot at fresh pie.
The address is 4145 US-77, Davis, OK 73030, right off Interstate 35 at the Turner Falls exit. The phone number is (580) 369-7830 if you want to call ahead, and the website at arbucklemountainfriedpies.com has more information about current flavors and offerings.
Arriving earlier in the day tends to mean shorter lines and the full flavor selection still available. Weekends draw larger crowds, especially during summer and fall when Turner Falls and nearby attractions bring extra visitors to the area.
Bringing cash is always a good idea, though the shop also accepts standard payment methods. A little planning goes a long way when the destination is this worth it.
