TULSA, Okla. –

Tulsa made history Saturday along Route 66 — but for some registered participants, the day ended in frustration rather than celebration.

Twin sisters Brooke and Bridget Butler grew up loving the Mother Road through their grandparents. So when today’s centennial Capital Cruise came around, it wasn’t just an event to them — it was personal. They say they were gifted entry passes, loaded up their kids, and headed out this morning ready to be part of something historic.

What they found instead was miles of backed-up traffic near 21st and Yale. By the time they reached Expo Square around 11 AM, the gate had already been closed. They say they were told to turn around and leave — with no explanation given.

“It’s very anti-climactic. Everyone came out to celebrate such a huge centennial moment and it just kind of feels like it was not very planned.”

Brooke & Bridget Butler // registered participants who were turned away

What organizers say

In a statement to News on 6, organizer Jonathan Huskey said the window for drivers to arrive at Expo Square and stage for the parade was between 6 and 10 AM.

By around 11 AM, Huskey said the flow of cars arriving had slowed to the point that continuing to let them onto the route would have created large gaps — and jeopardized the Guinness World Record attempt. At that point, organizers made the call to cap the entrants and place the final car at the end of the parade.

Huskey said everyone who registered is still considered a full participant and world record holder, adding that organizers are “incredibly appreciative of each and every driver who took part in this unprecedented event.”

As for registration fees paid by drivers who never made it on the route, organizers say they need to review all parade data before making any decisions on refunds

A record set, questions remaining

More than 3,500 classic cars did cross the finish line Saturday, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest car cruise in history — breaking the previous record of 2,491 vehicles set in Puerto Rico in 2017.

But for families like the Butlers, who came out to honor a personal connection to the road, the day’s headlines aren’t the full picture of what happened along Route 66.