Red Oak II was actually the idea of artist Lowell Davis who grew up in the “real” village of Red Oak, Missouri, which is located about 18 miles northwest of the “new” Red Oak II.
After Davis had left the town for several years, he returned in the 1970’s to find his hometown had become a ghost town.

In 1987, Davis was living on a farm near Carthage.
His creativity led him to the idea to turn his acreage into a tribute to his hometown Red Oak, and so Red Oak II was born.

He began to buy homes and businesses from the original townsite and other rural ghost towns. He moved them to the new site and restored them to their original.

Today the town is privately owned, but visitors are very welcome.