Tulsa World Magazine: The Ultimate Guide to Gathering Place

EXPLORE OKLAHOMA: WHICH STATE PARK IS RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY?

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Gathering Place will give Tulsa a park like no other. Page 16

the

PLACE

to be

SWEET SUMMER: HUNTING DOWN TULSA’S TASTIEST FROZEN TREATS

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FROM THE COVER

Gather ‘Round Tulsa’s world-class park, Gathering Place, is set to open this summer. We take you behind the scenes to give you an insider’s guide to this new centerpiece for Tulsa.

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Exploring the park: A look at all the places you’ll want to check out at the new park.

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What’s ahead: A children’s museum anchors future attractions.

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How’d we get here?: A look at the history behind Gathering Place.

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Park FAQ: We answer common questions about Tulsa’s Gathering Place.

How does it stack up?: Comparing Gathering Place to other major parks.

How I got here: Park Director Tony Moore brings 30 years of park experience to Tulsa.

Eugene Field Elementary School students climb through a cargo net at the Gathering Place Adventure Playground in Tulsa.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine Cover photo by JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

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INSIDE

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Cold treats for summer: 15 treats that will keep you cool as the temperature rises.

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Hit the road: You won’t need to break your budget for a summer vacation with these easy road trips.

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Blast from the past: Try these delicious old-fashioned burgers to get a taste of yesterday.

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In the Know: Oklahoma’s state parks have a lot to offer visitors this summer.

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Experience the art: ahha Tulsa hosts interactive, changing exhibit with “The Experience.”

Also inside

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Family-friendly summer: Keep the kids entertained this summer with these local activities.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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Let’s Go: Organize your family’s calendar with our guide to the biggest and best local events.

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The End: Two parks, two philosophies — which would you rather have?

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Kids enjoy Guthrie Green during a recent concert.

TOM GILBERT/ Tulsa World Magazine

Tulsa World Magazine is a specialty publication of the Tulsa World, 315 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa, OK 74103.

This magazine is published with the June 30, 2018, edition of the World.

All content copyright Tulsa World 2018.

The contents may not be reproduced without permission.

FROMTHE

EDITOR.

ASHLEY PARRISH Editor ashley.parrish@tulsaworld.com

Guthrie Green is best sneak peek of Gathering Place

NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON Assistant Editor nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com James Royal Lead Designer SARA STEPHENSON Slot Editor Kevin Canfield, Scott Cherry, Rhett Morgan, Michael Overall, Michael Smith, Jimmie Tramel, JAmes D. Watts Jr. Writers JOHN CLANTON Photo Editor John Walblay Page Editor KYLE MARGERUM, Vanessa Pearson, Steve Reckinger Designers Additional copies of Tulsa World Magazine can be purchased for $3.95 plus tax at the front office of Tulsa World, online at tulsaworldmagazine.com or by calling 918-581-8584.

Phone and online orders will incur an additional $1 shipping charge.

For bulk sales (26 or more copies) and rates, contact Paul Foster at paul.foster@tulsaworld.com or 918-587-5843.

ADVERTISE IN TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE To advertise, contact Suzanne Hicks at 918-699-8833 or suzanne.hicks@tulsaworld.com.

WANT MORE TWM? Don’t want to miss a copy of Tulsa World Magazine?

Make sure you get them all by subscribing to the Tulsa World at tulsaworld.com/subscribe.

6 Tulsa World Magazine

ASHLEY PARRISH Tulsa World Magazine Editor

S

ome of my favorite photos of my kids were taken at Guthrie Green.

My oldest son has always loved exploring the maze of walkways at the downtown park, especially at Christmas with the lights and a cup of hot chocolate.

My toddler experienced a splash pad for the first time at Guthrie. Absolutely fearless, he got a face full of water and then went back for more.

Guthrie Green, which was funded and built by the George Kaiser Family Foundation in 2012, has changed the Tulsa Arts District forever.

Tulsans fell in love with food trucks at Guthrie Green. They’ve attended countless yoga classes, movie nights and concerts together as a community.

Just imagine how much more impact Gathering Place is going to have on the city.

Watching Hal Ketchum or the Starlight Band perform at Guthrie Green is an awesome experience. Imagine the concerts we’ll have on the Great Lawn at Gathering Place.

I was lucky enough to tour Gathering Place recently. I’m not sure the photos even come close to doing it justice. Everywhere I looked, I pictured my family. At the Williams Lodge, sitting on the patio while my toddler plays nearby. Obviously, on the playground — I can’t wait to go down the elephant slide again, so I can just imagine my kids’ reactions.

And then there were the little surprises.

Everywhere you turn, there’s something to see. A hidden slide. A hill with a swing that gives you a totally new view of downtown.

In this magazine, we wanted to give people a more in-depth look at this park that’s being created. And a taste of those surprises to come.

Here’s one more thing to look forward to.

Turn to page 18, cut out our Gathering Place “Get Ready” button and take a selfie with it wherever you’re gathering this summer.

The staffs of Gathering Place and Tulsa World Magazine will award the most creative photo with a behind-the-scenes tour of the park. Follow along on everyone’s adventures on our Facebook page at facebook.com/tulsaworldscene.

We can’t wait to see what you come up with and what you think about the magazine. Have a great summer!

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

FREEZE WARNING

15 yummy treats to beat the summer heat

By Scott Cherry | Tulsa World Magazine

Above, Susan Green (left) and her daughter Kimberly Norman operate the new Sweets & Cream ice cream shop.

On previous page, a sandwich made with cookiesand-cream ice cream between red velvet and chocolate cookies is a $1.99 treat at Sweets & Cream.

MATT BARNARD/ Tulsa World Magazine

K

imberly Norman had an idea for a new business swirling in her head for about five years but had kept it to herself.

Her parents, Susan and Ron Green, had owned the Greens on Boulder lunch spot in downtown Tulsa, and Susan was known for her baking talents.

“Mom and Dad had sold their restaurant, and I thought it would be great if Mom’s brownies and cookies still were available to the public,” Norman said. “My idea was to put ice cream between the cookies and brownies and make an ice cream sandwich.

“I sat them down and asked if they thought it was a good idea, and they said it was a great idea.”

Thus, Sweets & Cream, owned

by Norman and her husband, Robert, was born.

“I then asked my parents if they would come out of retirement to help me,” Norman said. “I own two other businesses and needed help. Thankfully, they did.”

Sweets & Cream, 1114 S. Yale Ave., opened this past St. Patrick’s Day, and some 600 people came through the doors on the first day.

“It was crazy,” Norman said.

Sweets & Cream has 12 cook-

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ies, 12 ice cream flavors and three brownies. Customers may pick any two of the cookies or brownies and one flavor of ice cream to make their ice cream sandwich. Among the choices are one sugar-free cookie, one gluten-free cookie and one sugar-free vanilla ice cream.

The ice cream sandwiches are $1.99, making them an affordable treat for the whole family. If you just want ice cream, it’s $1 a scoop, and brownies and cookies by themselves are 50 cents each

or $6 a baker’s dozen. Keep in mind there is a $5 minimum for credit and debit cards.

Coffee is free.

“It’s just regular coffee,” Susan Green said. “Nothing fancy.”

Orders may be placed ahead of time at sweetsandcream.com.

Catering also is available.

Green said Sweets & Cream has been popular with kids of all ages.

“TU (University of Tulsa) students love the place,” Green said.

“We see a lot of them the last hour or so we’re open on Friday and Saturday.”

Sweets & Cream donates tips it receives to local charities each month. Charities have included John 3:16 Mission, Hospitality House and Street School.

Sweets & Cream is open from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. FridaySaturday. The phone number is 918-633-3182.

Sweets & Cream is one of many spots in the Tulsa area that can help your kids beat the heat with a frozen treat. Check out some of our favorites.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Frios Gourmet Pops 105 N. Greenwood Ave. Frios is a chain, but the owners seek out local farms and dairies to put together its many flavors of frozen pops, such as the blueberry cheesecake shown here. Some are fruity, some are creamy.

Photos by MATT BARNARD/ Tulsa World Magazine

Harper’s Hut Shaved Ice 1124 E. Charles Page Blvd., Sand Springs Other locations in Sand Springs, Mannford and Sapulpa The volcano is a popular specialty shaved ice treat from Harper’s Hut snow cone shack.

It starts with Dreamsycle, ice cream and Tiger’s Blood flavors, topped with a splash of cream. Harper’s Hut also will deliver an ice chest of 40 snow cones to sports teams, parties, etc.

Freezing Cow 7025 S. Memorial Drive This treat starts with rolled ice cream and is topped with fruit, candy and more. Choose a preset combination, like the green tea lover (left) or evil berries, or make your own. The process behind rolled ice cream is believed to have started in Thailand.

MATT BARNARD/ Tulsa World Magazine file

Tulsa World Magazine file

Boho Sno Shaved Ice

2800 W. 121st St., Glenpool With candy, sauces and more, these aren’t your typical snow cones.

The Zombie Blood (pictured) has green apple and black cherry flavors with sour gummy worms. A Bad Kids is cotton candy, guava and honeydew melon covered in Sour Patch Kids. Add marshmallow creme if you dare. Also, find a tether ball and a play area for the kids.

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IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine file

Pop House

3737 S. Peoria Ave. Chocolate-covered strawberry is among the many fruity and creamy flavors available at the Pop House. Also check social media for its Pop Trike locations.

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Freckles Frozen Custard 5138 S. Harvard Ave. Freckles was one of the earliest frozen custard spots in Tulsa when it opened in 2000. The Snappy Turtle with hot fudge, hot caramel, roasted pecans, whipped cream and a cherry on top is still a fan favorite.

Tulsa World Magazine file

Josh’s Sno Shack

71st Street and Garnett Road Seven other area locations Josh’s Sno Shack was an instant hit when it opened in front of a Food Pyramid at 71st Street and Garnett Road in 2005, with colorful snow cones, such as the Rainbow.

MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World Magazine file

Tulsa World Magazine file

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

CherryBerry Yogurt Bar

1708 N. 13th St., Broken Arrow; 4605 W. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow; 9046 N. 121st East Ave., Owasso Frozen yogurt combinations can include as many fun items as one wants from the self-serve dispensers and topping bar. Stay relatively healthy with fruit or go all out with peanut butter cups and chocolate sauce.

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Peachwave

7388 S. Olympia Ave. Customers create their own concoctions from self-serve frozen yogurt machines and a toppings station at Peachwave.

Tulsa World Magazine file photos

Andy’s Frozen Custard 4844 S. Yale Ave., 8351 E. 102nd St., 800 E. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow Andy’s was founded in Osage Beach, Missouri, in 1986, and its original Springfield, Missouri, store remains a destination spot for frozen custard fans. Look for sundaes, concretes, floats, malts, shakes, freezes, cones, cups and seasonal flavors, which currently include blackberry (pictured) and strawberry shortcake.

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Lone Wolf Banh Mi

203 E. Archer St. Lone Wolf has two soft-serve ice cream dispensers at its downtown store and 60 rotating flavors served in cones or cups. Treat the kids to an ice cream cone and yourself to a banh mi sandwich and kimchi fries.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

9311 E. 71st St. Five other locations in Tulsa area Diners can pair a burger with frozen custard, such as this Mint Oreo custard at Freddy’s, a popular chain restaurant based in Missouri.

Tulsa World Magazine file photos

Braum’s

Multiple locations The Tuttle, Oklahoma-based store boasts its own 10,000-acre farm and milk cows. Frozen treats abound at Braum’s, including ice cream, fruit pops, sherbet, ice cream bars, sundaes, malts, shakes, ice cream sandwiches and more.

Sonic Drive-In

Multiple locations A sundae, shake, ice cream cone or ice cream slush can hit the spot on a hot summer day at Oklahoma-based Sonic.

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Family-friendly summer Soak up the sun, do something fun

A komodo dragon explores its enclosure at the Lost Kingdom exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo. MATT BARNARD/ Tulsa World Magazine file

By Michael Smith Tulsa World Magazine

The heat is on in July and August, and once families reach that halfway point of summer, it can become all about, “What can we squeeze in before school starts?”

If you haven’t checked out these Tulsa favorites for parents and kids, the time is now.

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Oklahoma Aquarium

Tulsa Zoo 6421 E. 36th St. North tulsazoo.org

Families and all animal lovers know this is the place to spend hours on end enjoying everything from big cats to big snakes, with plenty of room to run around and the Oxley Nature Center nearby if little ones have a little left in the tank. If you’re planning to go more than once this summer, think about a family membership starting at $69 that gets you discounts on food and rides in the zoo, free admission and parking, and 50 percent off admission to many other zoos nationwide.

300 Aquarium Drive in Jenks okaquarium.org

Joseph Rushmore/for Tulsa World Magazine

Go to the movies in the great outdoors Admiral Twin Drive-In, 7355 E. Easton St. admiraltwindrivein.com

Everyone should load up at least once each season and head to the Admiral Twin Drive-In for double-feature fun. Many in the U.S. no longer have this alternative, but Tulsa has been enjoying this sweet piece of Americana since 1951.

Plan your day in advance so you can make it in time for the stingray and shark “touch tank” schedule, or see what piranha eat and beavers and otters snack on at feeding time.

If you haven’t yet seen Sea Turtle Island, this is a don’t-miss exhibit.

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Play some games Main Event, 7830 S. Santa Fe Ave.; mainevent.com/locations/tulsa-ok Incredible Pizza, 8314 E. 71st St.; tulsaincrediblepizza.com

Go to Main Event for bowling, a multitude of video games, multilevel laser tag, billiards and gravity ropes; go to Incredible Pizza for go-karts, “bounce town,” a roller coaster, glow golf and bumper cars, as well as the buffet. Just go, and you’ll make a lot of little ones happy.

Safari Joe’s H2O 4707 E. 21st St. safarijoesh2o.com

Tulsa’s water/adventure park at 21st Street and Yale Avenue, formerly known as Big Splash, is still letting kids of all ages get wet and wild and hang out for the day with the family, their friends or a big group of both.

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IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine

Take them out to the ballgame ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave. | tulsadrillers.com | roughnecksfc.com

Grab some seats to see the Drillers and catch some rays. There’s a playground and splash pad for the kids. Add in something fun to eat and some fireworks, and this experience just gets better and better. Batter up!

