Our History
DeWayne and Kathrena Franks stumbled into the truck stop business when Arkansas designated Highway 22A as the truck route around Fort Smith, and trucks began stopping by their service station asking for diesel. That was in 1954. They had a diner that offered and "all-you-can-eat" catfish special for $1.00. They had bunk rooms for drivers (motels were not plentiful and were considered too expensive), and community showers. Their first diesel sales were at $0.189. They were the Western Union when the downtown office closed and served as Western Union's first experimental office in truck stops. After twelve years, I-40 was built to the north, out of Fort Smith's reach. Since the Franks knew this two years in advance, they had time to look for a site with an interstate already in place.
A location with the unlikely name of Big Cabin, Oklahoma, at the US 69 exit of I-44, proved to be such a place and they opened the Cherokee Truck Terminal in September, 1966. The diner turned into a full service restaurant, the bunk rooms disappeared, the old Western Union typewriter and Telex machines became computer transfers, and the showers became private. The Cherokee Truck Terminal was later named Big Cabin Travel Plaza.
The Franks' three daughters, Lisa, Gina, and Tara, all worked at the truck stop very early on and learned a solid work ethic from their parents. All three are currently engaged in successful businesses of their own.
The Franks have intimate knowledge of just how hard over-the-road trucking is. They operated a long distance truck company, Franks & Son, Inc., from 1974 to 2002. The Big Cabin Service Center is housed in the former Franks & Son building.
The Franks businesses have survived since 1954 by hard work and determination. They combine the latest in technology with old-fashioned service, courtesy and a caring attitude that has carried them this far. They have acres of parking for those long layovers, a restaurant with ample food and fair prices. They have a movie/tv room, washers & dryers, a deli, convenience store, showers, CAT® scales, Indian smoke shop, repair shop, and a 46 ft. Indian Chief to guide you in. Next time you are in Big Cabin stop by. You'll be glad you did.