ATTRACTIONS • SHOPPING • DINING • EVENTS • FESTIVALS Jenks SHARK-TASTIC FUN Explore the Ocean, Downtown and More A publication of The Jenks Chamber of Commerce 2019-2020 300 Aquarium Dr. Jenks, OK 74037 • (918) 296-FISH • OKAquarium.org Enjoy unlimited admission all year long when you purchase an Oklahoma Aquarium membership. We are an all-indoor facility with a new outdoor playground, so a membership is a great value ! • Unlimited general admission for one year from the purchase date • Discounts on special events, including ZZZ’s in the Seas and HallowMarine • Savings on admission for additional guests, $2 off for up to four people per visit • Discounts on purchases in the Oklahoma Aquarium Gift Shop Jenks Chamber On behalf of the Jenks business community, we thank you for your interest in Jenks. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Jenks, a resident or a potential resident, we know you’ll fall in love with Jenks the same way we all have. In our community, you’ll find top-notch restaurants, unique retail, quality businesses, a beautiful riverfront, and the world’s largest collection of bull sharks. That’s right, the Oklahoma Aquarium, located here in Jenks, has the largest collection of bull sharks in the world along with loggerhead sea turtles and hundreds of aquatic plants and fish and – soon – a state-of-the-art octopus exhibit. Ask anyone in Jenks and they’ll agree this is a wonderful place to live and to do business. Ask our visitors and they’ll tell you about our walkable downtown, RiverWalk, the Oklahoma Aquarium and great football. If you’re looking to move to Jenks, know that Jenks Public Schools is the best district in the state and the educational opportunities for students here are unparalleled. If you want to know more about Jenks, visit us at jenkschamber.com, call us at 918.299.5005, or visit us on Facebook. As always, feel free to stop by the Chamber, located inside the Hive at 115 S. First St. Greetings from All the best, Jenks Oklahoma Josh Driskell, IOM President Jenks Chamber of Commerce You couldn’t have picked a better time to join us. As the fastest growing community in the state, Jenks is truly a city on the move. I was in your shoes just a few years ago, when my wife and I moved to Jenks to ensure that our daughter-to-be would be in the state’s best school district. We immediately felt at home, and I hope that will be your experience as well. If you haven’t already, be sure to spend some time exploring the Oklahoma Aquarium, our historic Downtown, the Riverwalk, our parks, and our many festivals. You’ll be amazed by all that Jenks has to offer. We strive to make City Hall as accessible as possible, so if you have any questions or ideas for how to improve our community, please feel free to contact our city staff, council members, or myself. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for choosing Jenks as your new home, and for all you will do to contribute Welcome to our further progress. to Jenks! Robert Lee Mayor, City of Jenks 4 Discover Jenks ARCHITECTURE GSHELMS & ASSOCIATES, LLC 424 E. MAIN ST. JENKS, OK 918.298.7257 GSHELMS.COM Jenks History It began in 1905 The city of Jenks was founded in 1905, beginning as a premier waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment rural railroad settlement. destination. Just across the bridge sits River Spirit Resort Jenks was established by an agreement between the and Casino. River Spirit boasts one of the largest gaming Midland Valley Railroad and Midland Valley Townsite floors in Oklahoma and is home to Jimmy Buffet’s Company and was named for railroad official Elmer E. Margaritaville casino and restaurant. Jenks. The area population exploded in 1906 with the discovery of the Glenn Pool oil field. Finally, the community is home to the Oklahoma As the oil boom took hold, the expensive oil tanks and Aquarium, which boasts the biggest bull sharks in captivity. equipment increased area property values and produced The Polynesian Reef – the second largest exhibit – contains revenue for the Jenks school system. more than 75 different species. The Secret World of the Octopus exhibit is the next to open in Today, Jenks is a prosperous city for the arts, education, Spring 2020. business, entertainment and community. Located along the shore of the Arkansas River, Jenks is a premier location to raise a family or start a business. Jenks is home to one of the top school districts in Oklahoma, consistently graduating National Merit Scholars and achieving excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. With a planetarium and Olympic-sized swimming facility on campus, Jenks Public Schools can provide an educational experience beyond compare for local students. The Downtown Commons is a green space designed to bring the community together, located off of the vibrant Main Street. With a built-in stage, food truck accessibility and seating for several hundred, the Downtown Commons is designed to draw visitors to Main Street like never before. Through all this development, the arts play a major role in attracting locals and visitors alike to Jenks. Opened in 2015, the Hive is a 6,000-square-foot art gallery and workspace, showcasing work from area artists on a rotating basis. Show schedules are available at thehivejenks.com, with new artists on display each month. Beyond downtown, Jenks is uniquely nestled along the Arkansas River, and RiverWalk Crossing is the region’s 6 Discover Jenks cash in Chill Out. ruth’s chris steak house . 