Or take your soccer fans to see the Tulsa Roughnecks at ONEOK Field. There are special promotions throughout the summer — kids’ clinics, take-your-dog-to-the-game nights and $1 food.

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GATHERING PLACE

Gathering excitement T

ulsa’s Gathering Place is scheduled to open to the public Sept. 8 after more than a decade in the making. What went into the $465 million public park? What will you not want to miss? How did this new attraction come to be? We answer all these questions and more in our comprehensive Gathering Place guide.

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TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Eugene Field Elementary School students climb across a cargo net at the Gathering Place Adventure Playground.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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Gathering Place

Creative play areas at Gathering Place will let kids stretch their legs and their imaginations. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

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The staffs from So let’s play a game: Gathering Place and Show us what you’re Tulsa World Magazine doing while you’re waiting for will choose the most creative Gathering Place to open. entries, which will win a VIP Tear the Gathering Place Get behind-the-scenes tour of GatherReady button out of our magazine ing Place: Tulsa’s Riverfront Park. and take a photo with it at any Go to tulsaworldmagazine.com place or gathering you can think of. for official rules.

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GATHERING PLACE

Gather together

Get to know the different spaces within the park

W

STORY BY RHETT MORGAN, PHOTOS BY JOHN CLANTON

hile $465 million is an impressive price tag for a park, consider this: As much thought went into Gathering Place as money.

Project developers canvassed the state, country and globe for materials and expertise that would set the park apart. Detailing everything from the species of timber and the thickness of glass to the cut of stone, they created a 66.5-acre riverfront experience that is equal parts educational and recreational, designed to enhance the senses of every demographic.

Here is a snapshot of what Gathering Place will offer.

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The Williams Lodge features a gigantic fireplace, meeting areas and a patio on which to enjoy a drink or food while watching the park’s youngest visitors play on a special playground.  Tulsa World Magazine 19

Gathering Place

At top, Williams Lodge, a 25,000-square-foot fusion of glass, sandstone and steel, sits toward the north end of Gathering Place. The stonework is carried throughout the building.

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Above, a covered patio area outside Williams Lodge will feature a food venue and built-in playground for small children.

Named for the Tulsa-based pipeline company that donated $16 million to the park, Williams Lodge is the gateway to the green space and is among its signature components.

Lipped in bronze, sheeted in glass and constructed with boulders weighing up to 2½ tons apiece, the welcome center provides a woodsy feel to an urban setting.

“We wanted to make it look like the Earth was just carved away and these old stone walls were put in and the building wrapped around it,” said Jeff Stava, executive director and trustee of Gathering Place, LLC. On the east end of the multilevel structure will be 18,000 square feet of covered patio, with a food venue and built-in playground for small children. The lower level will house shops for ice cream, coffee and candy, as well as a borrowing station for park equipment, such as fishing poles, chess and lawn darts.

Inside, patrons will be wowed by a horse swirl sandstone floor, a walk-in fireplace and an undulating ceiling with nine species of wood. “It will literally look like the ceiling is floating down and hitting the wall,” Stava said.

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Gathering Place

Above, the park’s playground features slides, a tower with a throne chamber and whimsical touches everywhere you look.

The Chapman Foundations Adventure Playground is 5 acres of fun geared toward engaging the imagination and the body. The Land of the River Giants, with its 35-foot paddle fish and two 21-foot blue herons, pays homage to the wildlife indigenous to the Arkansas River.

Six wood and steel play towers, including one topping 60 feet, will offer a bird’seye view to visitors, who also will have access to a three-story play elephant, which is twice the size of the average male African elephant. The 62-foot steel Royal Tower will contain a dungeon, theater and throne room. Other playground can’tmisses include a 26-foot-tall tunnel slide and a 60-foot-long suspension bridge that hangs 20 feet high.

The play area will feature about 350 pieces of equipment, including at least 100 unique items, from Germany-based Richter Spielgerate GmbH, which uses timber from The Alps for its wooden play accessories.

Peter Heuken, a designer for the company, described the aura of the playground in a 2016 interview with the Tulsa World.

“I just imagine myself, a little boy, coming there and what I would see,” he said. “The magic is, I don’t see it all at the

At right, the skywalk is a huge attraction for kids, who will be able to walk through the connecting tunnels to different parts of the playground.

Dining at the Place The food at Gathering Place will be tailored to meet the demands of its visitors.

Have a little one but want to enjoy a lunch date at the park?

Outside Williams Lodge will be a quick-service restaurant with typical park fare, such as burgers, pizza and sandwiches, but also drinks that include beer and wine, Park Director Tony Moore said. It will seat as many as 500.

A playground for toddlers sits just off the patio — well within eyesight.

On the lower level of the lodge, which has the main drop-off spot for the park, the Redbud Cafe will have coffee and pastries as its main draw. The shop also will have candy columns that will dispense exotic sweets.

For an even nicer option, the ONEOK Boathouse will offer the optimal eating experience at Gathering Place.

“Aesthetically, when you walk in, it’s going to be such a cool space, from a TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Gathering Place will offer everything from pizza and ice cream to beer and wine

seating and furnishings standpoint,” Moore said. “It will look closer to highend dining, but it will be positioned as casual dining.”

It will be able to accommodate close to 100 diners inside, as well as outside, and 70 percent to 80 percent of the menu will have a $20 price point, he said.

On special event days with “superpeak” attendance, carts equipped with prepackaged snacks will be deployed at busy intersections throughout the park, Moore said.

In-house mobile vending will be available at the Sport Courts, and periodically, third-party food trucks will be invited there for events, he said.

Throughout Gathering Place, keeping the fare affordable will be a priority, Moore said.

“An individual, for about $5 or $6, will be able to purchase a drink, a bag of chips and a sandwich,” he said. “Typi-

cally, for a public park, the mindset is, ‘Let’s bring our coolers. Let’s camp out.’

“Certainly, our guests are welcome to do that. But with the affordability of the food and the experience of the dining, we’re hoping that most folks will choose eating options at the park.”

Overseeing all the cuisine at the park will be executive chef Kirk Swaby.

A transplant from Chicago, he sharpened his skills at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in the Windy City and Canada’s highly respected George Brown Culinary School. He then operated Mange La Vie, a private boutique catering company in Chicago.

Swaby is a believer in making food an experience that unites people from all backgrounds.

“I want people to encounter flavors and textures they don’t encounter on a regular basis,” he said after his appointment was announced in late May. Tulsa World Magazine 21­​

Gathering Place same time.

“This will be a place where you can move and discover, move and discover.

There will be something new every time as it is not visible from one place.”

Other sections of the playground will include the Fairy Land Forest, Volcanoville, The Ramble and Spiral Connector.

“The playground is built on the premise of equal access or equal play for all children,” Stava said. “There is a large ramp that is built up in the back that is all ADA-accessible that allows wheelchair-bound kids to get into these lower

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towers and into the elephant (slide).”

In addition to designated play areas, the park will include several activity spots designed to be surprises within the green space’s larger experience. One of those is Slide Vale, a slide adventure set in a shady stand of trees.

Adjacent to Williams Lodge is Mist Mountain, which will have a burstsof-water feature called the Flying Fish.

Aquatic plants will dot the runnels and swales of the nearby Wetland Gardens, at the north end of Peggy’s Pond, which will provide opportunities for recreation, including boating, fishing and wildlife

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Gathering Place

First 100 days will bring lots of entertainment Black Thought (left) and Questlove of The Roots perform in Philadelphia. The Roots will perform at the Gathering Place opening Sept. 8. Mark Stehle/Invision via AP file

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Gathering Place’s debut Sept. 8 will kick off a 100-day celebration of festivities, programs and entertainment.

“There will be programs and never-seenbefore acts that all Tulsans can enjoy,” said Jeff Stava, executive director and trustee of Tulsa’s Gathering Place LLC. Acts booked for Sept. 8 include A Tribe Called Red, The Hot 8 Brass Band, Kirk Franklin, The Roots and The Pedrito Martinez Group.

Check gatheringplace.org for the most up-todate list of programming and entertainment.

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Gathering Place

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GATHERING PLACE

At left, two 21-foot blue herons serve as slides and other playground equipment at Gathering Place.

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Above, Lake View Lawn, shown in an artist’s rendering, will create a distinctive moment within the existing River Parks trail system.

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Gathering Place

habitat observation.

Among the many engineering gems of the park is King Post Bridge, which spans a body of water called The Narrows. The bridge’s logs and decking are made from Coastal Douglas Fir harvested in Oregon and Washington, and the total volume of decking material is 27,072 board feet, or a 2-by-4 at 61,872 feet (11.72 miles).

The north land bridge on the north side of the park will connect the Quik­ Trip Great Lawn and the QuikTrip Lake View Lawn, the latter of which 26 Tulsa World Magazine

abuts the Arkansas River. The expanses of the Great Lawn, equipped with sound and video capability, will enable the showing of outdoor movies and the accommodation of between 5,500 to 6,000 people for concerts, Stava said.

“We challenged the architect,” said Stava, referring to New York-based Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

“If we wanted to have Garth Brooks in Central Park, we could do it here. We have enough of what we need to make it happen.”

One of the most iconic components of TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

GATHERING PLACE

Above, a 35-foot paddle fish decorates one of the parks’ playgrounds.

At left, aquatic plants will dot the runnels and swales of the nearby Wetland Gardens.

At bottom, an artist rendering shows Mist Mountain, which will have a bursts-of-water feature called the Flying Fish.

RENDERINGS COURTESY/ Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.

Above, among the many engineering gems of the park is King Post Bridge, which spans a body of water called The Narrows.

At left, a stroll through Four Seasons Garden in the southern section of the park is sure to lower your blood pressure.

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Gathering Place

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Gathering Place the park will be the Fiberglass-canopied, multilevel ONEOK Boathouse, which will offer spectacular views of the river and city from the uppermost portion that contains a fullservice bar, restaurant and patio area. Multigenerational programming will be housed in the middle level, and a boat-craft house at pond level will feature kayak storage, a dock and workout space for boat repair and classes.

Swing Hill is situated at the highest point of the park for maximum optics of the downtown skyline. But you will have to work at it, Stava said.

“The slope prohibits you from seeing downtown when you sit on the swing,” he said. “But if you swing long enough, you earn your view of downtown.”

Major attractions on the southern portion of the park include the Bike Park, Skate Park and Sport Courts.

The courts were inspired by Stava’s trips to Europe and are framed by power poles and black mesh, a common containment measure for sports complexes in places such as Germany.

If you desire tranquility, strolls through Sky Garden and Four Seasons Garden, also in the southern section of the park, are sure to lower your blood pressure.

And for folks seeking seclusion among the masses, they should consider visiting one of three gathering nooks, which feature concrete, throne-like chairs in an acoustically enhanced circle setting.

“What’s cool about these is when you sit down, the concrete comes up over your ear,” Stava said. “So as you sit and talk to people, you can hear them incredibly well, even if you don’t scream or yell.

“You can imagine bringing a family and a portable table.

You can set it up and bring your cooler ... It could be kind of a home base. The kids go play and come back and eat lunch. I think these things will be a lot of fun.”

At left, the Fiberglass-canopied ONEOK Boathouse will offer spectacular views of the river and city from the uppermost portion.

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Above, the Bike Park will be one of the park features framed by power poles, a look inspired by European sports complexes.

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Gathering Place

An artist’s rendering shows the future Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab at Gathering Place. Courtesy/Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc.

What’s next?

A children’s museum will anchor park’s south side

By Rhett Morgan

30 Tulsa World Magazine

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Gathering Place

P

lenty is in store for Gathering Place’s encore, namely the Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab. But beyond those plans, developers want to evaluate Phase I before filling in Phase II. “We have a ton of ideas for the site,” said Jeff Stava, executive director and trustee of Gathering Place, LLC. “But we really want to get the park open and see what amenities and features people really like, which ones are jampacked crowded and which need to be expanded.”

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Possibilities for the 33.5-acre second phase, to be located on the southeast corner of 31st Street and Riverside Drive, include a flat, open lawn and an area for rock climbing, he said. Construction on the museum could start by 2019, with work on the remaining elements beginning between 2020-22, Stava said.

“Maybe we need more playgrounds,” Stava said. “Maybe we need more parking. Maybe we need more restaurants.

We want to take a wait-and-see approach.”

Discovery Lab’s location on Museum Hill will serve as a focal point on the park’s southern side.

It will encompass 50,000 square feet, including a 20,000-square-foot exhibit hall split into galleries, said Ray Vandiver, the museum’s executive director.

Also part of the facility will be five classrooms incorporated into Tulsa Public Schools’ STEM Center, a $4.5 million TPS bond project.

The estimated cost of building the facility and exhibits is about $35 million, Vandiver said.

“The mission and purpose of Discovery Lab aligns so perfectly with Gathering Place in connection with children and families,” he said. “The museum is excited to be associated with what’s going to be a world-class park.”

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Gathering Place

Wooden bridges connect parts of the park.

John Clanton/ Tulsa World Magazine

Your

questions about Gathering Place answered

By Kevin Canfield

How much will it cost to get into the park?

Free. There will be costs associated with food and beverages, sports equipment rentals, retail and certain events.

However, a large majority of the activities at Gathering Place will be offered free of charge.

What will be the hours?

Hours will fluctuate depending on the season. The standard operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Adventure Playground closing at dusk.

32 Tulsa World Magazine

How will the park be secured?

Tulsa Police? Private security? Both?

Gathering Place will employ 24-hour, onsite security and maintain partnerships with the Tulsa Police Department and private security firms to supplement the existing team during peak attendance days. Gathering Place will also boast a visible presence of actively involved park staff.

Can I take public transportation to the park?

Guests can take the Tulsa Transit Bus

Route 105 and exit along south Peoria Avenue. After exiting, guests can use the newly constructed city sidewalk or dedicated bike lane on 31st Street to walk or bike the remaining half mile to the park.

In 2019, the Bus Rapid Transit system will provide dedicated bus stops and increase service to Route 105. In addition, once routes are finalized, the Downtown Circulator will provide direct drop-off service to Gathering Place.

Will there be shuttle service to the park if parking lots are full?

Gathering Place is in the process of securing additional satellite parking lots to complement the main on-site parking.

Some of these additional parking lots are available by foot and others by a free shuttle. The satellite parking lots will be within reasonable proximity to the park, and their locations will be made public prior to the grand opening Sept. 8.

Can I bring food into the park?

