Tulsa World Magazine Issue 4 - 77 Counties

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

STATE OF WONDER: DIVERSE LANDSCAPES PAGE 60 ISSUE 04 - MAY / JUNE 2016

Find something TO DO IN ALL

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COUNTIES IN OKLAHOMA

ISSUE 04 - MAY / JUNE 2016

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THIS issue

FROM THE COVER

County Countdown

26

We toured Oklahoma to find that one special place in each of the state’s 77 counties that you have to visit.

70

Coach at 21: Meet Oklahoma’s youngest basketball coach and the team he took to the playoffs.

Kilambi, MD

Joins Owasso’s Finest Dr. Navin Kilambi, the newest addition to the Tulsa Bone & Joint team of Owasso, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with emphases in sports medicine, limited invasive surgery and arthroscopy, as well as general orthopedics. Dr. Kilambi’s military residency and subsequent fellowship in sports medicine and arthroscopy enhances the success of the collaborative team effort at Tulsa Bone & Joint of Owasso.

As a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Dr. Kilambi has served in the U.S. Navy and has received numerous military awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Kilambi has also served nationally on the Sports Medicine Evaluation Subcommittee 2006-2012, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

918.214.8232 tulsaboneandjoint.com 12455 E 100th St North Owasso 4 Tulsa World Magazine

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Summer style:

Bare those toes and ditch the sweaters.

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

This magazine is published with the April 30, 2016, edition of the World.

All content copyright Tulsa World 2016.

The contents may not be reproduced without permission.

ASHLEY PARRISH Editor ashley.parrish@tulsaworld.com NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON Assistant Editor nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com MATT CLAYTON Lead Designer JERRY WOFFORD Lead Writer JOHN CLANTON Photo Editor

ALSO INSIDE

10

The Moment: The one photo we couldn’t stop looking at.

22

Deco: A local couple built their dream home using eco-friendly storage containers.

86

How I Got Here: Meet longtime Tulsa car dealer Don Thornton.

12

90

16

108

In the Know: Try this drink at The Vault.

Pop history: Find out what’s next for Tulsa’s pop museum and go behind the scenes.

84

Fashion: There’s an art to picking and tying a tie.

The Bite: A kid’s treat gets a grown-up twist.

Right to Farm: Two experts weigh in.

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SARA STEPHENSON Slot Editor DEBBIE JACKSON Page Editor JAMES ROYAL Designer 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.

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FROMTHE

EDITOR. Appreciating Oklahoma all over again ASHLEY PARRISH Tulsa World Magazine Editor

Medicine Park is a cobblestone resort city near Lawton with plenty of shopping, restaurants and outdoor activities.

Courtesy

O

ne of my favorite Oklahoma discoveries came after meeting a coyote hunter.

I tagged along one weekend when my husband, a writer, was doing a series of profiles on interesting Oklahomans for the state’s centennial. He struck gold in a cafe in Frederick, a small town in southwest Oklahoma, where he met Douglas Eoff.

But Eoff and those coyotes are a whole different story (bit.ly/coyotehunter).

My favorite part of that trip came a little distance away in Medicine Park, an honest-to-goodness mountain town in Oklahoma.

There were artists’ studios and T-shirt shops, restaurants with great patios and people walking everywhere, all with the beautiful Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge as a backdrop.

The pace seemed to relax as soon as we crossed over the bridge into town. Even the temperature seemed to drop.

8 Tulsa World Magazine

We spent hours poking around the town, all the while marveling that we were in Oklahoma. It was an a-ha moment that I have had many times since, from seeing the dune buggies in Little Sahara State Park to driving across the beautiful vastness that is the Panhandle.

It’s what we were going for in this issue of Tulsa World Magazine. We tried to find that one thing in each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. And we hope to inspire you to take your own tour of the state — from the Wichitas in the southwest to the Ouachita Mountains in the southeast. Throw in plateaus, a desert and a saltwater lake and you have a very special state.

My family usually takes a camping trip to Colorado every summer.

But this issue has inspired us. Instead of exploring a Colorado mountain town, we might just go ahead and explore our own state again. Maybe we’ll dig for crystals in the Great Salt Plains or pull out the tent and camp by one of Oklahoma’s beautiful lakes.

I hope you have as much fun exploring this issue — and our state — as we did.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

THE MOMENT. When I was a kid back in the mid-late ’80s, I rolled my three-wheeler at Little Sahara State Park and broke a couple of ribs. As an adult riding around that vast expanse of light and grit, I’m thinking more about getting my deposit back on the all-terrain vehicle. Little Sahara is unlike anything in the state. It’s exotic, bizarre and there’s an entire subculture that visits on a regular basis. Families gather around on the tops of ridges. Kids play in the sand while the teenagers and parents launch themselves off the ever-changing ramps.

The intense blue of the sky, the yellow sand, the unfamiliar sounds of the ATV revving up as I top a hill and look over the expanse makes me feel like a kid again. Except this time I keep the greasy side down.

JOHN CLANTON/ Tulsa World Magazine

10 Tulsa World Magazine

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IN THE KNOW

Celebrate the

918

BY JENNAH JANE SCHALE FOR TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

C

arrie Underwood sang it, and we all know it — “There’s nothin’ like Oklahoma.” For those of us who were born here or have claimed Oklahoma, we understand the passion and naturally want to share it with others.

The 9-1-8 has some unique items. In this space each issue, we’ll tell you about them. So the next time you’re looking for that special gift or memorable outing that stakes your claim in the land of wavin’ wheat — keep in mind our picks from around T-Town.