5 o’clock somewhere bar . landshark pool bar rain bay cafe . paradise cove theater . emerge spa & salon Now you can enjoy a slice of paradise at Tulsa’s own River Spirit Casino Resort! Pamper yourself at our luxurious spa. Soak up some sun and fun at the Caribbean style pool. Swim up to our pool bar for your favorite frozen concotion. Island life comes alive and it’s all right here! River Spirit Casino Resort, your staycation destination! Reserve your room in paradise today! RIVERSPIRITTULSA.COM . 81ST & riverside Jenks Education JHS Class of 2019 by the numbers 889 Graduates $21.9 million Founded in 1908, Jenks Public Schools encompasses setting up students for success at in Scholarship Offers the city of Jenks on the west side of the Arkansas River, and every turn. It means providing portions of South Tulsa on the east side of the Arkansas River. one-of-a-kind experiences to 11 The District is made up of 10 distinct school sites with an students by utilizing the latest National Merit Finalists overall enrollment of 12,600 students and approximately 1,600 technology, adapting teaching 28,000 staff members. tactics to help students achieve Volunteer Hours college and career readiness, and On the surface, school districts have plenty in common. identifying teachers who can 110 Jenks Public Schools is not only set apart by the character and engage and inspire their students. Distinguished service graduates caliber of its employees, but also by the unwavering belief in The standards at Jenks Public continuous improvement, and the commitment to creating Schools are lofty. The expectations opportunities for every student in every grade level. From the are high. array of professional development experiences offered to staff Those expectations are met year after year thanks in part members, to providing STEM Learning Labs for students to the unwavering support of the Jenks community. With the at every school site, JPS is consistently raising the bar to be involvement and engagement of parents, volunteers, and local forward-thinking and innovative in its approach businesses, JPS is able to to education. Continuous improvement means keep up with the demands of growing enrollment while inspiring pride in all citizens who live within the district boundaries. Jenks’ voters have approved 55 of the last 56 bond elections, and in recent years, those bond dollars have allowed JPS to construct a new elementary school (Northwest Elementary), complete major renovations to Jenks High School, add a new classroom wing at Jenks Middle School, and begin an expansion project at the Freshman Academy. Bond funds have also been used to provide every student from 7th-12th grade with a Chromebook computer and to add a STEM Learning Lab at every school site. 8 Discover Jenks Jenks Jenks is home to storied football program Jenks High School has one of Oklahoma’s most Stadium, named after Jenks’ longtime – and most successful high school football programs. successful – football coach. The Trojans have captured 16 state football Jenks plays in the 6A-I division, playing division championships and produced multiple Division 1 opponents including longtime rival Union, Broken and NFL football stars. Arrow, Enid, Yukon and Norman. Jenks grads to play in the NFL include Rocky Jenks has enjoyed several multi-season Calmus, Sean Mahan, Garrett Mills, Phillip championships including runs from Dillard, Jerry Wisne, Chase Beeler, and Steven 1996-2001 and again from 2012-2015. Parker. For more information about Trojan Football, Home games are played at Allan Trimble visit jenkstrojanfootball.com. Jenks has abundant access to higher education Jenks and the Tulsa market are educates more than 25,000 students located in the heart of a number of each year. higher education institutions. With knowledgeable faculty Tulsa Tech, the oldest and largest teaching in state-of-the-art facilities technology center in Oklahoma’s on the four campuses, TCC offers Career Tech system, is located squarely programs for students at every in the Jenks community. Tech’s stage of life, robust online learning Riverside campus was established in opportunities, and a commitment to 1999 and occupies 38 acres next to RL affordable excellence.