Yes, but guests should be excited about the selection of different food and beverage options available at the restaurants TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

GATHERING PLACE and coffee shops. Glass bottles will not be allowed in the park.

Will the park sell alcohol?

Gathering Place will provide adult beverages for purchase to guests 21 years or older for responsible consumption while visiting the park.

Can people bring alcohol into the park?

No. Gathering Place is governed by current ABLE laws, and because Gathering Place will sell alcohol, guests will not be allowed to bring their own alcohol onto park premises.

Will I be able to buy beer or other alcoholic drinks at the park and carry it around?

No. However, policies could change based on proposed ordinances or due to the filing of special permits.

The roof of the boathouse is sure to become iconic. This is the place to get stunning views of the park and skyline. With a restaurant and access to the water, it’s a focal point.  JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

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Will there be places to buy kidfriendly food?

The culinary team from Gathering Place will have a specialized focus on the dining needs of families. Each

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GATHERING PLACE restaurant will offer a kid-friendly menu designed by executive chef Kirk Swaby.

Menus will also infuse a respectful blend of wellness ingredients with consideration for the needs of vegetarian and vegan guests.

What is the park’s pet policy?

Because of the expected high attendance, pets generally will not be allowed in the park due to obvious concerns of droppings, management and holding people accountable for cleaning up after themselves, Park Director Tony Moore said.

Gathering Place, however, will have programming specific to pets. During “Dog Play Days,” pet owners may bring their dogs to enjoy an enhanced play session with toys in a designated area of the park. Pets also will be allowed in the park during Family Movie Nights.

Will there be water fountains?

For guest convenience, Gathering Place will feature multiple water fountains and refillable bottle stations throughout the park.

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Pets generally will not be allowed in the park, but Gathering Place will have programming specific to pets at times. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

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Gathering Place

A beach area with plenty of natural seating borders the water. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

Where are the restrooms?

Gathering Place has strategically placed guest restrooms throughout the park, as well as in the Lodge, Boathouse, dining areas and at Adventure Playground.

Will there be bike racks? If so, where will they be?

Gathering Place will have bike parking conveniently located on the outer perimeter of the park, giving guests easy access to all areas of the park.

Will there be a first-aid/information station?

Gathering Place will offer limited first-aid supplies to guests in need while at the park.

Will people be able to rent boats to go on the pond?

Guests at Gathering Place will have three options of rental boats to choose from, including paddle boats, kayaks and canoes.

Will there be a baby-changing station in the men’s rooms?

Gathering Place will have babychanging stations in all restrooms, including male and female restrooms, as well as in family restrooms.

Will the park have a bike-share station? If so, where will it be?

Gathering Place will have bike-share locations close to regular bike parking. The stations will be conveniently located on the outer perimeter of the park, allowing guests easy access to all areas of the park.

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Can the public rollerblade in the skate park?

Visitors to the skate park can use different types of equipment, including skateboards, roller skates and rollerblades.

Will there be a mother’s room?

Gathering Place will have two main accommodations available for nursing. There is a multi-use room in the Welcome Center at the Lodge for guest needs, such as nursing. The multi-use room can also function as

a quiet room for autistic guests. The Adventure Playground also provides a dedicated family room equipped for these functions.

Where are entrances to the park?

Gathering Place offers multiple points of entry, some major and some minor, where guests can access the park from different points of arrival.

These entries are located near different parking areas, as well as walking or cycling arrival points.

How many parking spaces will there be?

Gathering Place will have 530 (23 ADA-accessible) permanent parking spaces throughout the park. This number includes four electric vehicle charging station spaces. In addition, there will be 1,420 (38 ADA-accessible) temporary parking spaces on the southeast corner of 31st Street and Riverside Drive. During peak attendance, off-site parking with shuttle access to Gathering Place will be offered on an as-needed basis.

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Place among the greats

How Gathering Place stacks up against other major municipal parks

B

By Kevin Canfield

oston Common is considered the first public park in the country. More than 200 years later, city parks are playing a critical role in revitalizing U.S. communities large and small.

Tulsa will add its name to the growing list of cities with great parks when Gathering Place opens later this summer.

Here is a look at some of the country’s other great urban gathering spaces and how they stack up with Gathering Place.

1. Central Park Location: New York City Acreage: 843 Cost: $7.4 million* Designers: Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux *Cost of initial land purchase

The state of New York set aside 750 acres for the park in 1853. It has since grown by about 100 acres and become the most famous public gathering space in the world.

The park includes 28 miles of pedestrian paths and 6 miles of trails for cyclists and carriages.

Visitors can take yoga classes, ice skate, ride a gondola or watch Shakespeare in the Park at Delacorte Theatre. Two-and-a-half acres of the park have been set aside to honor Beatles legend John Lennon. The area is called Strawberry Fields.

2. Discovery Green Location: Houston Acreage: 12 Cost: Approximately $180 million* Designer: Overseen by Hargreaves Associates; lead designer Mary Margaret Jones *Includes land and construction

Discovery Green is in the heart of downtown Houston. More than a century ago, the land was home to an affluent residential neighborhood, and in more recent times, parking lots and the Houston Center Gardens occupied the space.

Boston Common is a resplendent greenspace with ball fields, a bandstand, a tot lot and Frog Pond. Courtesy/City of Boston 36 Tulsa World Magazine

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Gathering Place The green was funded with public and private dollars and opened in 2008. Visitors stroll the promenades, exercise on jogging trails, shop at the flea market, relax in the reading rooms and enjoy the artwork, none more well-known or beloved than the Monument Au Fantome, or Monument to the Phantom.

3. Millennium Park Location: Chicago Acreage: 24.5 Cost: Approximately $490 million Designer: Multiple

Visitors to San Diego’s Balboa Park enjoy cuisine from a variety of food trucks. The iconic California Tower at the Museum of Man is in the background. Courtesy/Balboa Park Cultural Partnership

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Millennium Park was built on land that for nearly 150 years was home to Illinois Central Railroad. The idea to build the park was first pitched in 1997 by then-Mayor Richard Daley. A public-private partnership has since transformed the once-blighted industrial area along Lake Michigan into one of the nation’s top city parks.

The park is known for its concert spaces, like the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Great Lawn, as well as for its beautiful natural spaces, such as Lurie Garden. Cloud Gate, a 110-ton elliptical structure by British artist Anish Kapoor, exemplifies the kind of art, architecture and exhibits that make the park world-class.

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Gathering Place

4. Boston Common Location: Boston Acreage: 50 Cost: Not applicable Designer: Not applicable

The Puritans of village Boston purchased the land for a common from the city’s first settler, William Blackstone, in 1634. The property was used to graze livestock, train the militia and bury the dead.

History has been unfolding there ever since. British Redcoats set up a garrison there. Civil War recruiters and abolitionists spoke there. So did Charles Lindbergh, pitching commercial aviation. And Martin Luther King Jr., crusading for civil rights.

Today, the Common is a resplendent greenspace with ball fields, a bandstand, a tot lot and Frog Pond, a place to cool off in the summer and ice skate in the winter.

History continues to live there, with monuments to LaFayette and the Declaration of Independence.

5. Swope Park Location: Kansas City Acreage: 1,805 Cost: Property donated Designer: George Kessler* * Kessler supervised the creation of Kansas City’s basic parks and boulevards system, including the early development of Swope Park

The park’s namesake is Thomas H. Swope, who in 1896 donated 1,334 acres to the city. Soon, a golf course and zoo were built on the property. Today, the park is also home to the Kansas City Zoo, Lakeside Na38 Tulsa World Magazine

ture Center, Swope Park Soccer Village and the Starlight Theatre.

The park also includes horseback-riding trails, fishing areas, community gardens, hiking trails, a pool, a disc golf course and an off-leash area for dogs.

6. City Park Location: Denver Acreage: 320 Cost: N/A Designer: Original design by Henry Meryweather

This massive rectangle, originally laid out in 1882, is home to the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. In the center of the park are large, man-made lakes with fountains, islands and pavilions.

A true central gathering place, City Park offers postcard-perfect views of the Rocky Mountains. Most city dwellers live within 5 miles of the park, giving them easy access to playgrounds, tennis courts, gardens, ornamental fountains and ball fields.

7. Harold Simmons Park Location: Dallas Acreage: approximately 200 Cost: $150-$200 million Designer: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

Everything is bigger in Texas, they say.

And for Dallas, Harold Simmons Park marks a huge step forward in the city’s park system. Dallas has long hoped to construct a park along the Trinity River, and a $50 million donation from Annette and Harold Simmons has set the project in motion.

Forest Park in St. Louis is one of the most popular city parks in the country and attracts approximately 13 million visitors a year. Courtesy/Randy Allen

The design of the park is still in the early stages, but the goal is to create a public gathering space that connects the two sides of the river with trails and paths. The park will highlight native plants and wildlife that complement the river ecosystem, making for a great environment for hikers, cyclists and picnicking.

Construction is expected to begin in 2019, with the park opening in 2021.

8. City Park Location: New Orleans Acreage: 1,300 Cost: N/A Designer: N/A

Oak trees and art are just two aspects of this approximately 160-year-old park that make it a New Orleans jewel. Developed on the site of the Allard Plantation, City Park is home to the New Orleans Museum of Art and the largest collection of mature live oaks in the world.

City Park wouldn’t be The Big Easy’s best park without great musical performances.

Pearl Jam, the Beatles and the New Orleans Symphony have all performed there.

And there’s more: an 18-hole golf course, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, a botanical garden, two football stadiums, walking and cycling trails, 12 soccer fields and the 60-acre Couturie Forest.

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Gathering Place

Measuring up

Looking at where the Gathering Place stacks up to other major city parks across the United States in acreage. = 5 acres

Gathering Place (Tulsa, including phase II)

Millennium Park (Chicago) Boston Common (Boston)

City Park (Denver)

Central Park (New York)

9. Forest Park Location: St. Louis Acreage: 1,300 Cost: $1.3 million* Designer: Maximillian G. Kern and Julius Pitzman (original plan) *Cost of the project, including $800,000 for the land, in 1876, when the park was established

Forest Park is one of the most popular and beautiful city parks in the country. Established in 1876, it was home to the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, otherwise known as the World’s Fair, and now attracts approximately 13 million visitors a year. Many come to see the park’s major cultural institutions, including the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum and the Missouri History Museum.

Recreation options range from ice skating to golf to tennis, and the park’s dual paths provide space for a casual stroll or a serious run. Lakes, streams and forests — and endless flower beds — make Forest Park a great place to simply be.

10. Balboa Park Location: San Diego Acreage: 1,200 Cost: N/A Designer: Multiple architects, designers and horticulturists

Balboa Park, established in 1868, makes frequent appearances on lists of the world’s best parks. Perhaps best known as the home of the San Diego Zoo, it is much, much more.

The park has 17 museums, 17 gardens and 37 working studios and galleries.

The world’s largest pipe organ can be found in Balboa Park, as can hiking trails, the beloved

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Starlight Bowl theater, the Balboa Park Carousel and the Zoro Garden. For those looking to get moving, the park offers an activity center, a tennis club, disc (and regular) golf, as well as a velodrome and gym.

City Park (New Orleans)

11. Volunteer Park Location: Seattle Acreage: 48 Cost: N/A Designers: Olmsted Brothers

Volunteer Park is on the National Register of Historic Places. The city began purchasing the land for the park in 1876, but it did not truly take shape until the early 20th century, when Olmsted Brothers redesigned the park.

Volunteer Park may be best known for its observation tower, from which visitors have a clear view of the Cascade and Olympic ranges.

Dahlias bedazzle visitors in the summer and fall, with the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a conservatory, a children’s wading pool, and lily ponds, just a few of the park’s other attractions.

Swope Park (Kansas City)

12. Gathering Place Location: Tulsa Acreage: 100 (including Phase II) Cost: $465 million* Designer: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates *includes municipal infrastructure

Developed by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, this park fronts the Arkansas River and is minutes from downtown. It features a 5-acre playground, lodge, boathouse, sport courts, bike and skate parks, natural trails and large lawns for concerts. With pledges that will total $400 million, Gathering Place is the largest private gift to a public park in U.S. history.

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Gathering Place

40 Tulsa World Magazine

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12 words changed Tulsa forever How Gathering Place came to be

BY KEVIN CANFIELD

N

o one saw Gathering Place coming — not even George Kaiser.

But the businessman and philanthropist has long envisioned turning the Arkansas River waterfront into a gathering space for all Tulsans. He even put it down in writing nearly two decades ago.

“My emphasis is on creating attractive, outdoor gathering spots along the river.”

That sentence appears a ways down in a multipage list of goals Kaiser typed out in the early 2000s at the request of the then three-member board of directors of the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

They were interested to know how Kaiser wanted them to spend the foundation’s money, just in case he wasn’t there to tell them.

“We were wanting to understand more about what George would like to see done if he got hit by a truck kind of deal,” said Phil Frohlich, one of the original three GKFF board members. “He also said it would be kind of neat if it would tie to Brookside.

“That was the first time I ever thought about the park. The problem is, it’s not that easy to do, to build a gathering spot along the river.”

When Phase I of Gathering Place is completed later this summer, it will Maci, 8, and Mason McCay, 6, of Tulsa dig in the sand at the Gathering Place groundbreaking ceremony in 2014.

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Gathering Place cover 66.5 acres along the east side of the Arkansas River downtown. When Phase II is completed, the park will occupy more than 100 acres.

That’s 100 acres of land GKFF did not have when Kaiser wrote his wish list.

So Frohlich, founder of Prescott Group Capital Management LLC, started pulling out maps, looking for properties. Not to build a park, necessarily, but to begin the search for potential gathering spots along the river.

Serious discussions about building a park would not come until about 2009, after the foundation had spent $50 million to purchase three large properties near 31st Street and Riverside Drive.

First came the Legacy Apartments, then the Blair Mansion and, finally, the Sundance Apartments.

Frohlich laughs when he recalls the

sale of the historic mansion, a transaction he describes as the moment the park project — in its inchoate form — began to take off.

For generations, Tulsans traveling along Riverside Drive would look east and see the large, white Southern-style house fronted by a massive green lawn.

Now, just maybe, GKFF could buy the property.

“The week of the (2007) ice storm, that week we had a chance to sit down with Daniel Buford that owned the Blair Mansion property,” Frohlich said. “He was going to develop it, and he had an actual layout of the lots that he was going to develop.”

