Waynoka had its beginnings in 1887 when the Santa Fe Railroad built a rail line across the Cherokee Outlet in Northwest Oklahoma. In 1907, Waynoka was named a Division Point by the railroad. Vast rail yards were built: a 16-bay roundhouse, ice plant capable of producing 241 tons of ice daily, switch yards and more. For passengers, a Santa Fe county-seat style passenger station and a Fred Harvey eating house were built.

     The rail yards were closed with the end of the steam era and the arrival of diesel power. The Santa Fe Depot and adjacent Harvey House have been beautifully restored and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

     Today, the railroad is the BNSF Southern Transcon, one of the busiest in the world with dozens of freight trains daily. Trains magazine lists Waynoka as one of the 5 Best Places in Oklahoma for train watching.

     USA Today listed the Waynoka Harvey House as one of the 10 Best Harvey Houses to Visit in 2010. A gift shop and the Waynoka Air-Rail Museum are housed in the original Harvey House.

     Fred Harvey built the first restaurant chain (in fact, the first chain anything) when he built eating houses along the Santa Fe Railroad beginning in 1876. Waynoka’s Harvey House closed in 1937.