TULSA VISITOR’S GUIDE SPRING/SUMMER 2014 PRESENTING SPONSORS SPECIAL SECTION: ART AND CULTURE AROUND TULSA VISITTULSA.COM VISITTULSA GUIDE // SPRING 2014 Special Section ARTS IN TULSA 8. GILCREASE 9. PHILBROOK One Site... 10. BRADY ARTS DISTRICT 11. VISUAL ARTS 68,594 sq. Miles of 12. PERFORMING ARTS Authentic Adventure 13. PUBLIC ART 2. WELCOME TO TULSA A letter 25. GET YOUR GAME ON For the 38. SHOPPING SPREE Tulsa has If it’s in Oklahoma, you can read it, see it, from Mayor Bartlett sports enthusiast, Tulsa has it all. something for everyone watch it, map it, plan it, share it, and even check the forecast for it, all on TravelOK.com. 3. ENJOY YOUR STAY A letter 39. 10 MUST-EAT RESTAURANTS Oklahoma’s Official Travel Authority from Ray Hoyt, senior vice president, VisitTulsa 40. EXPERIENCE GREEN COUNTRY Discover history, culture and 4. HISTORY OF “TULSA TIME” more within an hour’s drive From Indian Territory to oil boom 43. SADDLE UP Tulsa is home to nearly 50 horse shows WHEN LIFE GETS ROUGH… 6. DOWNTOWN 26. per year Your core Tulsa experience Local golf courses 44. EVENTS & FESTIVALS TEEING UP TO BE THE 16. RT 66 – THE MOTHER ROAD IS 2 7. A comprehensive calendar CHAMPION ALIVE AND WELL IN TULSA NCAA Division 1 of spring events A MAP of RT 66 highlights Womens Golf Championship 49. RESTAURANTS TULSA ATTRACTIONS 18. HAVE FUN IN T-TOWN 28. MAP Gaming and music A to Tulsa’s highlights 53. HOTELS 31. A GATHERING PLACE FOR TULSA A future attraction Publisher: Rachel Anderson Hill on the Arkansas River Editor: Matt Stockman Graphic Designer: Laura Hyde GREAT OUTDOORS, THE 32. Contributing Designer: Bryan Campbell GREEN COUNTRY WAY Contributing Writers: Parks and recreation Kaleigh Lynch 33. CASTING YOUR LINE Philbrook Museum 20. CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE IN GREEN COUNTRY Gilcrease Museum Music Festival Premier fishing destinations George Kaiser Community Foundation Propeller Communications 22. FAMILY-FRIENDLY 34. OTHER CAN’T-MISS Tulsa Historical Society Family attractions in Tulsa ATTRACTIONS SPRING 2014 1 2097-4-OTRD VisitTulsa Ad (205-4).indd 1 1/13/14 2:53 PM WELCOME TO TULSA ENJOY YOUR STAY Whether you head north, south, east or west, there is something for everyone Welcome to Tulsa! Whether in town for business or pleasure, no doubt Tulsa in our city. You can enjoy great restaurants, shopping, museums and will create a lasting impression in your mind and provide you with plenty entertainment, no matter where you turn. of entertainment. Tulsa is well known for its art and culture. Home to a world-class ballet Through your travels and visit to Tulsa, you will find the reasoning behind and opera, as well as the Gilcrease and Philbrook museums, where displays of our new brand, “It’s Everything Else That’s Different.” Our city has all the perks Western Art or Italian Renaissance will capture your eye. of larger cities, but in a more up close and personal mindset. Long lines and Take part in the downtown renaissance and enjoy one of the many gridlocked traffic will not slow down your experience of this beautiful city. attractions. Whether looking for live music at Cain’s Ballroom, a theatrical New attractions, hotels and restaurants are being built daily. Whether event at Tulsa Performing Arts Center or catching a sporting event at ONEOK visiting for the first time or coming back, you will see something new. All Field, downtown will provide quality entertainment for your trip. While in the new construction is focusing on community relations and providing a safe, area, be sure and take in a live show at one of the top venues in the nation, the fun atmosphere for everyone to enjoy. Guthrie Green downtown or the newly BOK Center. announced Gathering Place are just a couple prime examples of the development If looking for outdoor activities, Tulsa has you covered. Stroll down paths around Tulsa. along the Arkansas River and take in the beauty of our famed River Parks. After Experience one of our unique museums, plan a day outdoors, take in a show taking in the river, head over to “America’s Favorite Zoo.” This city-owned gem or dine at one of our many unique and local restaurants. Whether staying south, at Mohawk Park is truly a memorable experience for the whole family. midtown or downtown, everything to do within the city is less than 20 minutes Great food and live entertainment is plentiful in Tulsa. Visit one of the from your location. many districts across the city and shop, dine and play, all in one location. Tulsa is internationally known for its arts, culture, attractions and Affordability is key to the success of these districts. You will find Tulsa’s low cost equestrian events and will soon become one of your favorite places to visit. I of living, combined with the