But there was a problem — no one had electricity. So Frohlich, who was staying at the downtown Hyatt with his family, asked Buford and Ken Levit, GKFF’s

An aerial view of the Blair Mansion on Riverside Drive is shown in 2010. The George Kaiser Family Foundation purchased the property in 2009 to pave the way for Gathering Place. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World Magazine file

executive director, to meet him at the hotel, and a deal was made.

“After that, we knew we had the property, and it was just a question of trying to figure out what we would do with it,” Frohlich said. “I personally had no idea that it (the park) would be as detailed and as complex as it was, but we felt we wanted to do something kind of worldclass.”

Now what?

GKFF purchased the last piece of property, the Sundance Apartments, in early 2009. But it would be another year and a half before the foundation went looking for someone to design a park.

For a while, Levit said, GKFF just wasn’t sure what to do with the property it had accumulated.

The first public meeting to discuss what was then called the Blair Park project was held in March 2012. The park eventually became Gathering Place. Tulsa World Magazine file

Gathering Place timeline 1999: George Kaiser Family Foundation formed

Early 2000s: George Kaiser, in a fourpage list of foundation priorities, includes this: “My emphasis is on creating attractive, outdoor gathering spots along the river.”

42 Tulsa World Magazine

Early 2009: GKFF completes purchases of Legacy Apartments, Sundance Apartments and Blair Mansion, clearing the way for the development of the park

September 2010: GKFF issues request for qualifications for park master plan

July 2011: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates hired to design park

Early 2012: Public learns of plans to build Gathering Place

March 2012: First public meeting to receive public input

November 2012: GKFF announces land bridges to link park to River Parks trails

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Gathering Place “We kept kind of coming up with our own ideas for how the property should lay out, hired some consultants to prepare some concepts,” Levit said. “We had a big vision, but we were amateurs trying to articulate it.”

Levit credits Kaiser with coming up with the solution: a design competition. The request for proposals went out in September 2010.

“That, in a way, really was the turning point,” Levit said. “I think that, in the earlier iterations, ambitions were a lot more modest. … The competition was the turning point because the level of interest was way beyond anything we expected.”

Jeff Stava, who has overseen construction of the park from Day One, remembers sitting in his office conducting a conference call with interested firms. One hundred forty-three people from all over the world called in. Translators were used. The call lasted more than two hours.

Thirty-six firms responded to the request for qualifications, and a selection committee made up of community leaders and GKFF officials narrowed the field to four finalists, each of whom received an hono-

Above, ground was broken for Gathering Place in September 2014, with site work starting that November. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine file At left, “A Gathering Place for Tulsa” was unveiled in June 2013. Tulsa World Magazine file

June 2013: Final park model unveiled

August 2013: Williams Foundation pledges up to $16 million to the park, becoming the first major corporate donor to the park

February 2014: Blair Mansion demolished

August 2014: Park donated to Riverparks Authority

November 2014: Site work at park begins

July 2015: Riverside Drive closed for reconstruction

August 2015: Crossland Construction replaces Manhattan Construction as construction manager Sept. 8, 2018: Park to open

Tulsa World Magazine File TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

September 2014: Groundbreaking

JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine Tulsa World Magazine 43­​

Gathering Place Kids play in the children’s museum tape tunnel during the Gathering Place groundbreaking celebration in September 2014. Tulsa World Magazine file

rarium from the foundation to provide more detailed plans.

Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates was hired to build the park in July 2011.

“One of the things I think we all fell in love with the most was that they had a lot of ideas, but they also wanted to listen to Tulsans,” Stava said. “They had such a pragmatic approach at listening to us and listening to the public and taking an inventory and moving this all together to make sure we had the best product.”

Building a park Tulsans had plenty of ideas — some kooky, some cool — about what the park should include.

The George Kaiser Family Foundation and MVVA held a series of public meetings in early 2012 to gather ideas.

Hundreds of people attended, and the suggestions ranged from a six-hole golf course and tree houses to an edible forest and a great lawn.

Van Valkenburgh told the Tulsa World in 2012 that his objective was to provide programming for all ages while retaining the park’s natural beauty.

“The trick is how you mix up quiet 44 Tulsa World Magazine

and noisy and active and passive,” he said. “It’s like cooking. You just don’t start pulling stuff out of the fridge and dumping it into a pot. It’s a little more complicated.”

There were other challenges. The properties purchased by GKFF were on the east side of Riverside Drive, leaving little direct access to the River Parks trail system and planned berms on the west side of the road.

From this dilemma emerged the park’s most iconic features — two large land bridges spanning Riverside Drive that seamlessly link the east and west sides of the park. And beneath them, tunnels like Tulsa has never seen before.

“When we were looking at all the early design work, we were looking at tunnels, we were looking at moving the road inland,” Stava said.

“We had a lot of different concepts where we tried to mitigate the impact the road had on the site. ... These large (land bridges) allow people to be in the park, yet not feel like they are going over the road.”

Not everything has gone perfectly over the long, early history of Gathering Place. Construction managers changed.

The park has taken about a year longer

to build than expected. And small sections of the park, on the west side of Riverside Drive, will not be open for several years because of continued work on Zink Dam and the pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River.

But this was a dream born of 12 typed words that has turned into the largest private gift to a public park in U.S. history, built next to and on top of one of Tulsa’s busiest streets. And few have complained.

This pleases Stava and the rest of the GKFF staff who have been involved with the project for years. The idea all along was to make it a community endeavor, not a “Kaiser Foundation play toy,” Stava said. The foundation has provided $200 million in land and funding, but another $200 million has come from corporations and private donors, and the city has provided $65 million in infrastructure.​ “Now, to see our ideas come to life on the site, I think it is bigger, better and more impactful than anything we could have ever imagined,” Stava said. “We are so appreciative of our nearly 80 donors and both the city and county for their partnership in helping this park happen for our community.”

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Celebrating 90 Years of Inspiring Passion for Wildlife

The belief that close contact with nature made people better citizens shaped Tulsa Parks Superintendent Will O. Doolittle’s 1927 plans for the Tulsa Park system. This Doolittle spoke for the animals when he proposed the creation of a zoological garden infused with his conservation ideals.

In September 1928, the Tulsa Zoo’s gates opened for the first time. Starting with only 35 animals, the Tulsa Zoo now has more than 3,000 animals representing 400 species resting on 84 acres. Ninety years later, the Tulsa Zoo continues Doolittle’s vision of connecting people with nature while maintaining high standards of animal care, contributing to global wildlife conservation, and serving as an educational resource.

Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve

This mixed species habitat was designed to educate and inspire conservation action on behalf of white rhinos and other African grassland species.

Tulsa Zoo Then & Now Lost Kingdom

The first major exhibit of our 20-year master plan, Lost Kingdom embodies the direction for our bigger, better zoo.

Monkey Island

Built by wheelbarrow and shovel during the New Deal era, Monkey Island was the signature attraction at the zoo.

Chimpanzee Connection

Monkey Island was transformed in the 1970s into an outdoor habitat for our chimpanzee troop. In 1991, the Chimpanzee Connection opened with large viewing windows to provide a glimpse into the lives of this social species.

Helmerich Sea Lion Cove

In 2012, the 47-year-old sea lion pool was reimagined. The resulting beach theme with complex rocky landscapes provides enrichment for sea lions with caves, flat rocks and shady spots.

Primate and Aviary Building

In 1957 the Primate and Aviary Building, now the Conservation Center, opened with indoor and outdoor exhibit space and a commissary for preparing the animals’ food.

Rainforest

Opened in 1997, this dynamic rainforest environment features free-roaming animals, huge aquariums and sections showcasing the interrelatedness of the natural world.

Bird Hall and Museum

The first zoo building, Bird Hall and Museum, opened in 1929 with 200 birds, more than 200 reptiles and a collection of Tulsa County bird eggs.

North American Living Museum to WildLIFE Trek

The nationally renowned Robert J. LaFortune North American Living Museum showcased animals by habitat rather than type.

The four-building complex reopened as the Robert J. La Fortune WildLIFE Trek in 2013 with animals from around the world and their unique adaptions to life in the cold, desert, forest and water.

ZOO EVENTS

Waltz on the Wild Side June 15, 2018 ZooRun October 6, 2018 HallowZOOeen October 27-31, 2018 Breakfast with Santa December 2018

YOUR EVENTS

Birthdays & Small Group Celebrations Weddings & Corporate Picnics

VISIT US TODAY

We’re open 9 am to 5 pm daily Closed the third Friday each June and on Christmas Day.

Ticket prices and more at tulsazoo.org 6421 E. 36th St. North, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Gathering Place

The people behind the park

GEORGE KAISER He is the park’s visionary and namesake of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, whose pledge of $200 million — the largest private gift to a public park in U.S. history — is the cornerstone of Gathering Place. Kaiser is president, CEO and primary owner of GBK Corp., parent of Kaiser-Francis Oil Co., which he has managed for about half a century. He is chairman of the board and majority owner of BOK Financial Corp. and a major shareholder in a number of diversified businesses in North America and overseas.

He continues to work full time with these enterprises while also offering counsel to GKFF. Kaiser attended Tulsa Public Schools and earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1964 and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1966.

He developed the foundation’s primary focus as equal opportunity for young children, which GKFF pursues through evidence-based and experimental programs. That mission derives from the belief that it is profoundly unfair and inconsistent with America’s founding principles for the accident of birth to determine a child’s potential. The unifying theme of the foundation is that “no newborn child bears any responsibility for the circumstances of her birth and yet her future chance for success in life is heavily influenced by those circumstances.”

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JEFF STAVA

Executive director and trustee of Tulsa’s Gathering Place LLC Stava has been point man for the park since its inception, coordinating all aspects of planning and overseeing day-to-day construction.

He is chief operating officer of Tulsa Community Foundation, which has $4.2 billion in assets and grants about $200 million each year to Tulsa-area nonprofits and programs. Stava joined TCF in May 2008 after working 12 years as president of a collection of businesses he and a group of investors built and later sold.

He graduated from Jenks High School in 1987 and obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baylor University in 1991.

He is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa (Class 28), trustee and vice chair for the Tulsa Airport Improvement Trust, past chairman of the VisiTulsa Regional Tourism executive board of directors, vice chair of the Tulsa Metro Chamber executive board of directors, member of the board of governors for Catholic Charities and a member and officer of Young Presidents Organization. In 2013, Stava helped recruit the Bassmaster Classic to Tulsa, serving as the Local Organizing Committee chairman for the event.

TONY MOORE Park director

Moore is a hospitality park executive with more than 30 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, most recently serving as chief operating officer at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. At Universal Studios, he held operational leadership roles and assisted with the opening of Universal Studios Islands of Adventure park. At SeaWorld, Moore was marketing manager, director of park operations, director of environmental health and safety, director of culinary revenue, director of corporate operations and executive assistant to the president and chairman of the board. He also has owned hospitality consulting firm Attractions Management Group Inc.

MICHAEL VAN VALKENBURGH Architect

President and CEO of Brooklynbased Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, he is the designer of Gathering Place and heads one of the country’s leading landscape architecture firms.

MVVA has crafted Brooklyn Bridge Park, the realignment and urban transformation of Toronto’s Don River and the intimate Monk’s Garden at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The company also is heading up the design of a waterfront park in Boston to honor Martin Richard, the youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.

Valkenburgh is a registered landscape architect in more than 25 states and in Canada, and is a fellow of the American Academy in Rome, as well as the American Society of Landscape Architects. In 2010, MVVA’s design for Brooklyn Bridge Park was awarded the prestigious Brendan Gill Prize from the Municipal Art Society of New York, presented to the work of art in a given year that best captures the spirit and energy of New York.

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how I got here.

Tony Moore

Moore is park director for Gathering Place, a $465 million public/ private partnership.

He’s spent more than 30 years in the theme park and hospitality business including leadership positions at Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and ZooTampa.

He moved to Tulsa with his wife, Gillian, and two children, Kai and Casilo.

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Gathering Place

Tony Moore Common theme runs through career leading parks Interview by Jason Collington / Photo by Stephen Pingry

> I was born in Jamaica. I grew up with my grandparents and uncle — hard-working professionals who instilled a work ethic. We were lucky. Our family was established and worked hard to get there. My parents lived in the states.

After high school, I came here when I was 17 years old. > I was generally smaller than the average guy. But I loved sports, and I wanted to excel at sports. I wanted to play soccer, but I didn’t have the skill. But through hard work and a big heart, I would fight and fight and fight. > One of my greatest accomplishments was I got an invite to try out for the team. My coach, Michael Hare, handpicked me, and I made my class team. I later went on to play soccer in college. > While in college, I needed gas money. SeaWorld was pretty close to my house in Orlando. I really wanted to go to Disney. But I loved the culture of SeaWorld. A park president, Bill Davis, was an early mentor. He’s a very handson guy. He’s now the COO of Universal Studios. He would interact with all levels of employees. He would ask, what is going on? What can I do better? What can I fix? > I remember he was the first person to tell me: You will be a park president one day. I was 21 or 22. > I do set goals. But I think it’s arrogant to say I will achieve this by this date. > I then went to Universal Studios in 1998 as the assistant manager of operations. A culture that was even more driven. They were trying to find their niche. This was pre-Harry Potter. In the post-Harry Potter era, the brand took off. This was when the brand was struggling a little bit. They had just spent $3 billion to build a new park and owed the banks a lot of money. > Then I had a call to be an executive assistant to the CEO and chairman of the board at SeaWorld. The parks were owned by Anheuser-Busch. So my boss was one of 16 who reported directly to the CEO of Anheuser-Busch. I moved to St. Louis — hated the cold — but I had a front seat at the table of one of the most profitable companies at the time. > August Busch III, the now former CEO of Anheuser-Busch, operates on a principle of quality. I was told by my boss: “I would much rather explain a financial shortfall than I would a quality shortfall.” That was a serious statement. It stuck with me. There is a lot of application here at Gathering Place. > Mr. Busch would land his helicopter every Saturday, and he would go in for a park walk. You would walk with him and he honestly did not want to see garbage on the ground. If there was a piece of paper on the ground, he would bend down and pick it up. So you would have vice presidents and directors fighting to get to pieces of paper before he got to it. > You make a culture. Then you maintain it. If you take care of quality, the rest will take care of itself. > I got a call about the Tampa Zoo, now called ZooTampa, needing a chief operating officer. They had not had any attendance growth in five years. For about two years, it was nonstop. We reinvested in the park and turned around everything. Momentum was starting to catch. Then a headhunter called saying, “They are building a park in Oklahoma.” I said, where? > When I saw the scale of the project, I was, like, wow. To put things in perspective, adding Harry Potter — that changed the business for Universal Studios — the initial build was just over $500 million. And when you are putting almost $500 million in the ground for a product that doesn’t have a return on investment but instead is here to enhance the city to make it more vibrant? I was not used to that kind of mission-based investment for the community.