In the mix The Menace to Sobriety cocktail at The Vault features basil and honey syrups, muddled basil leaves and bourbon. Let this handmade custom creation touch your tongue, and relish the distinct flavors.

Try this and other spirited favorites on the rooftop of the mid-century modern building that was originally known as the 1st National Auto Bank. Owner Libby Billings opened the restaurant back in 2012.

The Tom Tom room upstairs stays open even after the kitchen closes.

Billings takes pride in utilizing the finest local ingredients that are environmentally friendly.

620 S. Cincinnati Ave., 918-948-6761, vaulttulsa.com

JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine

12 Tulsa World Magazine

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Tory Burch Miller snake-embossed leather logo thong sandals, $225.

SUMMER T

Saks Fifth Avenue Collection perforated leather flip-flops, $158.

BY CASEY SMITH Tulsa World Magazine

here will always be a place for flipflops and tank tops when temperatures rise, but summer fashion has room for a little, or in some cases — hello, Jimmy Choo — a whole lot more.

Summer can be a time for shoes and accessories to shine.

Try a rainbow heel, a belt for a pop of color or sunglasses in the “it” shape of the season. Find these hot styles at Saks Fifth Avenue in Utica Square shopping center.

PHOTOS BY JOHN CLANTON TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE At top, Salvatore Ferragamo Gil lasercut leather slide sandals, $495.

At right, Jimmy Choo Henni printed suede lace-up sandals, $950.

14 Tulsa World Magazine

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Saks Fifth Avenue Collection, Saks Fifth Avenue by Ecoalf quilted low-top sneaker, $148.

Saks Fifth Avenue Collection woven cotton belts, $78 each.

Madison Supply canvas spray-paint sneakers, $168.

Saks Fifth Avenue Collection, Saks Fifth Avenue by Ecoalf commuter tote, $128.

Rebecca Minkoff Cece leather ankle-strap platform sandals, $275.

Saks Fifth Avenue Collection cross-strap leather sandals, $178.

Saks Fifth Avenue Collection tumbled leather belts, $98 each.

Ray-Ban Pilot sunglasses, $165.

Manolo Blahnik printed suede point-toe pumps, $695.

Ray-Ban Phantos sunglasses, $185.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Fashion

If a man is going to know only two tie knots, one should be the half Windsor.  Photos by JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

a STEP by STEP guide to the half Windsor

1 16 Tulsa World Magazine

Start with the narrow end of the tie at roughly the belly button, or bottom button of the shirt. Cross the wide end of the tie in front of the narrow end.

2

Wrap the wide end around the back of the narrow end.

Now wrap the wide end up and over the neck of the tie, then down at a diagonal behind the knot.

3 TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

By MICHAEL OVERALL Tulsa World Magazine

1

W

hat knot to tie? It depends on the tie itself and the shirt collar. A tie made of thick material will work best with a relatively small knot, otherwise the knot will become too bulky. But a wide knot also needs a spread collar.

In short, the knot needs to be proportional to the spread of the collar.

1. The Simple knot: Has the fewest steps to tie, making it an attractive option for beginners. But the knot doesn’t use up much material, which can make it difficult to get the length right. NBA players won’t have a problem, but shorter guys might want to avoid it. Works well with thick material and narrow collars. Tie: Massimo Bizzochi, $210, Abersons, 3509 S. Peoria Ave.

2

2. Four-in-Hand: The most widely popular, all-purpose knot.

Easy to tie, it is slender and asymmetrical, which makes it go well with narrow collars and button-down shirts. If you can tie only one tie knot, make it this one. Tie: $59.50, Banana Republic.

3

3. Half Windsor: A thicker knot for a medium- or widespread collar, but not so bulky that it can’t be used with a relatively thick tie. If you want to learn a second tie knot, this one should be it. Tie: $69.50, J. Crew.

4

4. Windsor: A wide knot for a wide-spread collar, but thick material will make you look like an Edwardian aristocrat. The knot takes up a lot of length, which can make the tie come out too short if you’re not careful. Tie: Massimo Bizzochi, $205, Abersons.

5. Prince Albert: Basically a Four-in-Hand with an extra loop, it goes well with a narrow or medium-spread collar but gives the knot some flare. A good one to try if a tie comes out too short with a simpler knot. Tie: Ike Behar, $76, Jules Boutique, 525 S. Main St.

5

6. Pratt/Shelby: The quintessential businessman’s knot, easy to tie and looks good with most suits, but too narrow for a wide-spread collar. Tie: Massimo Bizzochi, $205, Abersons.

6

TIE it UP Wrap wide end across the front of the knot, then wrap it up and around the neck of the tie again.

Pull the wide end straight down through the loop of the knot and tighten.

4

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

5

The knot should cover the top shirt button, while the tip of the tie should reach the belt buckle — but not hang below the buckle.

Tulsa World Magazine 17­​

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Mike Balliet (left) and Tom Hightower order a drink at a bar made out of a shipping container on the patio at Fassler Hall. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine

A trend in the

making Local businesses put shipping containers to economical use

By JESSICA RODRIGO Tulsa world magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

A

ll it takes is a little ingenuity to improve the way we think about buildings.

Consider for a moment those large steel shipping containers that are used to transport furniture, food, materials and other imports or exports we use every day. They travel thousands of miles by ship, train or truck while enduring all sorts of rough treatment from the elements.

In the eyes of some Oklahoma professionals and homeowners, those bulky shipping containers offer a way to create spaces suitable for living and running businesses.

