showman's rest and bull rider's reprieve

It sounds funny to recommend A Cemetery to someone to visit but I have to admit, this is very unique. Showman's Rest is an area where former Carney's are laid to rest with the most fascinating gravestones I have seen - and all dedicated to these wonderful circus performers and workers. From the Big Top to the Tall Man - this is an opportunity to see the final resting place of the individuals behind the scenes of our small circuses, many which winter in Hugo, OK. And although I have never seen "8 Seconds" about the Bull Rider Lane Frost, his grave beside his friend and mentor Freckles Brown. This gravestone is a lovely testament to Lane, his love for his bull riding and his wife's love for him.

A nice little section of the cemetery. No sign with historical info, alas, but you get the gist from the gravestones themselves. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

My husband and I visited the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma. We quickly located the Showman's Rest section provided for numerous circus performers who resided in Hugo during their off season. This was a treasure found! We enjoyed looking at the beautiful personalized monuments. We felt like we actually knew these entertainers by the sentiments left on their graves - some serious and some comical. A circus was just a circus before we stopped here. After our walk through the cemetery, the circus will never be the same! This is definitely worth a stop in Hugo!

Our local Lions Club hosts a circus every year that is based out of Hugo, and we'd heard that it was a circus city. Someone told us to be sure to stop by the cemetery, so on a recent trip we did just that. "Showman's Rest" is amazing - there are many beautiful tombstones honoring the performers who have passed on to that bigtop in the sky. They were incredible, inspiring memorials. A must-see in Hugo.

This is the second time we've visited the Mt. Olivet Cemetery since we've been coming to the Oklahoma and Texas area. I fell in love with Lane Frost and Bull Riding in the 80's when I was young. If you've ever seen the movie "8 Seconds", about the life of Lane Frost and his last ride on the unconquerable, Red Rock, you'll want to visit his final resting place. Freckles Brown is also buried in the next row over. This time is the first time I've noticed that other visitors have brought and left little tokens, like loose change, statues left on Lane's grave. Interesting, for sure!We didn't get a chance to visit the circus performer corner of the cemetery this time around! I'd definitely recommend that anyone visiting the Hugo area pay this cemetery a visit. It's like a trip back in time or better yet, a History lesson! The tomb stones tell so much about the performers and the people working the circus circuit. Many markers are in the shape of circus animals and many have pictures.

I wouldn't drive too far out of my way but it is definitely worth seeing if you are in the area. It is a small part of a larger cemetery It only takes about 30 minutes to read every headstone. But the headstones are unique and give a tiny glimpse of circus life (and death)!

This small corner of Mt Olivet Cemetery is dedicated to circus performers. I found it both beautiful and interesting. I loved walking amongst the graves and seeing the headstones of performers. This is quite unique and well worth seeing.

This is a striking site--in the middle of piney, staid Mt. Olivet Cemetery you find this burial area devoted to circus people. Here is where you see how they wish to be viewed by the world and by one another, as they rest together. Take time to walk the rows and examine the idiosyncratic grave markers. Any one that interests you, it's pretty easy to find information about circus people online, as performers and fans do a lot of networking.

This is actually a very nice cemetery on the outskirts of Hugo. The showman's rest is an amazing area which has vey different headstones with elephants, trapeze artists etc. It was both interesting and touching.

I wouldn't drive 200 miles to see it but if you are here anyway it is worth a look. Very easy to find. Interesting monuments at Showman's Rest. Any rodeo fan will be intersetd in the final resting place of Lane Frost and Freckles Brown. Snap a few pictures and pay your respects to those that have collectively entertained millions.

There is not much to do in Hugo. I am not a Circus fan so the cemetery was not interesting to me. My husband and I did enjoy a day at Hugo State park and Raymond Gary state park in the area. Both parks are free and pretty.

I visited this very unique place on a beautiful, early spring day. Hugo is known as Circus Town USA because two circuses winter here. This cemetery contains a very special part called Showman's Rest where circus folk are laid to rest. Their tombstones reflect their profession, some shaped like circus tents, others with touching inscriptions. I have never seen anything like it. It also hosts many rodeo and bull riding champions, even the original Marlboro Man is buried here. I truly enjoyed it.

Neat monuments of famous circus performers also the resting place for Lane Frost (bull rider) and Freckles Brown. Any circus or rodeo buff would really enjoy a quick trip to see.