I fully aligned with that. It made it an easy decision. > For a park at this scale, you don’t want a brand-new group of guys. You want an intelligent mix of veteran leadership who have been there, done that. I remember colleagues asking me how I was going to get people to come to Oklahoma. I am happy to say some of the strongest theme park operators in Orlando are now living in Tulsa. And they are happy to be here.

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Children cool off while playing in the Rose District splash pad.  IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine

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THE MOMENT. Kids enjoy the water at the Rose District Fountain, which is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday.

Not in Broken Arrow? There are plenty of other opportunities to get wet. Summer is fleeting, so grab a towel and check out one of these cool hot spots.

Guthrie Green, 111 E. M.B. Brady St., has a splash pad. So grab some tacos from Mr. Nice Guys and watch the kids play.

The 41st Street Plaza at River Parks has a water playground that’s open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

May through October.

The city of Tulsa has 12 water playgrounds that are open daily from noon to 8 p.m. Extended hours are available for a fee for special occasions. Locations are: • Chamberlain, 4949 N. Frankfort Ave. • Helmerich, 7301 S. Riverside Drive • Hunter, 5804 E. 91st St. • Kendall-Whittier, 2645 E. Fifth St. • Manion, 3003 E. 56th St. • Maxwell, 5251 E. Newton St. • Mohawk, 5701 E. 36th St. North • Owen, 560 N. Maybelle St. • Schlegel, 3825 W. 53rd Place • Springdale, 2223 E. Pine St. • Vining, 6502 N. Cincinnati Ave. • Whiteside, 4009 S. Pittsburg Ave. If you’re looking for a city pool: McClure Pool: 7440 E. Seventh St. Open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday and 1-7 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday; admission is $3 or $12 for group of six with minimum of one adult Berry Pool: 5002 N. Wheeling Ave. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday; free admission Whiteside Pool: 4013 S. Pittsburg Ave. Open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; free admission Reed Pool: 4233 S. Yukon Ave. Open 1-7 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; $1 admission TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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No time for a weeklong vacation? A short trek will take you to these attractions: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas (clockwise from top left); The Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska; the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve in Bartlesville; Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas; the Keeper of the Plains in Wichita, Kansas, and the Great Salt Plains State Park near Jet.

Chill out and get away Need a quick break?

Try these easy, breezy summer road trips

By Michael Overall / Tulsa World Magazine

N

ot every vacation needs to be extensively planned or far away. Some of the most relaxing trips are short and spontaneous, or at least put together quickly.

Here are a few ideas for relatively short, easy and inexpensive destinations within an easy driving distance from Tulsa.

Photo credits, clockwise from top left: Beth J. Harpaz/AP file, TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World Magazine file; Tulsa World Magazine file; Courtesy/Great Wolf Lodge; VANESSA PEARSON/Tulsa World Magazine file and REBEKAH WORKMAN/Oklahoma Tourism

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TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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The Amazeum in Bentonville, Arkansas, has some amazing things to do for visitors of all ages. SCOTT CHERRY/Tulsa World Magazine file

Crystal Bridges and the Amazeum children’s museum Bentonville, Arkansas 2 hours, 15 minutes from Tulsa

Visitors admire Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter” at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The Rockwell piece is part of the museum’s permanent collection, which includes many works by famous artists.

Beth J. Harpaz/AP file

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crystalbridges.org amazeum.org

Founded in 2005 by the Walton Family Foundation, Crystal Bridges has a world-class art collection that spans five centuries of American history, ranging from the Colonial era to the current day. Visitors will see some of the most recognizable paintings ever created in this country, including Asher Durand’s “Kindred Spirits,” Norman Rockwell’s “Rosie the Riveter” and Andy Warhol’s “Coca-Cola.”

The museum building itself, however, has become a tourist attraction. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, a series of pavilions are nestled around two spring-fed ponds and house galleries, meeting spaces and a large, glass-enclosed hall.

Half a mile away from Crystal Bridges, the Scott Family Amazeum children’s museum features roughly 50,000 square feet of exhibit space. Find exhibits that promise to get kids wet — bring a change of clothes — and even a Hershey’s Lab that lets kids play with candy.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

The Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Pawhuska contains more than 39,000 acres of breathtaking scenery owned by the Conservancy, not to mention one of the largest free-roaming herds of bison in the United States.

TOM GILBERT/ Tulsa World Magazine file

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve Pawhuska 1 hour, 30 minutes from Tulsa

Tallgrass prairie once covered more than 170 million acres of North America, stretching from Texas into Canada. Now, only a tiny fraction remains, but the largest single tract of virgin prairie is a short drive from Tulsa at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve north of Pawhuska.

The preserve contains more than 39,000 acres of breathtaking scenery owned by the Conservancy, not to mention one of the largest free-roaming herds of bison in the United States.

There is no admission charge, but be forewarned: The roads are mostly gravel and are not engineered for speed, to say the least. Plan to take a leisurely pace with frequent stops to admire the views.

On the way to or from the preserve, stop by the now world-famous Pioneer Woman Mercantile in downtown Pawhuska. Opened by Food Network star Ree Drummond, the “Merc” includes a restaurant, bakery and store in a historic building that recalls the oil-boom days in Osage County.

Next time you’re headed to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, be sure to stop at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile in downtown Pawhuska.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

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Great Salt Plains State Park Jet, Oklahoma 2 hours, 30 minutes from Tulsa

Oklahoma is the only place in the world where an hourglass-shaped selenite crystal can be found just under the surface of the Great Salt Plains. Kids love digging for them, and parents will be awed by the unique, moon-like landscape in one of Oklahoma’s most under-rated state parks, created by salt left over from an ocean that covered Oklahoma in prehistoric times.

The crystal digging area is southwest of the lake in the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. Other activities include swimming in the Great Salt Plains Lake or trekking along bike trails, where more than 300 species of protected birds live in the refuge.

More than 300 species of protected birds live in the refuge at Great Salt Plains State Park. RON STAHLl/Oklahoma Tourism

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Keeper of the Plains Wichita, Kansas 2 hours, 45 minutes from Tulsa

Standing 44 feet tall on top of a 30foot pedestal, this landmark sculpture stands at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers, the focal point of a $20 million beautification project. Pedestrians reach the sculpture by crossing two cable-stay bridges designed to look similar to bow-andarrows. But the attraction is most popular after dark, when it is dramatically lit by several “fire drums.”

While in Wichita, check out the unique Museum of World Treasures, with more than 3,000 artifacts from ancient Egypt, the Conquistadors and historic battlefields. And have dinner in the historic but trendy Old Town district, often described as “an outdoor museum of centuries-old architecture.”

Woolaroc Bartlesville, Oklahoma 50 minutes from Tulsa

Frank Phillips’ old estate and museum offers one of the world’s most unique collections of Western art and artifacts, along with one of the largest collections of historic Colt firearms.

Visitors approach the museum through a 3,700-acre wildlife preserve that is home to more than 30 varieties of native and exotic animals, including a large herd of bison.

The log cabin-style Woolaroc Lodge, completed in 1927 with eight bedrooms, became the country home of Frank and Jane Phillips, where they entertained friends from the East Coast.

Filled with gifts and artwork from that time period, the house now serves as a sort of time capsule for the Oil Boom.

From top: The Keeper of the Plains in Wichita, Kansas; Woolaroc in Bartlesville; and Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas.

Vanessa Pearson/ Tulsa World Magazine file; Tulsa World Magazine file; Courtesy/ Great Wolf Lodge

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Great Wolf Lodge and Legoland Grapevine, Texas 4 hours, 30 minutes from Tulsa

Advertised as a sort of one-stop vacation destination, Great Wolf offers a busy weekend’s worth of family activities, all basically part of the hotel itself.

There’s a ropes course, a 4-D theater with motion-enhanced seats, a video game arcade and, most famously, a large-scale indoor water park, including a slide that’s four-stories tall.

But if that’s not enough, the lodge sits less than 3 miles from Legoland, a $12 million, 35,000-square-foot “discovery center,” featuring rides, interactive exhibits and more than 2 million Lego bricks.

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A double cheeseburger, onion rings and chocolate shake are served at Arnold’s Hamburgers. Tulsa World Magazine file

Burger joints

pit stop

G

By Scott Cherry • Tulsa World Magazine

ourmet hamburgers are fine. Nothing is wrong with Muenster cheese, jalapenos, Thai chili, pork belly, pineapple, mushrooms and kale joining a ground beef patty and mustard

on a bun.

But don’t you have days when nothing else will do except a classic, old-fashioned burger? If you had classic burgers as a kid, that aroma, like the smell of freshly mown grass, stays in your head for a lifetime.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

We don’t have as many old-fashioned burger places as we did even 10 years ago, but Tulsa is still one of the best places in the country to get a simple grilled patty with pickles and mustard — lettuce and tomato are available now but sometimes grudgingly.

All of these restaurants are more than 30 years old.

And there’s something unique about each of them. So, this summer, make a checklist and mark a trip to one of these timeless burger joints off your list.

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Weber’s Superior Root Beer 3817 S. Peoria Ave. | 85 years old Oscar Weber Bilby, who some contend invented the hamburger at an 1891 picnic on his ranch west of Tulsa, and his son Leo opened this Brookside restaurant in 1933.

Oscar and Leo also developed a recipe for root beer that still is used today.

Oscar’s grandson Rick Bilby, wife Jennifer, daughter Michelle and cousin Amber Valentine operate the restaurant today in the familiar orange building with black trim.

This is the place to sit on a bar stool and watch Brookside traffic go by with a burger and a frosty mug of root beer. A quintessential Tulsa summer ritual.

House-made root beer in frosted mugs always has been one of the most popular items at Weber’s Superior Root Beer. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

Harden’s Hamburgers 432 S. Sheridan Road | Nearing 80 years old Dalomi and Johney Harden opened their first restaurant, Johney’s Jip Joint, on Sixth Street between Boston and Cincinnati avenues in 1939. A few years later, they opened Harden’s Hamburgers at 4004 E. 11th St. They proved to be visionaries, too, opening Tulsa’s first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in 1958. Harden’s has had several locations and owners over the years. Today, it is owned by Lana and Tony Rodriguez and has been in its current location for about 18 years.

With antiques and bicycles everywhere, Harden’s is a trip down memory lane.

A charburger and onion rings is served at Ted’s Hamburgers. Tulsa World Magazine file

Ted’s Hamburgers Harden’s Hamburgers sports an impressive collection of antiques and memorabilia.

Tulsa World Magazine file

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2906 W. Edison St. | Nearing 70 years old Priscilla and Ted Coulson operated their first place at Archer Street and Quanah Avenue for about a dozen years before moving to the current location in 1963.

Their granddaughter Jamie Coulson Allen runs the restaurant today. Manager Sandra Sayles, who has been with Ted’s for 33 years, says, “I got a job here in high school, and I just never left.”

Across from Central High School, Ted’s is the high school hang-out you wish you’d had.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Hank’s Hamburgers

Claud’s Hamburgers

8933 E. Admiral Place | 69 years old Ruby and Hank Henry opened Hank’s in 1949 at 11th Street and Frisco Avenue and moved to its current spot in 1955. Marilyn and Dennis Felts and Dennis’ brother- and sister-in-law Jim and Shala Felts acquired the restaurant from the founding family in 2003.

Hank’s has been featured in an Al Roker television special and in articles in USA Today and the New York Times. Singers Jessi Colter and the late Waylon Jennings celebrated their 20th anniversary there. It’s also famous for the Big Okie, with its four quarter-pound patties, four slices of cheese, mustard, pickles, fried or raw onions, lettuce and tomato.

Finishing one is a badge of honor.

3834 S. Peoria Ave. | 64 years old Wilma and Claud Hobson launched their first Claud’s Hamburger location in 1954 on Admiral Boulevard west of Sheridan Road. When construction started on the Crosstown Expressway (Interstate 244), they purchased a former Vann’s Hamburger building at their current location.

Some combination of their children has operated the restaurant for most of the past three decades. Son Robert owns the restaurant today.

Standing in line for one of the few bar stools in this small Brookside eatery is part of the charm. Expect a good, old-fashioned, greasy burger, or go for a hamburger steak with fries.

And, if you must, you can get lettuce. But Claud wouldn’t have approved.

A burger and fries is served at Hank’s Hamburgers. Tulsa World Magazine file

Brownie’s Hamburger Stand 2130 S. Harvard Ave., 6577 E. 71st St. | 61 years old Brownie’s, founded by brothers Bill and Darrell Bowen in 1957, is known for its old-fashioned burgers, house-made root beer, house-made pies and an exterior neon sign of a little boy holding a mug of root beer.

The late Bill Bowen once said the restaurant never was intended to be called Brownie’s.

“Brownie’s was a root beer stand next to Troy’s, a hamburger place where I was working,” Bowen said. “Mr. Brown sold me my first root beer-making machine, and he sold me the sign with the boy holding the root beer mug. I had been thinking about creating a name for the restaurant, but because of the sign, Brownie’s just stuck with our customers.”

The original sign was made of wood and has been remolded in metal, according to current operator Dusty Oakley.

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Bill’s Jumbo Burgers 2002 E. Admiral Blvd. | 58 years old Annie and Bill Henry opened Bill’s Jumbo in 1960 in a Pepto Bismol-pink former gas station. It burned in 1964, and they moved a vacant former Vann’s Hamburger building at 15th Street and Lewis Avenue to their spot on the corner of Admiral Boulevard and Xanthus Avenue.

Today, their son Tim Henry, his wife, Sandy, daughter Jennifer Compton and sister Teresa Johnson operate the tiny restaurant. Most orders are carryout, and lunch lines can be long. Call ahead if you think about it.

Bill Henry and Hank Henry of Hank’s Hamburgers were brothers.