“Once these containers get retired, and instead of going to the scrap yard where they’ll just sit, they have a green benefit when used for buildings,” said Casey Stowe, of Nelson+Stowe Development, the firm behind The Boxyard. “They are built to support a massive amount of

Tulsa World Magazine 19­​

weight — more than any traditional building, and they are an efficient use of space.”

It appears to be a trend in the making.

The inspiration for The Boxyard, a proposed container-built space on the southeast corner of Third Street and Frankfort Avenue, came about four years ago from London’s Box Park Mall. While traveling by train in London, Stowe saw the mall every day when he arrived at the station. Each container, which had glass doors that open up to a pedestrian walkway, was occupied by a business. More containers make up the second level, along with picnic tables.

“It’s very similar to what we’re doing. It is an interesting adaptive reuse of materials, and it had a lot of energy around it,” Stowe said. “I was fascinated by it.”

The plan for the Tulsa space will use 37 containers to create a two-story development that will house retail and dining establishments. Construction is set to begin in April, and a few businesses, including Dwelling Spaces, Joebot’s Coffee Bar and MASA, will join the roster of businesses at The Boxyard.

In Stillwater, ModernBlox is redesigning shipping containers for commercial and residential needs. The company’s founder, Ben Loh, worked on the business’ first model alongside students from OSU and the business’ other owners. The first transformation included a 45-foot-long containerturned-minimalist living space that offered safety from Tornado Alley.

“A shipping container can withstand wind speed up to 100 mph. If anchored to the (ground), the container can withstand wind speed up to 200 mph,” according to Loh. Lee Easton, a co-owner of ModernBlox, said the company has garnered a lot of positive response since launching the website last year. He said he hopes to transport the model to Tulsa and open it for tours soon.

And because the goal is to provide a safe, affordable living space out of the containers, he said the company can modify the design to the client’s needs, whether commercial or residential.

“When you step into one of our spaces, you don’t feel like you’re in a container,” he said.

Sustainability remains a big motivator with steel shipping containers. It’s a matter of taking something old and giving it a new purpose, said Hannah Bright, who lives in a shipping container home in Sand Springs.

She and her husband, Tyler, built their home from the foundation up to minimize their carbon footprint. Tyler drew up the plans, and they built it with environmentally friendly materials.

Brian Fontaine, operations manager for McNellie’s Group, opened the first shipping container bar space last October. Because the space is outside Fassler Hall, 304 S. Elgin Ave., he needed something that could

20 Tulsa World Magazine

Courtney Goff (left) and Samantha Muir from Tulsa order a drink at a bar made out of a shipping container on the patio at Fassler Hall.

JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

offer security for the bar, as well as protection from the elements. The container houses extra refrigeration and taps and maintains the large doors and locks.

“You end up saving a little money in cost to retrofit one of these containers. It has walls, a roof and a floor,” he said.

The exterior of the building maintained its original corrugated steel appearance with a few added coats of paint. The name Fassler wraps around the bar and over the two windows that are opened when in service.

Since the beer garden opened, Fontaine has passed on the name of Sisco Containers, which completed the project, to people interested in the container transformation.

He’s been told there have been requests for similar uses and even for backyard man caves.

“People want to use (shipping containers) for all kinds of projects. They’re quite trendy,” he said.

Stowe said building with shipping containers offers options for specific needs, whether design, safety or sustainability. Put a container building in a suburban setting and it might not fit so well.

“What makes a container project work is a certain mix of different things that need to exist,” he said. “It’s great when you can combine adaptive reuse and interesting architecture and economic development into a cool project that will continue the exciting energy that is going on in downtown Tulsa.”

“When you

Shelbi Swyden has an afternoon drink next to a bar made out of a shipping container on the patio at Fassler Hall.

JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

step into one of our spaces, you don’t feel like you’re in a container.”

Lee Easton

a co-owner of ModernBlox

Tulsa World Magazine 21­​

DECO.

Sustainable

modern

home

By JESSICA RODRIGO, Tulsa world magazine

A young couple turns shipping containers into their eco-friendly dream house ravel the short winding road from the gray calf panel gate off 145th West Avenue in Sand Springs to a cattle guard tucked behind a small hill and you’ll arrive at a home that looks almost out of place.

The gravel driveway leads to a modest square home set among more than two dozen maturing trees. It’s a blend of mid-century modern and industrial in a farm setting. It faces a pond where five ducks spend most of their time and other wildlife, including wild turkeys, squirrels and other birds, bathe or drink the water.

Hannah and Tyler Bright, the 26-year-old homeowners, built their home on 15 acres of land that has been in Tyler’s family for generations. So when they had a chance to design and build a place of their own, they reached for something that fit their lifestyle.

“We’ve also been into recycling and being eco-friendly — taking something old and used and turning it into something we can use,” Hannah said.

22 Tulsa World Magazine

Above, Hannah and Tyler Bright built their unique Sand Springs home themselves out of two shipping containers. The open living space gives them plenty of room to watch daughter Charlie.

At right, a play room for Charlie is light and bright with sliding glass doors.

Far right, a walk-in closet is roomy and opens into the bedroom with its modern horizontal windows.

Photos by IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 23­​

At first, their friend drew up plans for a tree house that would give them an elevated view of the property, but they realized they could save money by taking a different approach. It was projected to cost twice the budget and offer them half the space for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house they dreamed about. So Tyler started his research.

He had read about metal shipping containers being used for industrial or storage purposes, so he dug a little deeper into using the structures for home building. It also offered the Brights a way to re-purpose something that could not be broken down and returned to the planet.

“There were maybe five (container homes) in the country at the time,” he said.