city’s beauty, and thriving arts and sports venues, invite you to take a moment and look through the Visitor’s Guide or go to our make our community a premier destination. website, www.VisitTulsa.com, for a complete list of things to do during your Most of all, you will discover Tulsa is a friendly community and a great visit. I hope you enjoy “living on Tulsa time” and return very soon. place to call home. I hope you enjoy your stay in Tulsa and visit us again very soon. You can always find out more about Tulsa by visiting our website, Best Regards, www.CityOfTulsa.org. Ray Hoyt Senior Vice President Best Regards, VisitTulsa and Tulsa Sports Commission Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. Mayor, City of Tulsa 2 TULSA VISITOR’S GUIDE SPRING 2014 3 HISTORY OF “TULSA TIME” If you’re interested in learning more From Indian Territory to oil boomtown, Tulsa has experienced many changes over the generations. about Tulsa and looking for a day activity, visit the Tulsa Historical Settled in the 1800s by Native American tribes traveling west, Tulsa is deeply rooted in Native Society. Exhibits ranging from sports- American heritage, oil, arts and culture. theme, modern culture and oil history Take a stroll down memory lane and check out a few fun facts of how this beautiful area rotate through the museum. became a booming metropolis. For more information, go to www.tulsahistory.org. Main Street, Tulsa, 1907 Modern-day “Tulsa” derives from the Lochapoka word, “Tulasi.” The name was given upon settling the land in The 1990s placed Tulsa on the 1836 at a site near present-day Cheyenne Ave. and 18th roadmap to success in the 21st street. In this place, under a large burr oak tree, the century. Through its perseverant Lochapoka, a clan of the Creek Indians, established their nature, Tulsa attracted key home. The ceremonial tree is still standing in what is industries and businesses to the Today the region is thriving and Tulsa is on the map for travelers worldwide. “It’s now called, “Creek Nation Council Oak Park.” Visitors region. Most notably, Tulsa became Everything Else That’s Different” has become the motto for travel within the region. are invited to have a picnic and/or stroll through this the home for several factories and Tulsa has the amenities of a large city, while holding on to the “Up Close & Personal” beautiful park in downtown Tulsa. telecommunication centers. The feel. Tulsa continues to grow and attractions are being added. renaissance was beginning and Tulsa’s economy was rising. 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Around 1901, Tulsa rapidly grew from In the 1950s Tulsa was In the 1980s Tulsa experienced In the early 2000s, Tulsans came together and passed “Vision a small frontier town to a booming dubbed, “America’s Most an oil bust. At that point, 2025.” The capital gains package led to a renaissance throughout community with the discovery of “black Beautiful City.” With Tulsans became known for the region, specifically in downtown Tulsa. The nationally-famed gold,” otherwise known as oil. Investors the mansions built in the their perseverance and proved BOK Center was built and attracted the WNBA and numerous flooded into the city, neighborhoods 20s and an urban renewal this would not shut their city large-scale entertainment events. The BOK center was just part of sprang up and Tulsa started taking initiative to build parks down. Through initiatives by the overall renaissance around downtown Tulsa. The Brady Arts shape. Visitors can still drive and attractions, Tulsa the people of Tulsa, the city district started booming and ONEOK Field was constructed and through Red Fork (West embraced its beauty and started attracting new industries. businesses began migrating back to the heart of the city. Tulsa) and see the site of the became an example of Previous attractions were first oil well in Tulsa County. culture and fine living. remodeled and Tulsans were beginning the change toward large city amenities and a small Travis Mansion Mayo Hotel town feel. The “roaring twenties” played a huge role in shaping the design of many Tulsa buildings. Oil money was plentiful and thus the art-deco feel of Tulsa came alive. Today, visitors can stroll neighborhoods and streets of downtown to witness the grandeur of this generation. BOK Center 4 TULSA VISITOR’S GUIDE SPRING/SUMMER 2014 5 FOR A MAP OF DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIONS DOWNTOWN – SCAN THIS QR CODE OR GO TO VISITTULSA.COM YOUR CORE TULSA EXPERIENCE RECONCILIATION PARK A beacon of hope and healing, the John No better blend of the past, present and future can be found than in Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park features three bronze sculptures representing downtown Tulsa.