Bill’s Jumbo Burgers is a tiny place that has drawn big lunch crowds for 58 years.

STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World Magazine file

Linda-Mar Drive-In 1614 W. 51st St., 7106 E. Admiral Place | More than 50 years old This westside mainstay was opened in the mid- to late 1960s by Walt Cook, who named it after his daughters, Linda and Margaret. An eastside location was opened only last year.

It has had multiple owners, including several members of the McCutchen family. Mike McCutchen is the current owner.

“Andy Griffith” reruns are always on the TV, and the chicken basket may be even more famous than the burgers with locals.

The pickle and condiment bar at Goldie’s Patio Grill has been a popular feature for decades. Tulsa World Magazine file

Goldie’s Patio Grill 5200 S. Lewis Ave., 6121 E. 61st St., 4401 E. 31st St. | Locations also in Broken Arrow, Owasso, Pryor and Bartlesville | 56 years old In 1962, Goldie Crow was a waitress at a six-table restaurant, Tommy’s Patio Grill, adjoining the pro shop of the old Par 3 golf course near 51st Street and Lewis Avenue. As the story goes, the owner told her if she could raise the cash, he would sell her the restaurant for $3,000.

Crow’s son Bill had just graduated from high school, so she borrowed the money, perfected her recipes and put Bill to work as the cook. She changed the name to Goldie’s Patio Grill. The Crow family and franchisees still operate the restaurants today.

Go for the charburgers and make sure to go through the famous pickle bar.

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The Westside Burger is a favorite among customers at Linda-Mar Drive-In’s original location. The east Tulsa that recently opened has a special Eastside Burger. Tulsa World Magazine file TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili 1545 S. Sheridan Road, 6548 E. 51st St., 8201 S. Harvard Ave., 7119 S. Mingo Road, 1440 S. Denver Ave. | 10 more in the Tulsa area | 43 years old Betty and Ron Baber founded the restaurant in a 10-stool building at 3229 E. 15th St. in 1975.

That building is gone, but 15 still operate in the Tulsa metro area, and most still are run by Baber family members.

In addition to the old-fashioned burgers, fans go to Ron’s for chili, sausage cheeseburger, Spanish fries and Ron’s Special Burger, a jumbo cheeseburger with Cure 81 ham and real bacon bits.

The “Hatfield’s Hamburgers” part of the sign blew away in an Oklahoma windstorm a few years ago. Tulsa World Magazine file

Hatfield’s Burgers & BBQ 11223 E. Admiral Blvd. | About 40 years old The sign on the pole outside says “the Real McCoy.” Although the sign that used to hang above it blew away in an Oklahoma windstorm, longtime east Tulsans can tell you what it said: “Hatfield’s Hamburgers.”

According to owners Lera and Gary Smith, it opened as a Tastee Freez in 1964, became Tanner’s Drive-In in the early ‘70s and then a Golden Burger, owned by Gary Smith’s parents.

Howard Hatfield bought the place in the late 1970s and gave the restaurant its current name. He also attached a big smoker to the rear of the building for barbecue. When Hatfield retired, Lera and Gary purchased the restaurant and kept the name. That was 23 years ago.

The barbecue is as good as the burgers, especially the ribs.

Ty’s Hamburgers

Billy’s on the Square

1534 S. Harvard Ave. | 35 years old Jacci and Joe Harris founded Ty’s on Fort Gibson Lake in 1982 and opened the Tulsa store in 1983. Chris Cushenberry has owned Ty’s for the past 23 years.

The red and yellow sign painted on the building’s green exterior still reads “over 3 dozen sold,” an obvious play on the old McDonald’s promotions.

The small menu includes curly Q fries spun in-house daily.

424 S. Main St. | BOK Center on event nights | 34 years old Billy Bayouth and wife Anita opened Billy’s on the Square in 1984 on the southeast corner of Fifth and Main streets. When lease negotiations stalled, he moved to the northwest corner of what then was Bartlett Square in 2002, a much-missed feature of downtown Tulsa. Many employees, including Anita’s sister Stephanie, have been with Billy’s for many years.

Billy’s is best-known for its Theta burger, housemade onion rings, chicken Caesar salad and collection of Mayfest posters that date to the first year they were issued in 1982.

A cheeseburger and fries combo is served at Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili restaurant.

Tulsa World Magazine file

Arnold’s

The Freeze 212 E. 46th St. North | 43 years old This restaurant that has been serving the northside for more than four decades was founded as a Tastee Freez by Ronald Vaughan and has stayed in the Vaughan family since the beginning. Scott Vaughan is the current owner.

The old-fashioned burgers are the backbone of the restaurant, but don’t overlook hot wings, fried catfish and soft-serve ice cream.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

The third-pound cheeseburger with house-made curly fries is served at Ty’s Hamburgers.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

1722 W. 51st St. | 32 years old Arnold’s décor is loosely based on the classic television show “Happy Days.” Conveniently, the name also reflects the name of the founders, Vicki and Frank Arnold.

Arnold’s is known for its old-fashioned hamburgers, malts, shakes, cherry limeades and root beer in a mug.

The restaurant is just west of Union Avenue and north of Interstate 44.

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In the know

Explore and

enjoy Find some adventure in one of Oklahoma’s best state parks 66 Tulsa World Magazine

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Rock formations and trails are available for exploration at Robbers Cave State Park near Wilburton.   STEPHEN PINGRY PINGRY/Tulsa /Tulsa World Magazine file

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O

klahoma is blessed with more than three dozen state parks for your enjoyment.

The map dots for park locations connect all over the state — and to the far reaches of the state. Be ready for a 600-mile journey if you want to trek all the way from Beavers Bend State Park in the southeast corner of the state to Black Mesa at the tip of

By Jimmie Tramel the panhandle. Maybe you could tulsa world magazine even hit a few other state parks along the way. contributions from Kelly Bostian So many miles. So many choices.

What’s your pleasure? State parks are treasure grounds for fishing, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, disc golf, spelunking, boating, horseback riding, golfing, hunting and swimming.

You can search for your preferred form of recreation by going to travelok.com and clicking on the “state parks” tab.

But, if you just want a few recommendations, check out these “best-ofs” regarding Oklahoma state parks.

Best state park for letting your imagination run wild Robbers Cave State Park Five miles north of Wilburton in Latimer County, Robbers Cave State Park is named for a famous “outlaw cave” hidden in the formation of sandstone hills and cliffs, ranging from 300 feet to 1,500 feet in height.

Did bandits like Jesse James and Belle Starr really hide out here?

These words are on a sign at the entrance of Robbers Cave Nature Trail: “Robbers Cave, located on this trail, is a legendary outlaw hideout. No gunfighters or any historic incidents are documented as having occurred at this cave. Yet it is a fact that local travelers during the 1865-90 period were often victimized by bands of robbers. Because of the cave’s secluded location it is thus likely that it served as an outlaw hideout.”

Check out the surroundings, and it’s easy to see why an outlaw would choose this neck of the woods as a hideout. There are points high atop the park where you can see forever — or at least anyone approaching the vicinity.

Starr lived in a cabin about 20 miles north of Robbers Cave and reportedly welcomed If you were an outlaw hiding out at Robbers Cave State Park, perhaps you could see people approaching from miles around. STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World Magazine file outlaw guests into her home.

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Best state park for waterfall photo ops

Natural Falls State Park near West Siloam Springs features a 77-foot waterfall. Visitors can descend to the bottom of the falls and take in the sights from an observation platform.

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Jordan Yocum of Oklahoma City looks at Fort Gibson Lake at Sequoyah State Park in 2016.

MIKE SIMONS/ Tulsa World Magazine file

Natural Falls State Park Visitors to Natural Falls State Park near the Oklahoma/ Arkansas border are in for a visual treat. Hint: What’s the name of the park?

Natural Falls State Park features a 77-foot waterfall that cascades through rock formations. Park guests approach from the top of the falls and can descend to the bottom, where a serene atmosphere awaits for those who visit an observation deck.

This is also a recommended state park for hiking because 4½ miles of hiking and nature trails are available for exploration.

Scenes from the 1974 movie “Where the Red Fern Grows” were filmed at Natural Falls State Park.

Best state park for Western swing Sequoyah State Park Who says you can’t enjoy the “wild” life of Western swing music when not enjoying wildlife?

Oklahoma’s music history is rich in Western swing. Cain’s Ballroom, the former home of Bob Wills and the Texas TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Playboys, was once known as the Carnegie Hall of Western swing.

The Lodge at Sequoyah State Park near Wagoner will host an annual Western Swing Weekend beginning on Halloween and continuing through Nov. 4. The event will feature live Western swing music, plus daytime and evening dances.

Western Swing Weekend continues the legacy of musician Bob Cobb, who grew up in Wagoner and is in the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame.

Sequoyah State Park is on the shores of Fort Gibson Lake. The park is blessed with more than 19,000 surface acres of water and 225 miles of shoreline.

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Best state park for hiking/star watching Black Mesa State Park and Nature Preserve

Black Mesa is the highest point in Oklahoma. Visitors can hike to the top of the plateau.

COURTESY/Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation

Best state park for FIshing Beavers Bend State Park Near Broken Bow, Beavers Bend State Park is a go-to place to throw a line in the water because the trout stream is always stocked, and the stream has relatively consistent flow, so there’s less chance of getting there during a “bad” fishing time. Wintertime trout are stocked at Robbers Cave State Park.

Closer to Tulsa, Greenleaf State Park is ideal for canoeing/kayaking with panfish and bass or, of course, Tenkiller State Park because, well, Tenkiller Lake has everything and the upper and lower Illinois River areas are near.

Arrowhead State Park at Lake Eufaula is another good option because of a marina and on-site For fishing at Oklahoma state parks, it’s hard to beat Beavers Bend State boat rentals.

Park. COURTESY/Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation

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Oklahoma’s highest point is 4,973 feet above sea level. Hikers can get there by ascending the plateau inside the Black Mesa Nature Preserve.

Tulsa-area visitors are in for a long haul if they want to check out Black Mesa. It is in the Oklahoma panhandle along the border with Colorado and New Mexico.

Black Mesa gets its name from a layer of black lava rock that coated the mesa about 30 million years ago, according to travelok.com. The site said the nature preserve consists of approximately 1,600 acres, where visitors can hike and enjoy 23 rare plants and eight rare animal species.

Black Mesa’s dark skies are an attraction for astronomy enthusiasts. Travelok. com said the state park is especially popular in August when the annual Perseid meteor shower is visible.

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One-of-a-kind

Experience

ahha Tulsa readies interactive ‘Experience’

By James D. Watts Jr. Photos By Stephen Pingry Tulsa World Magazine

I

mages of Tulsa actor Charles Kevin Smith were supposed to accompany people in a genial fashion as they strolled along a corridor, smiling and nodding and tossing out greetings as they progressed to where Smith was performing some kind of bizarre dance with a tambourine.

“But there was this odd sort of wobble that, for the longest time, I couldn’t get rid of,” said Jeremy Lamberton, a Tulsa filmmaker and video artist who created this interactive tunnel. “It took me about three times to finally get that wobble out of the screen.

“The thing is, now I’m pretty sick of what’s going on in that tunnel. But that’s one of the great things about this project. It’s designed so that I can keep changing and manipulating the content of my installation, so that it’s continually a new thing.”

Daniel Sutliffe’s installation made use of people visiting the Hardesty Arts Center during the Tulsa Arts District’s First Friday Art Crawls.

Sutliffe would film extreme close-ups of people’s eyes — 118, to be exact — which he then edited into a video that is projected at one end of his installation.

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Artist Jeremy Lamberton’s installation (above and right) is designed so that he can keep changing and manipulating the content of the work, so that “it’s continually a new thing.”

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Lamberton is one of five lead artists selected by ahha Tulsa for “The Experience,” an immersive, interactive multi-artist installation that has taken over the entire second floor of the Hardesty Arts Center, 101 E. Archer St., in the Tulsa Arts District.

The artists — Lamberton, David Reed James, Laurie Keeley, JP Morrison Lans and Daniel Sutliffe — were given specific areas within the second floor of the ahha Tulsa facility that previously had been used as office and meeting rooms to create installations in which their individual imaginations could freely roam.

“The only requirements were that things had to be interactive in some way and that it would be for all ages,” Lamberton said.

“And things had to conform to city codes, which has been one of the biggest challenges,” said David Reed James, laughing. “That’s something I don’t think any of us has had to deal with in the past.”

Amber Litwack, director of education, public engagement and national partnerships for ahha Tulsa, said the idea for “The Experience” was modeled after the immersive installation exhibits created by Meow Wolf, an artist collective in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In 2016, with the help of a $2.7 million pledge from “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin, the group renovated an abandoned bowling alley into a permanent exhibition space for its installation “The House of Eternal Return,”

described as a “cross between Disneyland and a massive, multiplayer IRL (in real life) game.” The Meow Wolf collective is planning to open similar facilities and installations in Denver and Las Vegas.

“We wanted to bring something like (Meow Wolf ) to Tulsa,” Litwak said, “because we think it’s important to present things that would appeal to people who wouldn’t ordinarily go to an art gallery. We wanted this to be something that anyone would find intriguing. And we wanted it to be fun for everyone, while maintaining the highest quality of art.”

Ahha Tulsa officials wanted to have “The ExperiTULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

ence” in near-finished form by mid-May, when the organization hosts its annual fundraising gala, Create.

“That meant we basically had nine months,” Litwak said. “Because the time was so short, we approached artists that we knew were making quality work in a variety of disciplines, were dependable and could rise to the challenge of working on this scale.”

Once the artists were selected, they were given a monthly stipend and a budget for supplies.

“We want to be able to support local artists with funding and also provide them a unique platform to create and show large-scale works,” Litwak said.

“One of the great by-products of this process has been getting to work with a lot of highly skilled craftspeople and artists to help us realize these installations,” Sutliffe said.

“It’s been a total collaboration with artists in this community — a real team effort,” Lamberton added.

Each lead artist has a self-contained space or spaces on the second floor of the Hardesty Arts Center, but the exhibits themselves flow into one another, with multiple entry points so that walking through “The Experience” is akin to paging through an anthology of alternative realities that could be dream worlds or nightmares — or possibly both.

James, a sculptor whose career has included constructing props for such films as “Avatar,” TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

“Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” “Jurassic World” and “National Treasure,” has created an installation that is all about the world of dreams. At the center of his space is a tiny house-like structure he calls the “Siestamatic — The Sleep of Tomorrow Today.”