“But I did find a good website that explained what you could do with them.”

For instance, walkways or entrances couldn’t be more than 10 feet wide without added framework. They planned to do all the work themselves, and family and friends put in the sweat equity to bring the plans to life.

After almost five years of work, the floors and painting in the third bedroom are all that remain incomplete. As for the rest of the home, everything has been moved to its ideal spot and each item has its purpose.

A “Home Sweet Home” doormat welcomes visitors in a recessed entrance, and the slim horizontal windows tease to the sleek design and straight lines carried throughout the home. There is cork flooring in the entrance that continues in each of the bedrooms and provides a warm contrast to the polished concrete in the living area. The bathrooms offer heated tile floors.

“The floors do get cold,” Tyler said. “But concrete will help keep the house cooler in the summertime.”

Tyler designed the living area — an open layout that includes the dining room, kitchen and living room — to have an 11-foot ceiling.

Because the exterior height of the containers and the foundation for the second floor create the ceiling of the living areas, it makes for a higher ceiling than the bedrooms, which measure 8 feet, 10 inches high. The first floor’s western container makes up the master bedroom, closet and bathroom, while the eastern

DECO.

KITCHEN AND BATH DESIGN AND REMODELING BY TULSA’S FINEST

Hannah and Tyler Bright’s modern Sand Springs home is constructed of five shipping containers.

The 2,560-square-foot home was built on 15 acres of land that has been in Tyler’s family for generations.

Photos by JAMES GIBBARD AND IAN MAULE/ Tulsa World Magazine

The Farm Shopping Center 6502 East 51st Street 918.949.9017 www.chdkitchenandbath.com 24 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

How many...

Here’s a look at what went into the Bright container home: > 2 stories/ducks/bathrooms > 3 cats/bedrooms > 3 exterior doors > 5 shipping containers > 6 goats > 36 windows > $78 per square foot > 2,560 square feet > $230,000 to build their shipping container home

Hannah and Tyler Bright chronicled the project of building their shipping container home since 2011. To see how they did it, visit brightcontainerhouse.com.

container is the laundry room, entrance and Tyler’s office.

To take advantage of the large living space, floor-to-ceiling windows span the distance from the two container walls to flood the room with natural light throughout the day, and a glass sliding door opens out to the backyard and a fireplace built out of stone.

In the kitchen, smooth white Ikea cabinets are accented by a gray subway tile backsplash.

The microwave and oven match seamlessly, and an island provides the majority of counter space and acts as a bar for entertaining. “We both have large families so we wanted a place where we could all be together,� Hannah said. “I really love all of it. We spend most of our time in here.�

To access the second level, Tyler built a metal and wood L-shaped staircase that is welded to the eastern container and turns 90 degrees to land in the southern-most container of the second floor. Unlike the bedrooms, the second floor maintains the original wood from the shipping container but has been stained and polished. The two remaining bedrooms and the second bathroom are upstairs.

The large second-floor deck is another popular space of the home where the couple can spend time outside when the weather is nice. “We wanted a deck where we could look at the pond and the rest of the property,� Hannah said.

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A bar area doubles as eating space in Hannah and Tyler Bright’s Sand Springs home.   IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine

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on arr

Cim

O H A L K O a

ROUTE

66

Count to 77

O

klahoma, how do we love thee?

Let’s count the ways. In fact, let’s count to 77.

There are many things worth seeing or doing or eating in all 77 Oklahoma counties.

But what if you had to pick just one thing in each of the counties?

Welcome to the ultimate Oklahoma road trip, where you can experience not just Route 66 attractions, but sand dunes, waterfalls, museums, festivals and reminders of our Native American heritage.

26 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Illustration by JASON POWERS/Tulsa World Magazine

OMA

S

O

U

T U LSA

OKC OU

Van’s

PIG STANDS

RED

VER I R

The best of Oklahoma’s 77 counties Compiled by Scott Cherry, Jessica Rodrigo. Rita Sherrow, Michael Smith, Jimmie Tramel, James D. Watts Jr. and Jerry Wofford of Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 27

77

counties Alfalfa County

Pop. 5,790 — 881 square miles One of Oklahoma’s most unique and surprising geological features is the remnants of an ancient saltwater ocean that makes up the Great Salt Plains State Park, about 8 miles north of Jet. An associated saltwater lake — about half as salty as the ocean — makes for a salty oasis in the middle of the country. Abundant wildlife frequents the park and the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, where visitors are able to search for unique selenite crystals from April 1 through Oct. 15.

If you go to camp, there are tent and RV sites, as well as cabins and cottages to rent. bit.ly/greatsaltplains

The Stilwell Strawberry Festival is one of Oklahoma’s best. Tulsa World Magazine file

Adair County Pop. 22,286 — 577 square miles Stilwell bills itself as the “Strawberry Capital of the World.” The proof comes every May. The 69th annual Stilwell Strawberry Festival is scheduled May 14. Thousands of visitors enjoy strawberries and festival-related activities each year. The country music band Ricochet will provide entertainment at the 2016 festival. Activities include a car, truck and motorcycle show, helicopter rides, a parade, a 5k run and free strawberries and ice cream served at 3 p.m.

You can’t have a strawberry festival without a Strawberry Queen. She’ll be crowned April 16.

The Stilwell Kiwanis Club has sponsored the festival since its start in 1948. strawberrycapital.com

Beaver County Pop. 5,486 — 1,818 square miles

Memorabilia from Oklahoma native Reba McEntire is among the collection at the Atoka Museum and Confederate Cemetery.

STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World Magazine file

Atoka County Pop. 13,898 — 990 square miles Atoka is home to the Confederate Memorial Museum, located at 258 N. U.S. 69 on the north edge of town. The museum has on display a range of items — weapons and uniforms from Confederate soldiers, prehistoric bones, items from the Choctaw Trail of Tears and donated items from homegrown talents Reba McEntire and Oklahoma’s champion bull rider, Lane Frost. Admission is free, and hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday (closed on national holidays).

580-889-7192, okhistory.org/sites/ atokamuseum

28 Tulsa World Magazine

It sounds strange, but throwing dried bovine feces actually does hold significance to the history of Beaver, the county seat.

The World Championship Cow Chip Throwing Contest in mid-April comes from that long history of using the cow chips as a vital heat source during cold prairie winters.

Families would throw the chips into their wagon to take back to the homestead. Now, contestants see how far they can throw the chips and keep them together. Fun fact: The winner in the VIP category of the first official contest in 1970? Tulsa’s own Gov. Dewey Bartlett Sr. He threw it 84 feet.

bit.ly/cowchips

The National Route 66 Museum in Elk City includes a complex of buildings and mini museums.

OKLAHOMA TOURISM AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT/Courtesy

Beckham County Pop. 23,637 — 904 square miles Route 66 buffs from around the world walk through displays of antique automobiles, documents and roadside attractions at the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum in Elk City. Visitors take a journey through each of the eight states through which Route 66 passes.

It is part of the Old Town Museum Complex that includes a depiction of early pioneer life in the Old Town Museum, early farm life in the Farm & Ranch Museum and how objects are created from iron and steel in the Blacksmith Museum.

The complex is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for ages 6-16 and 65 and older. visitelkcity.com/museums

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Bryan County Pop. 44,344 — 943 square miles Lake Texoma is one of the most popular attractions in Bryan County. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy fishing and camping along the shores of this lake that attracts more than 6 million visitors a year, according to its website.

Find plenty of cabins and private homes to rent, along with RV and tent campsites.

And if you’re following the shoreline north toward the Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge, bit. ly/tishwildlife, be sure to stop by the Fort Washita historic site situated off Oklahoma 199 before taking the bridge into Marshall County.

Lake Texoma is a playground for water sport enthusiasts, campers and fishermen. Tulsa World Magazine file

A stream runs through Roman Nose State Park. Courtesy

Blaine County Pop. 9,720 — 939 square miles Did you ever want to spend a night in a tepee?

You can do it during summer months at Roman Nose State Park near Watonga.

The park, built as one of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal programs in 1937, has tons of things for the family to do, including hiking trails, trout fishing in season, two lakes, canoeing, paddle boats, mountain biking, horse stables, hayrides, camp sites and a lodge. It also has an 18-hole golf course.

Roman Nose is one of the original Oklahoma state parks.

bit.ly/laketexoma

Caddo County Pop. 29,594 — 1,290 square miles Grab some popcorn and settle in for a $4 movie at Liberty Theatre, the oldest continually operated movie theater in Oklahoma.

The theater was built in 1915 and is nestled in Caddo County’s town of Carnegie.

The theater, 9 W. Main St., features art deco-era design but has modern 3-D technology. Be prepared with cash, though, because the ticket booth doesn’t take credit cards.

For a complete lineup of movies playing, call 580-654-1776 or 1-800-250-3225. libertytheatres.com

IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine

facebook.com/roman.nose

Canadian County Pop. 129,582 — 896 square miles Who doesn’t love giant draft horses? You can get up close and personal with the Express Clydesdales in Yukon. These beautiful horses compete in hitch competitions and perform at events all over North America. The Welcome Center, 12701 W. Wilshire Blvd., is open from 12:30-5 p.m. Sundays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Monday.

Group tours are available, and there’s a gift shop.

405-350-6404, bit.ly/expclydesdales

Handler Ryan Hardy guides the Express Clydesdale horses during an event in Oklahoma City.

PAUL HELLSTERN/The Oklahoman 30 Tulsa World Magazine

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Carter County Pop. 47,557 — 834 square miles Ardmore has its own stop for the Amtrak Heartland Flyer traveling between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, and the downtown is charming, but the gem of Carter County is Lake Murray State Park. It is Oklahoma’s first state park, and it’s the largest, too, with fishing and plenty of water sports.

There’s no better view of the lake than from Tucker Tower, a beautiful two-story rock building constructed by the Works Progress Administration on a cliff overlooking the lake, with a museum inside and a nature center nearby.

Find plenty of tent or RV parking, cabins and lodge rooms. Families will enjoy the tennis­ courts, swimming pool, swimming beach, miniature golf course and more. bit.ly/LakeMurrayPark

Floating the Illinois River is a popular summertime activity in Oklahoma.  JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

Cherokee County Pop. 46,987 — 776 square miles

There’s no better view of Lake Murray than from Tucker Tower, a beautiful two-story rock building constructed by the Works Progress Administration on a cliff overlooking the lake, with a museum inside and a nature center nearby.  Courtesy

The Illinois River runs through scenic Cherokee County, and you know what that means — float trip.

Rent a canoe from any of the many float trip businesses along the Illinois River or bring your own flotation device and join all the folks who know the right way to cool off during a hot Oklahoma summer. Outfitters offer shorter and longer trips tailored to the preference of visitors.

Bring some gear, an ice chest and some grub and make it an all-day event or a camp-out.

The county seat of Cherokee County is Tahlequah, which doubles as the capital of the Cherokee Nation.

