Construction has started on a $3 million Route 66 Village Train Depot at the Route 66 Village in southwest Tulsa.
According to a news release from the city of Tulsa, the 5,000-square foot depot will be built next to the existing locomotive on the site at 3770 Southwest Blvd. (aka Route 66).
The depot will be a museum and events center with meeting rooms and a commercial kitchen.
The Route 66 Historical Village, an association of volunteers, will supply exhibits for the museum and manage the facility.
Here’s a video from the city about the project:
The project is being funded by the Vision Tulsa sales tax. Keith Robertson Architects is the designer, and Voy Construction is the contractor.
News on 6 in Tulsa reports the project is expected to be completed by May.
Route 66 Village Station welcome center, which resembles a cottage-style gas station, contains a coffee bar, restrooms that resembles a cottage-style gas station. It was completed last year.
The complex includes a steam locomotive, several train cars, a huge replica of an oil derrick and three vintage pump jacks.
(Artist’s rendering of the Route 66 Village Train Depot from City of Tulsa video)
Nice! Definitely something I would stop and see on my way through.
That’ll be a great addition to that area!
Let us hope that another well-known “firebug” does not take a fancy to this piece of historic railwayana and torch the lot. Just what fire-prevention equipment will the THREE MILLIONS DOLLARS provide? I suspect little or none. No sprinklers? No smoke alarms?