Volunteers will sign up to spend some time napping in the Siestamatic, from which runs a series of tubes and conduits.

“It’s as if the dreams and thoughts of the people in the Siestamatic are being sucked out of their heads and made into reality,” James said.

These realities include a small town of houses that can go up in flames as the viewer steps on pressure sensors in the floor, a booth in which one

Artist David Reed James is a sculptor whose career has included constructing props for such films as “Avatar,” “Guardians of the Galaxy 2,” “Jurassic World” and “National Treasure.”

His installation is all about the world of dreams and includes a “Siestamatic” (left) and a “Gum Lab,” (above) where patrons can obtain gumballs they may chew and affix to constructions of books and school desks.

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manipulates his or her reflection with the face of a person sitting opposite, Rube Goldberg-like contraptions that create atonal music, a theater space showing “Siestamatic” commercials, complete with trampoline, and a “Gum Lab,” where patrons can obtain gumballs they may chew and affix to constructions of books and school desks.

Keeley’s space has as its theme “An Airplane Crashing into a Better Place.”

A mock fuselage contains doors that open to reveal video screens, on which play a series of humorous rap videos, dealing with subjects such as broccoli, cockroaches and horses. It also contains a “Horse Rocket,” which patrons can ride, with projections giving the illusion of movement.

“I’ve always wanted to work with film,” Keeley said. “It looks so easy when you see something like a rap video on TV, but I found out very quickly it’s a lot of work.

“While there are a lot of lighthearted things about my installation, it also has a very serious element, which is the depression room. I want to try to convey what heavy depression truly feels like.”

Morrison Lans’ installation reaches for the sky, in almost a literal fashion.

One space contains large orbs under which patrons may recline on pillows covered in grass-green shag to watch randomized artificial lightning, or open one of the 17 small and large doors behind which are dioramas created by local artists.

“The handles on these doors will be casts of the hands of the artists who made each of the dioramas,” Morrison Lans said.

Hands are a major part of Morrison Lans’ second installation, which features a Plexiglas arch on which the constellations and other stars have been meticulously mapped out. Banks of hands reach up and out under this artificial sky.

“We would do hand-castings of people who came through during First Fridays — there are 245 hands all told,” Morrison Lans said. “Some people really got into it. They’d have their hands in a bucket with two or three other people, and these friendships would form.”

Sutliffe’s installation also made use of people visiting the Hardesty Arts Center during the Tulsa Arts District’s First Friday Art Crawls. Sutliffe would film extreme close-ups of people’s eyes — 118, to be exact — which he then edited into a video that is projected at one end 74 Tulsa World Magazine

“I wanted to have this very closed-in space, like you’re in some kind of a space ship,” said Daniel Sutliffe of his installation within “The Experience.” The angled white walls of the work have everchanging multicolored lights.

JP Morrison Lans’ installation reaches for the sky, in almost a literal fashion.

One space contains large orbs under which patrons may recline on pillows covered in grassgreen shag to watch randomized artificial lightning, or open one of the 17 small and large doors behind which are dioramas created by local artists.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Laurie Keeley’s space has as its theme “An Airplane Crashing into a Better Place.” A mock fuselage contains doors that open to reveal video screens, on which play a series of humorous rap videos, dealing with subjects such as broccoli, cockroaches and horses.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

of his installation.

“I wanted to have this very closed-in space, like you’re in some kind of a space ship,” he said. The angled white walls, with ever-changing multicolored lights showing through slits, are designed “to give people the sense that they could become lost in here, that there’s no way to know exactly where you’ll end up.”

Once one passes through the tunnel in Lamberton’s installation, visitors can find a series of rooms, including a mini-theater showing a video of a young man running on a treadmill in the woods and the emotions through which he goes. Other rooms will have syncopated lights and sounds, depending on where visitors step in the room.

While the installations were not completely finished by the time of the Create gala, enough of “The Experience” was in place to give patrons a real sense of the installations.

“I really enjoyed watching people go through here,” James said. “When people got to the trampoline theater, for example, it was as if they were behaving like kids again, bouncing around the room.”

“That’s the real success of this project, that we are bringing a bit of childhood back to adults,” Keeley said.

“You enter these spaces, and you forget about the outside world for a while and just let yourself be lost in the moment, in the experience before you.”

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Margaret Ann Thompson looks at stereograms in the “Exploring The Big Trail” exhibit at Gilcrease Museum. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

arts the

Tulsa in

Current and upcoming events around the area >>Through 7/22, ‘Red Dirt Rug’

Rena Detrixhe’s creation, made of finely sifted Oklahoma red dirt and meticulously embossed with forms made from cast-off shoes, is a meditation on home and history and the marks mankind leaves on any landscape.

WHERE: Philbrook Downtown, 116 E. M.B. Brady St. FOR MORE: philbrook.org 76 Tulsa World Magazine

>>Through 8/20, ‘X: 40 Years of Punk in Los Angeles’ The history of the influential punk rock band X is explored in this multimedia exhibit, curated by the Grammy Museum and featuring musical instruments, handwritten lyrics and more.

WHERE: Woody Guthrie Center, 102 E. M.B. Brady St. FOR MORE: woodyguthrie.org >>Through 9/9, ‘INNOVATIVE IMPRESSIONS’ This unique-to-Philbrook exhibit explores the groundbreaking work of three artists — Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro — in the medium of printmaking. The exhibit, curated

by Sarah Lees, draws from collections throughout the U.S. and includes key paintings by each artist, as well as their works on paper.

WHERE: Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road FOR MORE: philbrook.org >>Through 12/31, ‘EXPLORING THE BIG TRAIL’ The exhibit features rare, stereoscopic photographs taken during the filming of “The Big Trail,” the 1930 film starring John Wayne that is considered the first big-budget epic motion picture of the sound era.

WHERE: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road FOR MORE: gilcrease.org >>7/3, ’4th on the Third’ Start your celebration of our nation’s birthday early, with the musical fireworks supplied by the Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College. Patriotic music, salutes to those who TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

have served in the armed forces, special guests and more.

WHERE: VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st St. FOR MORE: signaturesymphony.org >>7/7-11/25, ’Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo’ This collection of black-and-white photographs between 1988 and 1992 documents the gay rodeo circuit and the lives of many of its participants in those years, serving as a stunning example of black-and-white portraiture and of rodeo photography and an exploration of the diverse and complex natures of individual and community identity in the West.

WHERE: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road FOR MORE: gilcrease.org >>7/13-22, ‘Lizzie’ Everyone knows the rhyme about Lizzie Borden, she of the “40 whacks with an ax,” but the story has never been told the way it is in “Lizzie,” described by the New York Times as “a gothic rock ritual with ‘riotgirl’ attitude … deliciously watchable.” Tulsa Project Theatre presents the Oklahoma premiere of this musical by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt and Tim Maner.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com >>7/13-15, ‘Seussical Jr.’ Students from Theatre Tulsa’s Broadway Beginners and Bootcampers let their imaginations run free in this student version of Stephen Flaherty’s and Lynn Ahrens’ whimsical musical based on several of Dr. Seuss’ most famous children’s stories.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com >>7/14-10/7, ‘T.C. Cannon: At the Edge of America’ The first major traveling exhibit of the Oklahoma native’s work since 1990, this exhibit will feature nearly 90 works, including 30 major paintings, works on paper, poetry and musical recordings that showcase Cannon’s distinctive world view that channels his cultural heritage, experience as a Vietnam War veteran and the turbulent social and political climate of 1960s and ’70s America.

WHERE: Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Road FOR MORE: gilcrease.org >>7/20-22, ‘Hairspray’ Theatre Tulsa’s Broadway Bound students take on “Hairspray,” one of the most hilarious shows in modern musical theatre. Teenager Tracy Turnblad’s life in 1962 turns upside-down when she wins a role on her favorite TV show, which turns her into a crusader for all of the outsiders in her hometown.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com >>7/20, 1964 ... The Tribute Celebrity Attractions has been presenting this re-creation of the Fab Four during their early years annually for the past 30-odd years. 1964 …

The Tribute is known for duplicating the Beatles down to the last detail, from the vintage RickenTULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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Oklahoma artist Rena Detrixhe’s “Red Dirt Rug” will be on display through July 22 at Philbrook Downtown. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World Magazine file backer and Gretsch guitars, to the stick of Dentyne gum Mark Benson chews as he performs as John Lennon.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com > 7/25-29, ‘Madagascar Jr.’ Tulsa Community College’s Children’s Theater stages this version of the popular animated film about a group of zoo animals who find themselves stranded on the island of Madagascar and must “Move It, Move It” to find a way back home to

blissful captivity and regular meals.

WHERE: VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st St. FOR MORE: myticketoffice.com. > 7/26-28, Exchange Choreography Festival: More than Movement Choreographers from around the country will present new, cutting-edge work in an informal workshop setting designed to support, explore and inform the artists’ process.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: thebellhouse.info

> 7/28-31, Summer Heat International Dance Festival Choregus Productions’ third annual Summer Heat International Dance Festival will feature three of the most respected dance ensembles in the world, including Doug Varone and Dancers, Beijing Dance Theater and Parsons Dance.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com > 8/10-26, ‘Newsies’ Theatre Tulsa gets its performance season started with this production of the stage adaptation of the cult classic movie about a group of New York City newsboys in the early 1900s who take on the robber barons of the press.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsapac.com > 8/24, 26, TBII: On Your Radar See tomorrow’s stars of ballet today, as Tulsa Ballet II, the second company of Tulsa Ballet, performs works created especially for them. This production will feature the world premiere of “Peter and the Wolf” by Tulsa Ballet resident choreographer Ma Cong, as well as “OMENS” by Jennifer Archibald, commissioned for TBII in 2017.

WHERE: Studio K, 1212 E. 45th Place FOR MORE: tulsaballet.org

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S

LET’S GO. ummer in Oklahoma is upon us, which means the heat is on. Grab your water bottle and portable fan for fun in the sun at the Porter Peach Festival, Tulsa Zoo and ONEOK Field for Drillers and Roughnecks action. Or retreat to the air-conditioning for An Affair of the Heart, the Home & Garden Expo of Oklahoma or one of the many great shows headed to Tulsa, including Imagine Dragons, Martina McBride, Darci Lynne and more.

Visit the Tulsa Zoo this summer to see lions, tigers, bears and more animals. Tulsa World Magazine file TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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7/4

FOLDS OF HONOR FREEDOMFEST

Celebrate America’s independence with your family and friends at Tulsa’s annual July Fourth celebration. A Tulsa tradition since 1976, FreedomFest is known for featuring one of Oklahoma’s largest free fireworks displays and live music at three entertainment locations along the Arkansas River.

WHERE: Tulsa River Parks FOR MORE: riverparks.org

Fireworks explode over the Arkansas River during the Folds of Honor FreedomFest at River West Festival Park in Tulsa. Tulsa World Magazine file • 6/30, HUCKLEBERRY FESTIVAL Hop on over to Jay for the city’s annual Huckleberry Festival and celebrate the wild huckleberries that thrive in the area.

WHERE: Downtown Jay FOR MORE: jaychamber.org • 7/1, Rockets over Rhema Don’t miss one of the area’s biggest fireworks displays during Rockets Over Rhema at Rhema Bible Church. The annual Fourth of July celebration will feature family-friendly activities, a car show, concessions and food trucks, and live music.

Where: Rhema Bible Church, 1025 W. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow FOR MORE: rocketsoverrhema.com • 7/1, Kansas Classic rock band Kansas will perform at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. Fans will hear songs that have been getting airplay since 1974 with hits like “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind” and “Point of No Return.”

WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.com 80 Tulsa World Magazine

• 7/3, Bush English rock band Bush will perform at Brady Theater. The group burst onto the rock scene with a 1994 debut album, “Sixteen Stone,” that has been certified six times platinum with hits like “Comedown” and “Glycerine.” That album and a triple platinum follow-up, “Razorblade Suitcase,” produced seven top-four singles on the U.S. alternative rock chart.

WHERE: Brady Theater, 105 W. M.B. Brady St. FOR MORE: bradytheater.com • 7/3, THE 4TH ON THE 3RD The Signature Symphony in Tulsa celebrates Independence Day with its annual 4th on the 3rd concert. Local soloists and ensembles will join the symphony and Signature Chorale for an evening of patriotic music and tributes to the men and women who have served our country.

WHERE: VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st St. FOR MORE: signaturesymphony.org • 7/7, Pitbull Grammy-winning superstar Pitbull comes to Paradise Cove. Armando Christian Perez has had No. 1 hits in more than 15 countries, 10 billion

YouTube/VEVO views, 70 million single sales and 6 million in album sales. His hits include “Get it Started” and “Give Me Everything.”

WHERE: River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Parkway FOR MORE: riverspirittulsa.com • 7/7, Bill Maher Bill Maher, host of the weekly series “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO, comes to the Brady Theater. The Tulsa show will be a stand-up special, “Bill Maher: Triggered,” that will air live exclusively on HBO. WHERE: Brady Theater, 105 W. M.B. Brady St. FOR MORE: bradytheater.com • 7/8, Donny and Marie Donny and Marie Osmond are bringing their national concert tour to The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. The brother-sister duo is known for fan favorites like “A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘n Roll,” “Paper Roses,” “Puppy Love” and “It Takes Two.” WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

• 7/8-15, Circle Cinema Film Festival Tulsa’s historic Circle Cinema will celebrate its 90th birthday with a weeklong festival of film events, including a trio of Tulsa’s leading ladies on hand to talk about their careers. Mary Kay Place, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Peggy Helmerich — Tulsa’s longtime philanthropist and film star of the 1950s — all plan to attend the Circle Cinema Film Festival.

WHERE: Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave. FOR MORE: circlecinema.com • 7/9, Def Leppard and Journey Def Leppard and Journey will bring their co-headlining tour to the BOK Center. Journey formed in 1973 and released hits including “Any Way You Want It,” “Wheel In The Sky,” “Separate Ways,” “Who’s Crying Now” and the seminal “Don’t Stop Believin’, ” which is the top-selling digital catalog track in history. Def Leppard’s hit singles include “Rock of Ages,” “Pour Some Sugar on Me” and “Foolin.”