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Tulsa World Magazine 31­​

Cimarron County

Choctaw County

Pop. 2,475 — 1,841 square miles The most sparsely populated county in Oklahoma — at the tip of the Panhandle — is also home to one of the state’s most impressive geographic features: the highest point in the state.

The Black Mesa reaches 4,973 feet in the most northwest corner of Cimarron County. Teeming with dry prairie flora and fauna and spectacular views, Black Mesa should be a pilgrimage for every Oklahoman.

Before you go, stock up on supplies in Boise City because there’s not a lot in Kenton, the closest town.

Pop. 15,045 — 801 square miles Hugo is known to many as the home of Mount Olivet Cemetery, where a special area is dedicated to circus performers and owners. The area is called Showmen’s Rest and features unique headstones in the form of elephants and gravesites etched with acrobats and ringmasters.

Guided tours are available by request.

Mount Olivet Cemetery is located at Trice and South Eighth streets in Hugo.

580-326-7511

Black Mesa in Cimarron County is — at 4,973 feet — the highest point in Oklahoma. Courtesy

Cleveland County Pop. 269,340 — 558 square miles The origins of what is now the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History go back before statehood, when the Territorial Legislature mandated the creation of a natural history museum as part of what would become the University of Oklahoma.

The current state-of-the-art facility opened in 2000, with nearly 200,000 square feet of exhibition space to house more than 10 million objects, including the world’s

largest Apatosaurus skeleton, that tell the story of Oklahoma’s natural and cultural history. Current exhibits include the video-heavy “Be the Dinosaur: Life in the Cretaceous” and “Through the Eyes of the Lynx: Galileo and Microscopy,” part of the University of Oklahoma’s ongoing “Galileo’s World” project.

Find it at 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults.

405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu

bit.ly/blackmesapark

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman is a must-visit for families when in the Oklahoma City area. Courtesy

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CONVENIENT PARKING 32 Tulsa World Magazine

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Coal County

Medicine Park Creek becomes a favorite swimming hole during the hot summer months in Medicine Park.

JIM ARGO/ Courtesy

Pop. 5,925 — 521 square miles

The Talimena National Scenic Byway snakes through the Ouachita Mountains in southeast Oklahoma, making it one of the best places in the state to see fall foliage.

Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation/ Courtesy

The eastern part of sparsely populated Coal County lies in the Ouachita Mountains, where you can find mountain roads that wind through wideopen spaces leading to the renowned Talimena National Scenic Byway.

From wildflowers in the spring to the fall foliage it’s known for, this is a drive that all Oklahomans should make in their lifetime. talimenascenicdrive.com

Comanche County Pop. 124,937 — 1,084 square miles In bygone days, the cobblestone resort town of Medicine Park was a favorite destination for the rich, the famous and the notorious.

Located near Lawton and Fort Sill, the town has walking trails, Bath Lake swimming area, Gondola Lake and Dam, fishing and historical structures, such as The Old Plantation, the most

imposing structure in Medicine Park.

It began in 1909 as the Medicine Park Hotel (nicknamed The Outside Inn).

Visitors also can see free-range bison, longhorn cattle, prairie dog towns, elk and deer at the nearby Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Just 4 miles down the road from Medicine Park is Fisherman’s Cove restaurant, serving seafood, steaks and barbecue since 1971. medicinepark.com

Cotton County Pop. 6,152 — 642 square miles

Carrie Lind checks on a customer at Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

Craig County Pop. 15,029 — 763 square miles Two words: calf fries.

They’re described as a “regional classic” on the menu at Clanton’s Cafe, a Route 66 food joint that has been a Vinita family tradition since 1927.

Clanton’s famous calf fries are hand-breaded and flash fried. You’ll also find comfort food like chicken-fried steak and chicken and dressing among options. Country music performer Ronnie Dunn described the chicken and dressing as “the best in the world,” according to the Clanton’s menu.

Time your visit just right and you can check out one of the premier rodeo events in the Southwest.

The Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo is a weeklong event, which is christened with a Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Parade held each year in downtown Vinita. In 2016, the rodeo will take place Aug. 24-27. Vinita’s American Legion Post 40 has sponsored the rodeo since its debut in 1935. clantonscafe.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

The chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans is a big seller at Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

In Cotton County, there is plenty of outdoor adventure to be had, including hunting, fishing and noodling. Hand-fishing, also known as noodling, is a popular pastime and tourist attraction in the county where people can nab themselves a catfish.

The county offers nearly 10 square miles of water for the sport, and there are several options for lodging not far from the water, including the Redneck Riviera Resort & Ranch and Fortress of Faith Outfitters, both in Temple.

Temple is also home to The Rockin H Land & Cattle Co. Steakhouse and Saloon where entertainment and shopping are located right next door. After a long day of noodling, who doesn’t want to dine on a steak, enjoy a game of pool or do a little shopping?

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Coal County

Comanche County

Pop. 5,925 — 521 square miles

Pop. 124,937 — 1,084 square miles In bygone days, the cobblestone resort town of Medicine Park was a favorite destination for the rich, the famous and the notorious.

Located near Lawton and Fort Sill, the town has walking trails, Bath Lake swimming area, Gondola Lake and Dam, fishing and historical structures, such as The Old Plantation, the most imposing structure in Medicine Park. It began in 1909 as the Medicine Park Hotel (nicknamed The Outside Inn).

Visitors also can see free-range bison, longhorn cattle, prairie dog towns, elk and deer at the nearby Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Just 4 miles down the road from Medicine Park is Fisherman’s Cove restaurant, serving seafood, steaks and barbecue since 1971.

