![]() Initially intended for family, the whale’s popularity was wide-spread and it quickly became an attraction for the general public to swim, picnic and fish. The whale was completed in 1972 and presented to Davis’ wife Zelta as a 34th-anniversary present. The total cost for the whale that took two years to complete, is estimated to just under $2000. It was constructed from an iron skeleton that took a friend, Harold Thomas, 100 hours to weld and concrete which took Davis nearly 3,000 hours to apply one five-gallon bucket at a time. “Blue” as the blue whale in Catoosa is dubbed by locals, measures 20-feet tall and 80-feet long. These two attractions remain on the property and while you’re welcome to take photos from afar, exploring the ark is forbidden. Davis had built an attraction prior to constructing the whale of Catoosa which served as the Animal Reptile Kingdom or A.R.K. A zoologist and former director at the Tulsa Zoo, Davis was passionate about sharing his love of animals with the community. ![]() The attraction is open from dawn to dusk, but even if you arrive a bit later and find the gate locked, you can still get a glimpse of the Catoosa whale through the fence.Ĭonstruction started on this iconic Route 66 tourist attraction in 1970 by Hugh Davis. Keep your eyes out for the Blue Whale on the left side of the road as some visitors have expressed that it’s easy to pass. The Blue Whale of Catoosa is located east of the small town of Catoosa on Route 66 and about 20 minutes from downtown Tulsa. ![]() The site did not disappoint and now ranks with one of my all-time favorite quirky roadside stops. On a recent solo trip to Tulsa, I finally managed to mark the blue whale on Route 66 off my ever-growing list of must-see roadside attractions. You’ll have to read this post to see how well that stop went. We did stop to see the famous cars embedded in the earth but sadly, that stop didn’t turn out as I expected either. Crazy, huh? But one of my biggest regrets from that trip was that we didn’t squeeze in time to see the Blue Whale of Catoosa – THE roadside attraction that I wanted to see more than any other except Cadillac Ranch. Somehow, we managed to seek out some fun roadside attractions and make it to California in four days. Since family travel is all about compromise, our trip became a strange Route 66/Interstate mix. My children, on the other hand, had a very different goal to reach California in record time. To see as many roadside attractions as I could possibly see in two weeks. The adjacent picnic area has also been restored.When my family set out from our home in Ohio to travel parts of Route 66 on our way to California several years ago, I had one goal in mind. The Blue Whale was restored and repainted to its original brilliant blue. However, after a decade the people of Catoosa and employees of the Hampton Inn launched a fund-raising and volunteer effort to restore the Route 66 landmark. The park soon fell into disrepair, crumbling from neglect and weather. ![]() Chief Wolf-Robe Hunt once ran the Arrowood Trading post across the highway from the Blue Whale attraction.By 1988, the Davises were not able to continue managing the attraction, so they closed it to the public. The attraction also featured Hugh’s brother-in-law, Indian Chief Wolf Robe Hunt, a full blooded Acoma Indian, who was famous, in his own right, for his Indian paintings and as a highly skilled silversmith. Davis continued to add to the roadside attraction until it eventually included The Fun and Swim Blue Whale and the A.R.K. However, as many locals began to come to enjoy its waters, Davis brought in tons of sand, built picnic tables, hired life guards, and opened it to the public. The Blue Whale and its pond became a favored swimming hole for both locals and travelers along Route 66 alike.Originally, the pond surrounding the massive Blue Whale was spring fed and intended only for family use. Hugh Davis built the Blue Whale in the early 1970s as a surprise anniversary gift to his wife Zelta, who collected whale figurines. The Blue Whale of Catoosa is a waterfront structure, located just east of the town of Catoosa, Oklahoma, and it has become one of the most recognizable attractions on old Route 66. This large blue whale has become a Route 66 roadside attraction.
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