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com • 7/11-15, Woody Guthrie Folk Festival The Woody Guthrie Coalition will welcome Guthrie family members, veteran songwriters and festival favorites for the 21st annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah. The musical celebration of the folk singer’s 106th birthday will feature Grammy winner Jason Mraz, Opal Agafia & The Sweet Nothings, John Fullbright, Annie Guthrie, Johnny Irion, Ellis Paul, Cole Quest & the City Pickers, Joel Rafael, Willis Alan Ramsey, Carter Sampson, The Turnpike Troubadours, the Red Dirt Rangers and Willie Watson (founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show).

WHERE: Okemah FOR MORE: woodyfest.com • 7/19-21, PORTER PEACH FESTIVAL The Porter Peach Festival celebrates the area’s crop of peaches with activities and events perfect for a bright summer day with the family. Purchase or pick peaches at nearby orchards, or head to Porter’s downtown Main Street for arts and crafts, games, live music and a wide variety of fair food. The annual Peach Parade is a highlight, and stick around for free peaches and ice cream, available as long as supplies last.

WHERE: Main Street, Porter FOR MORE: porterpeachfestivals.com • 7/13-15, AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART An Affair of the Heart, one of the largest arts and craft shows in the United States, is known for its quality and variety of merchandise. Browse hundreds of retailers from across the nation selling one-of-a-kind items, from home decor and furniture to jewelry, gourmet foods and more.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com • 7/13-15, TOKYO IN TULSA Join fans of anime, cosplay, gaming, live music, manga and more. Tokyo in Tulsa (TnT) is a fan-based convention with a focus on Japanese anime, culture and pop culture.

WHERE: Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: tokyointulsa.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Culture Club will perform July 12 at Paradise Cove inside the River Spirit Casino Resort.

TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World Magazine file

7/12

Culture Club and The B-52s

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com

Culture Club, one of the biggest pop bands of the 1980s, is partnering with the B-52s for a concert at Paradise Cove at the River Spirit Casino Resort.

Led by frontman Boy George, Culture Club was responsible for hits like “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.” The B-52s debuted with a platinum album in 1979, but the band’s popularity peaked with the singles “Love Shack” and “Roam” in the MTV era.

WHERE: River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Parkway FOR MORE: riverspirittulsa.com

• 7/20, Hank Williams Jr. Country superstar Hank Williams Jr. is coming to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa as a headliner for its second annual Hard Rock Country Gold Series. Williams has sold 70 million albums worldwide with such hits as “Texas Women,” “All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down),” “A Country Boy Can Survive,” “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” “My Girl Don’t Like My Cowboy Hat” and more.

WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.com

• 7/14, Dodgebrawl

• 7/20-22, GREEN COUNTRY RV AND BOAT SHOW Visit the Green Country RV and Boat Show for three days of the latest trends in outdoor recreation. Guests will see motor homes, fifth wheels, travel trailers, camping equipment and more.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com

Get ready to dodge, dip, duck and dive as the seventh annual Dodgebrawl Tournament returns to the BOK Center. During the one-day tournament, teams will compete for the charity/nonprofit group of their choice, with each winning team’s selected charity/nonprofit receiving a financial donation.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com • 7/19, Sugarland Award-winning country duo Sugarland is bringing its Still the Same Tour to the BOK Center.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have produced such hit songs as “Still The Same,” “Stuck Like Glue” and “Baby Girl.”

• 7/28, Niall Horan Niall Horan will make Tulsa’s BOK Center a stop on his Flicker World Tour 2018. A member of One Direction, Horan launched his solo career with the singles “This Town” and “Slow Hands,” which went to No. 1 in 44 countries. He will be joined by country performer and “Seeing Blind” collaborator Maren Morris, 2016 CMA new artist of the year. Her debut single, “My Church,” earned her a Grammy for best country solo performance.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com Tulsa World Magazine 81­​

• 7/27-29, HOME & GARDEN EXPO OF OKLAHOMA The Home & Garden Expo of Oklahoma in Tulsa is the largest summertime home and garden show of its kind in northeast Oklahoma. With more than 400 booths and approximately 250 exhibitors, this event is overflowing with products and ideas for your home, lawn and personal health.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com • 7/28, Band of Horses Grammy-nominated American rock group Band of Horses comes to Cain’s Ballroom. The band has released five studio albums, with its latest, “Why Are You OK,” released in 2016. Its hit singles include “The Funeral” and “No One’s Gonna Love You.” WHERE: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St. FOR MORE: cainsballroom.com • 7/28-29, Tulsa Powwow The 66th annual Tulsa Powwow comes to the Cox Business Center. The Tulsa Powwow has been the signature event of the Tulsa Indian Club since 1952, when it began as a small, backyard gathering. Since then, it has grown into a nationally known Native American summer celebration.

WHERE: Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: coxcentertulsa.com • 8/01, Imagine Dragons Multiplatinum, Grammy Award-winning band Imagine Dragons will bring its Evolve Tour to the BOK Center as part of the venue’s 10th anniversary celebration. “Evolve,” the biggest rock album of 2017, has sold more than 1.3 million albums in the U.S. and more than 4 billion streams globally.

The group is known for such hits as “Radioactive,” “Demons” and “Thunder.”

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com • Through 8/03, Tulsa Zoo summer camps Let your kids go wild this summer discovering creature powers, traveling on a rainforest safari or enjoying an art zoobilee during summer camps at the Tulsa Zoo. Each week of summer, children ages 3-12 can learn about the zoo’s animals, their habitats and behaviors and enjoy up-close animal encounters with a variety of themed half-day and full-day camps.

WHERE: Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. North FOR MORE: tulsazoo.org • 8/05, Panic! At the Disco Panic! At the Disco returns to the BOK Center shortly after the release of its latest album, “Pray For The Wicked.” The Grammy-nominated group is known for its hit single “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.”

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com • 8/10, Martina McBride Country star Martina McBride will perform as part of the second annual Hard Rock Country Gold Series. McBride’s body of work includes the hit songs “Concrete Angel,” “A Broken Wing,” “This One’s for the Girls,” “My Valentine” and “Independence Day.” McBride has earned more than 15 major music awards, including four for female 82 Tulsa World Magazine

Darci Lynne Farmer, who made a guest appearance during Terry Fator’s Nov. 12 show at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, has scheduled a show of her own at the Brady Theater.

TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World Magazine file

8/11

Darci Lynne and Friends Live

Singing ventriloquist and “America’s Got Talent” champ Darci Lynne Farmer brings her live show to the Brady Theater. The Oklahoma City teen won the most recent season of “AGT” and the $1 million prize. The show will include songs she performed on TV, a lot of comedy and some original songs by the band. Of course, she’ll be joined by her puppets — four now, but she said she’s got a couple of new ones up her sleeve that will “come out” later.

WHERE: Brady Theater, 105 W. M.B. Brady St. FOR MORE: bradytheater.com

vocalist of the year from the Country Music Association and three for top female vocalist from the Academy of Country Music.

WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W.

Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.com • 8/11, B.B. King’s Blues Band featuring Tito Jackson B.B. King’s Blues Band, composed of the late musician’s band members, teams up with Tito Jackson for a tour that includes a stop at Cain’s Ballroom.

According to information on the Cain’s website, it is the band’s mission to share King’s style and music with the world and to introduce new generations to the Man, as well as the rich and diverse collection of music left by King.

WHERE: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St. FOR MORE: cainsballroom.com • 8/11, TULSA WORLD SENIOR LIVING EXPO The Tulsa World Senior Living Expo will feature shopping in the exhibition hall, free health screenings and free seminars. There will also be door prizes and entertainment.

WHERE: Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th East Ave. FOR MORE: seniorexpotulsa.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

The Tulsa Drillers’ season continues with home games at ONEOK Field through Aug. 31. IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine • 8/11, WILL ROGERS & WILEY POST FLY-IN Come watch more than 100 small aircraft fly in and land on the 2,000-foot grass airstrip on the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, just east of Oologah and bordering Oologah Lake. Bring your own lawn chairs, talk to the pilots and see their planes up close.

WHERE: Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, 9501 E. 380 Road, Oologah FOR MORE: willrogers.com • 8/11, Dr. Ken Jeong Actor and comedian Dr. Ken Jeong will perform at Paradise Cove inside the River Spirit Casino Resort. Since his feature film debut playing the doctor in 2007’s “Knocked Up,” Jeong has gone on to a number of memorable roles in successful comedies, such as “The Hangover,” “Role Models,” “Pineapple Express” and “Step Brothers.”

WHERE: River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Parkway FOR MORE: riverspirittulsa.com • 8/11-12, Professional Bull Riders The BOK Center will once again host the PBR’s Express Employment Professionals Classic. The top 35 bull riders in the world will go head to head for two nights of nonstop action. Jess Lockwood, reigning world champ and 2017 winner in Tulsa, will return to defend his title.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

• 8/18, Zoo Insider The Tulsa Zoo’s Zoo Insider program aims to give teens age 13-18 an inside look at what it’s like to work in a zoo while being fun and interactive.

Each session provides an in-depth focus on one of the many careers available in the zoo field.

WHERE: Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. North FOR MORE: tulsazoo.org • 8/25, WILD BREW Wild Brew brings together some of Tulsa’s most delicious restaurants and first-rate beers from around the U.S. and the world. Enjoy some food and drinks, as well as live entertainment from local musicians. The annual event benefits The Sutton Avian Research Center.

WHERE: Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: wildbrew.org • 8/25, INDIA FEST The India Association of Greater Tulsa hosts a day full of Indian culture at India Fest. You’ll be able to taste food from different regions of India, watch traditional dancing, listen to Indian music and see cultural art.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com • 8/19-25, JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS Just Between Friends is one of the country’s leading children’s and maternity consignment events.

This show brings together a wide variety of con-

signors so you can find deals on clothing, toys and supplies for kids, home decor and much more.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com • 8/23, Chase Rice Country artist Chase Rice will perform at Cain’s Ballroom. A former cast member on “Survivor: Nicaragua,” Rice released his most recent album, “Lambs & Lions,” in 2017. His previous album, “Ignite the Night,” went to No. 1 on the U.S. country chart.

WHERE: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St. FOR MORE: cainsballroom.com • Through 8/31, Tulsa Drillers The Tulsa Drillers’ season is underway and continues through summer, with the last home game set for Aug. 31 at ONEOK Field. Enjoy ballpark fare, beer and fireworks throughout the season.

WHERE: ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave. FOR MORE: tulsadrillers.com • Through 10/13, Tulsa Roughnecks The Tulsa Roughnecks’ season continues through October, with the final home match set for Oct. 13 at ONEOK Field.

WHERE: ONEOK Field, 201 N. Elgin Ave. FOR MORE: roughnecksfc.com Tulsa World Magazine 83­​

The End. MICHAEL

OVeRALL A transplant from Ponca City, Overall has now lived in Tulsa for nearly 20 years and has been writing for the Tulsa World just as long.

He is a projects team reporter and proud father of two.

Editor’s note: A version of this column appeared in the Feb. 18 Tulsa World.

84 Tulsa World Magazine

Two parks, two philosophies on the outdoors

H

arold Simmons was a Dallas version of George Kaiser, a billionaire philanthropist who tried to funnel his generosity toward charitable efforts that would promote long-term economic development, benefiting his city, not just today, but far into the future.

Two years ago, after Simmons died, his widow donated $50 million to jump-start efforts to build a massive new park in central Dallas, similar to the way the George Kaiser Family Foundation invested $200 million to build Tulsa’s Gathering Place, which is under construction south of downtown. Although Kaiser is, thankfully, still very much alive.

The two parks have a lot in common. They were designed by the renowned landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh. They’re being built alongside a river. Both are near downtown.

And both are supposed to become iconic landmarks that will be cherished by future generations.

But the Dallas park will dwarf Tulsa’s.

Simmons Park will cover 285 acres, making it nearly three times bigger than Tulsa’s Gathering Place. And the Dallas park will be part of an even larger green belt that will eventually include more than 10,000 acres along the Trinity River, where private donors and the city are investing more than $600 million on trails, bridges, a horse park, a golf course and a com-

munity center.

Tulsa’s Gathering Place, with Phase 1 set to open later this year, will cost “only” $425 million.

The Dallas park, however, seems to have a somewhat different mission, focusing on outdoor activities, such as hiking, horse riding and golf. And part of it will do double duty as a flood-control reservoir. It will give Dallas residents stuff to do but to do mostly by themselves or in small groups.

Tulsa’s park, as the name suggests, will instead concentrate on bringing people together with an array of family activities and community events. Attractions will include a 5-acre Adventure Playground, sport courts, bike and skate parks, nature trails and a large lawn for outdoor concerts.

Dallas is trying to bring “the great outdoors” to the city, while Tulsa is building a giant backyard for all of us to share. Which one would you rather have?

Like the rest of Dallas, Simmons Park will be bigger but not necessarily better than what Tulsa has to offer.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

“We were so impressed with our mortgage experience, we moved everything to TTCU.” – Matt N., TTCU member

After moving five times to five different cities, Matt came home to Tulsa – and TTCU. He said, “A mortgage is the largest purchase you’ll probably ever make.

You need a friend, someone who watches out for your best interest. Choosing TTCU for our mortgage was the best decision ever.”

To learn more about our 100% local mortgages and our 100% financing option, call, click or come by.

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Safe Kids Tulsa Area, in partnership with The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis, is dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries—the leading cause of death and disability in children. To learn more about keeping kids safe, visit SafeKidsTulsa.com or call 918-494-SAFE (7233).

Some simple safety tips to keep your family safe this summer and every season:

Swim Safe

• If children are in or near the water, keep

your eyes on them at all times.

• Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets on

all children when boating or on a beach.

• Learn CPR in case of emergency.

Ride Safe

• Buckle up children correctly in

age-appropriate car seats—every car ride, every time.

• NEVER leave a child alone in a car.

• Don’t text and drive.

Walk Safe

• Teach children to always look both ways

before crossing the street.

• Use crosswalks and sidewalks.

• Avoid texting and walking to stay aware

of traffic.

Play Safe

• Look for and use age-appropriate playground

equipment.

• Actively watch your children in playground areas.

• Equip kids with sport-appropriate protective gear.

Wheel Safe

• Provide kids with a properly fitted helmet

when biking or skating.

• Adults and children should know proper rules

of the road and obey all traffic laws.

• Avoid riding after dark; if you do, wear reflective

clothing.