The Coal County Miner’s Museum at the corner of Oklahoma 43 and Broadway in Coalgate pays homage to this county’s long mining history.

The museum was closed for a time, but the community of Coalgate has rallied to open it again on Saturdays and holidays.

See mining tools, models of the old working mines, oil lamps and blasting devices and reams of research documents.

And while you’re in Coalgate, make sure to stop by the Branding Iron. The lunch buffet is a highlight, as is the country-fried steak dinner.

To see the museum, call 580-760-6629.

medicinepark.com

Medicine Park Creek becomes a favorite swimming hole during the hot summer months in Medicine Park. JIM ARGO/Courtesy

Cotton County Pop. 6,152 — 642 square miles

Carrie Lind checks on a customer at Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

Craig County Pop. 15,029 — 763 square miles Two words: calf fries.

They’re described as a “regional classic” on the menu at Clanton’s Cafe, a Route 66 food joint that has been a Vinita family tradition since 1927.

Clanton’s famous calf fries are hand-breaded and flash fried. You’ll also find comfort food like chicken-fried steak and chicken and dressing among options. Country music performer Ronnie Dunn described the chicken and dressing as “the best in the world,” according to the Clanton’s menu.

Time your visit just right and you can check out one of the premier rodeo events in the Southwest.

The Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo is a weeklong event, which is christened with a Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo Parade held each year in downtown Vinita. In 2016, the rodeo will take place Aug. 24-27. Vinita’s American Legion Post 40 has sponsored the rodeo since its debut in 1935. clantonscafe.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

The chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and green beans is a big seller at Clanton’s Cafe in Vinita.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

In Cotton County, there is plenty of outdoor adventure to be had, including hunting, fishing and noodling. Hand-fishing, also known as noodling, is a popular pastime and tourist attraction in the county where people can nab themselves a catfish.

The county offers nearly 10 square miles of water for the sport, and there are several options for lodging not far from the water, including the Redneck Riviera Resort & Ranch and Fortress of Faith Outfitters, both in Temple.

Temple is also home to The Rockin H Land & Cattle Co. Steakhouse and Saloon where entertainment and shopping are located right next door. After a long day of noodling, who doesn’t want to dine on a steak, enjoy a game of pool or do a little shopping?

Nielsens for Mother’s Day Gifts

“Our Reading Moment”

New

from

Exclusive Gifts at The Plaza www.NielsensGifts.com ST¬ ¬,EWIS¬sTulsa World Magazine 33­​

Creek County

The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are not available at this time, but you can see much of the home at bit. ly/johnfrankhome, part of the procureddesign. com website. The famous pottery is available online at frankomapottery.com.

You can also put up your feet and stay a spell in the Copper Oaks Bed & Breakfast, 7806 S. Highway 97 in Sapulpa. There, you can relax by the pool, fish in the pond and enjoy walking trails, a gourmet breakfast and, especially, the delicious homemade brownies. 918-224-3906

Pop. 70,632 — 950 square miles If you love pottery, you need to drive by the John Frank House, built in 1955 in Sapulpa. This home, located at 1300 Luker Lane in this Tulsa suburb, was designed by architect Bruce Goff for John Frank, who was the founder of the world-famous Frankoma Pottery. The home was designed to showcase the family’s love of pottery, and Frank and wife Grace Lee Frank glazed and fired the ceramic tiles used in the house.

The Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.   Stafford Air & Space Museum/Courtesy

Custer County Pop. 29,377 — 1,002 square miles How many places can one see an actual Titan II rocket launch vehicle, a Gemini flight suit, space food, survival items flown to the moon on Apollo 11 and the actual flight pressure suit worn by Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford on Apollo 10, the first flight of the lunar module to the moon?

Closer to Earth, the Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford also has displays of a Russian MiG21 R, an F16 and full-size replicas of the Wright Flyer and Spirit of St. Louis.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for ages 55-plus and $2 for students 18 and younger.

A view of the falls at the base at Natural Falls State Park near West Siloam Springs.   Tulsa World Magazine file

Delaware County

Pop. 41,487 — 792 square miles.

The star attraction of Natural Falls State Park, located just off U.S. 412 near the Arkansas border, is a 77-foot waterfall that can be viewed from railed observation platforms above and below the falls.

Hikers will love exploring the park, and movie buffs will be interested to know that scenes from the 1974 movie “Where the Red Fern Grows� were filmed there.

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Bring your gear and set up camp if you want.

Camp sites include 44 RV sites, with seven full hook-up locations, and 17 tent sites are available, along with a comfort station equipped with showers.

Enjoy the nature (the waterfall creates a moist environment where ferns, mosses and liverworts thrive) and activities like volleyball, horseshoes, a basketball court, catch-and-release fishing, playgrounds, a nine-hole disc golf course and a formal garden area. Although swimming is not allowed in the park, several public swimming areas are available within a short distance.

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Dewey County Pop. 4,914 — 1,008 square miles Oklahoma loves its weathermen. Well, most of them and most of the time. One who is universally loved is Oklahoma City’s Gary England. Make your way out to Seiling in Dewey County and you will be in the town that gave the state weather royalty. Get your picture taken on Gary England Avenue, running past the My Way Cafe and near The Feathered Nest gift shop, one of a handful in this quaint prairie town.

