City of Catoosa plans improvements to the grounds of the Blue Whale

The City of Catoosa, Oklahoma, wants to make a series of improvements to the grounds of the iconic Blue Whale site. According to News on 6 in nearby Tulsa, the city's plans include "building trails behind the whale, restrooms, a new gift shop and possibly creating a small R-V park." The city also wants to … Continue reading City of Catoosa plans improvements to the grounds of the Blue Whale

Scenes of Christmas decor along Route 66

A number of Route 66 landmarks recently have been decorated for the Christmas holiday. First, the Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, held its annual "lights on" ceremony on Sunday night. As these photos from Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin shows, not only was the whale lighted, but so was the nearby ark. In … Continue reading Scenes of Christmas decor along Route 66

Scenes from the Blue Whale of Catoosa’s 50th-anniversary celebration

A bunch of Route 66 aficionados have posted photographs from Saturday's 50th-anniversary party of the landmark Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma. The event included appearances by "Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis, Dean "Crazy Legs" Walker, Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones and Blue Whale park director Liz Huckleby, to name a few. KTUL-TV in … Continue reading Scenes from the Blue Whale of Catoosa’s 50th-anniversary celebration

Interior of Blue Whale of Catoosa closed off after recent vandalism

Visitors at the iconic Blue Whale site off Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, will be unable to climb into the whale's interior after someone vandalized that space with spraypaint last week. According to Channel 2 in nearby Tulsa: “Yesterday morning, a sweet family who had climbed up the blue whale’s head for the great photo … Continue reading Interior of Blue Whale of Catoosa closed off after recent vandalism

A bit of holiday cheer from the Mother Road

It's Christmas Eve, and what better way to get into the holiday spirit than to see a few examples of great holiday decor than from Route 66? First, the Devil's Elbow Bridge in Devil's Elbow, Missouri, which has been decorated each Christmas season for nearly a decade: View this post on Instagram A post shared … Continue reading A bit of holiday cheer from the Mother Road

Blue Whale of Catoosa is undergoing a weeklong effort of repairs and cleaning

The landmark Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, today is beginning a one-week effort by the city to clean, repaint and make repairs to the whale itself. The city's project begins today and will last through Friday, Oct. 1, according to a news release from the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. During that time period, the Blue … Continue reading Blue Whale of Catoosa is undergoing a weeklong effort of repairs and cleaning

City of Catoosa purchases Blue Whale property

The city of Catoosa, Oklahoma, in April purchased the Blue Whale and its surrounding 23 1/2 acres from its longtime owners, the Davis family. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, revealed the news during a blog post Sunday: Since Catoosa has taken ownership of the land, there have been several improvements. The … Continue reading City of Catoosa purchases Blue Whale property

Latest Oklahoma Tourism video focuses on Blue Whale, Molly’s Landing in Catoosa

Last month, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films announced they would launch a year-long series of road-trip films, including Route 66. One of their earliest films featured the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Pops in Arcadia and Living Kitchen in Depew — all along Route 66. This week, they featured the Blue Whale and the Molly's Landing restaurant and taco truck … Continue reading Latest Oklahoma Tourism video focuses on Blue Whale, Molly’s Landing in Catoosa

Owners, caretaker of Blue Whale named to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

The deceased former owners and a longtime caretaker of the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, were inducted into the 2018 Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. The inductees were the Hugh and Zelta Davis, who owned the Route 66 landmark for years, and their son, Blaine Davis, a caretaker for the whale. The Oklahoma Route … Continue reading Owners, caretaker of Blue Whale named to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Vandalism at Blue Whale prompts security upgrades

The iconic Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, soon will receive security improvements after vandalism occurred at the Route 66 landmark earlier last weekend. KOTV in Tulsa had some details about the damage: Volunteer Linda Hobbs remembers the phone call she got earlier this week saying someone vandalized the beloved Blue Whale Park. "Had pulled picnic … Continue reading Vandalism at Blue Whale prompts security upgrades