Catoosa, Oklahoma and the Blue Whale
Catoosa, Oklahoma, nestled in the northeastern corner of the state, holds a unique position in American history and popular culture. Situated along the iconic Route 66, this unassuming town is more than just a dot on the map. It’s a vibrant community with a rich past, a thriving present, and a whimsical landmark that has captured the hearts of travelers for generations: the Blue Whale. Catoosa, Oklahoma and the Blue Whale have become synonymous with the spirit of the open road, a testament to the ingenuity and charm that defines the American experience.
The story of Catoosa is intertwined with the history of the Cherokee Nation, who originally controlled this land throughout much of the 19th century. The landscape began to transform with the arrival of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in the early 1880s, ushering in an era of white settlement. The nascent community, drawing its name from a nearby prominent hill, quickly established itself as a vital hub for the cattle industry. William Halsell’s Bird Creek Ranch and other local cattlemen played a crucial role in developing the town. Catoosa became a bustling cow town, actively shipping livestock eastward. The establishment of a post office in 1883 solidified its status as a permanent settlement.
The early days of Catoosa were not without their share of intrigue. The town gained a degree of notoriety as the alleged stomping ground of Bluford "Blue" Duck, an outlaw rumored to be associated with the legendary Belle Starr. Blue Duck’s criminal career eventually led to his arrest for murder, resulting in a death sentence handed down by Judge Isaac Parker in July 1886. Although the sentence was appealed, Blue Duck was eventually imprisoned. Today, he rests in the Dick Duck Cemetery near Catoosa, a silent reminder of the town’s wild west past.
By the turn of the century, Catoosa had blossomed into a community of 241 residents. The town boasted a thriving commercial district, featuring six general stores catering to a variety of needs. A diverse array of professionals, including two doctors, three drugstores, two blacksmiths, and a lawyer, offered their services to the growing population. The presence of a hotel, several livestock dealers, and a lumberyard further solidified Catoosa’s economic foundations. By 1910, the community had nearly doubled in size. The addition of a grain elevator, a cotton gin and mill, a marble works, and several coal mines expanded the town’s economic base. Local news was served by several newspaper companies including the Catoosan, the Catoosa Courier, and the Catoosa Star.
Catoosa continued to flourish through a mix of coal mining, agriculture, and the extraction of oil and natural gas. The year 1926 marked a turning point for the town with the construction of Route 66. Businesses sprung up to cater to the ever-increasing flow of travelers along the famous highway. The original route between Claremore and Catoosa required crossing the Verdigris River via a narrow steel truss bridge. The Bird Creek Bridge was built in 1936 to address this issue.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, businesses such as the Catoosa Indian Trading Post thrived by catering to the needs of Route 66 travelers. The transformation of Route 66 into a four-lane highway in 1957 led to the construction of a second bridge across the Verdigris River to accommodate eastbound traffic. The original 1936 bridge then served westbound traffic. These mismatched bridges, affectionately known as "Felix" and "Oscar" by locals, became a recognizable landmark.
A significant economic boost came to Catoosa in 1971 with the opening of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. This port, connected to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, transformed Catoosa into an inland seaport. The port’s expansive 2,000-acre industrial park continues to provide a wealth of employment opportunities. Catoosa has the distinction of being the furthest inland seaport in the United States, offering year-round, ice-free barge service with river flow levels regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Just beyond the Verdigris River bridges, a unique attraction was established in the early 1970s. The Blue Whale, created by Hugh Davis as an anniversary gift for his wife Zelta, a collector of whale figurines, quickly became a beloved landmark on Route 66. Hugh and Zelta brought over 40 years of zoological experience to the project, creating an 80-foot-long smiling Blue Whale.
Hugh, retired at the time, decided to use his land to create the gift for Zelta, who was unaware of the massive project. The pond surrounding the Blue Whale was originally spring-fed and intended for family use. However, when locals began sneaking in to enjoy the water, Davis brought in tons of sand, built picnic tables, hired lifeguards, and opened the attraction to the public.
Originally called Nature’s Acres, the attraction grew to include the Fun and Swim Blue Whale and the A.R.K. (Animal Reptile Kingdom). Hugh’s brother-in-law, Indian Chief Wolf Robe Hunt, a full-blooded Acoma Indian, also contributed to the attraction. Chief Wolf-Robe Hunt, known for his Indian paintings and silversmithing skills, previously ran the Arrowood Trading Post across the highway from the Blue Whale.
The pond, the giant Blue Whale, and the zoo housed in a wooden ark quickly drew locals and travelers alike. Children enjoyed sliding down the whale’s tail into the cool water, while families gathered at the picnic tables, enjoyed the concessions, and went boating. Nature’s Acres became a popular destination for fun and relaxation.
In 1988, the aging couple found it increasingly difficult to manage the attraction and were forced to close it. Mr. Davis passed away two years later. Without their care, the park began to fall into disrepair. In the early 2000s, Blaine Davis, Hugh and Zelta’s son, took on the role of part-time caretaker, and the attraction reopened. In the following years, volunteers helped clean the grounds. The Fins of the Blue Whale, a local volunteer group formed in 2009, began long-term efforts to restore the grounds, including plans to eventually renovate and reopen the A.R.K. as a museum. In the summer of 2011, the Bill Haynes Company of Tulsa generously donated time and effort to give the Blue Whale a fresh coat of paint.
The Twin Bridges across the Verdigris River, a popular photo spot for Route 66 travelers, underwent a significant change in August 2011. The State of Oklahoma was compelled to remove and replace the 1936 bridge due to its deteriorated condition. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation repainted the remaining bridge, and a portion of the historic bridge was relocated to the entrance of Molly’s Landing restaurant, located just west of the old bridge site. Other substantial pieces of the bridge can be found at Rogers Point Park, on the east side of the river near the bridge site.
Today, Catoosa is primarily a bedroom community for Tulsa commuters, with a population of approximately 7,150 residents. The old Arrowood Trading Post still stands across the highway from the Blue Whale. The Hard Rock Casino (formerly Cherokee Casino and Resort), operated by the Cherokee Nation, is also located in Catoosa. The casino features two hotels, several restaurants, a golf course, a concert hall called "The Joint," and hosts the annual Cherokee Art Market and the International Cherokee Film Festival. The Catoosa Historical Museum, a replica of an old train depot, houses numerous Catoosa artifacts and railroad memorabilia. The D.W. Correll Museum showcases rare antique automobiles, vintage whiskey bottles, and an extensive collection of rocks and minerals from around the world. The charm of Catoosa, Oklahoma and the Blue Whale continues to draw visitors.
Route 66 travelers continue their journey for approximately 14 miles to reach Tulsa. Catoosa, Oklahoma and the Blue Whale represent an essential chapter of the area’s history.