Ellis County Pop. 4,150 — 1,232 square miles One of the most iconic images that comes to mind when one thinks of the open prairie is that of the windmill, standing alone in the emptiness. The town of Shattuck pays homage to that history with the Shattuck Windmill Museum and Park, with more than 50 vintage windmills in a four-acre park. And on the way out there, the enormous windmills that now dot the horizon and generate electricity for the state are a majestic sight. shattuckwindmillmuseum.org TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Garfield County

Pop. 62,267 — 1,060 square miles The emotional impact that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., has had on survivors of that conflict is such that several replicas of Maya Lin’s wall of names were created to travel the country. In 2013, the largest of these replicas, created by American Veterans Traveling Tribute, found its permanent home at the Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park in Enid, 1026 S. 66th St. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday-Saturday. Admission is free.

The wall is an 80 percent scale replica of the original, measuring nearly 400 feet in length and 8 feet at its apex. The wall is inscribed with the 58,307 names of service men and women — including more than 900 Oklahomans — killed or missing in action during the Vietnam War. The park also includes the Living Wall, honoring Oklahoma service men and women. Enid is also

The Vietnam Memorial Wall is illuminated in Enid. BILLY HEFTON/Enid News&Eagle

home to the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.

580-233-4530, woodringwallofhonor.com

Faded flowers sit at the base of the Vietnam Memorial Wall at Woodring Wall and Veterans Park. BILLY HEFTON/Enid News&Eagle

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Tulsa World Magazine 35­​

Grady County Pop. 53,854 — 1,100 square miles

A fisherman holds onto a catfish at the Okie Noodling Tournament in Pauls Valley.   MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

Garvin County

Pop. 27, 526 — 814 square miles One of Oklahoma’s most fascinating fish stories is that of noodling, where hand-fishermen get up close and personal with the water, and Pauls Valley pretty much doubles in size for June’s annual Okie Noodling Tournament. One way to get to the city’s brick-road downtown is by way of Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer, with daily service between

Chickasha, in south central Oklahoma, is the perfect place to get off the beaten path. Go back to the ‘50s and enjoy a movie at the Chief Drivein Theatre, 3854 N. Highway 81, on the outskirts of town. It’s one of the oldest and last standing drive-ins in the state and offers covered seating, full concessions and clean restrooms.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at dusk.

Or get lost in Oklahoma’s largest corn maize at Reding Farm, 614 Reding Road in Chickasha. It boasts 35 acres of cornfield mazes, overnight tent camping, duck races, horseshoes, cow train, flying cows, hobby horses, corn cannons, laser tag, a petting zoo, live music and more during the season. Call 405-222-0624 or 405-779-6643 or go online to redsiloproductions.com for information on seasonal dates.

Oklahoma City and Fort Worth including a stop at Pauls Valley’s 1905 Santa Fe Depot.

Once there, a stop for kids of all ages is the Toy and Action Figure Museum, especially for comicbook fans. If you’re looking for something sweet, you might find it about 15 miles east in Stratford — Oklahoma’s other town that claims to be the “peach capital of Oklahoma.� bit.ly/stratfordpeach; okienoodling.com

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The Wichita Mountains offer a variety of activities for outdoor enthusiasts.  Tulsa World Magazine file

Greer County Pop. 6,171 — 544 square miles

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36 Tulsa World Magazine

Quartz Mountain Nature Park is in a region that has the unusual distinction of having been under five flags — Spanish, French, Mexico, Republic of Texas and the United States. Today, outdoor enthusiasts and families go there for rock climbing, hiking, camping, fishing, cycling, boating, bird watching, golfing and riding the ATV trails.

Serious rock climbers will want to take on the challenging routes in the climbing area of Baldy Point, located on the western end of the Wichita Mountain range, maneuvering up the granite face as they ascend to the top.

Visitors to nearby Mangum on April 29-May 1 may attend the annual Mangum Rattlesnake Derby on the Courthouse Square, featuring everything from carnival rides to rattlesnake shows. The event is free. quartzmountain.org

The special effects are a knockout in the movie ‘‘Twister,’’ as Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, cling to each other.  AP file

Grant County Pop. 4,501 — 1,004 square miles Fans of the 1996 blockbuster “Twister� will recognize the Grant County town of Wakita, where the lovable sage Aunt Meg lived. The town was “destroyed� for the film to create the destruction left behind from an F-4 tornado. The Twister Museum on Main Street in Wakita has artifacts from the film and stories about how filming the disaster flick affected the rural town. The museum is open afternoons Tuesday-Saturday from April to August. twistercountry.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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Harmon County Pop. 2,869 — 539 square miles

77

counties Harper County Pop. 3,812 — 1,041 square miles

Harper County will give you a hefty dose of vast, rural prairie. But the landscape holds secrets. In 1994, University of Oklahoma archaeologist and anthropology professor Lee Bement discovered what is believed to be the oldest painted object found in North America. The bison skull is believed to be more than 10,000 years old, with a red lightning bolt painted on it by someone in the Folsom civilization. The skull is housed now at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman.

While in Harper County, however, visit the Buffalo Museum in the town of Buffalo to learn about the more recent history of the land, including a furnished sod house nearby. buffalooklahoma.com/museum.html

The annual Sucker Day Festival is held in Wetumka, and, yes, there’s a great story behind that unusual name. Courtesy

Hughes County Pop. 14,003 — 815 square miles Wetumka is a town that’s not afraid to laugh at itself, celebrating its gullibility every year by marking the day that the circus did not come to town. The Sucker Day Festival is the annual event that notes the day that local citizens had the last laugh on a flim-flam man.

After buying advance tickets from him and preparing a downtown parade full of patrons, food and more, the circus never came. The people decided to throw a party of their own anyway, and they’ve been doing that in September ever since 1953. bit.ly/suckerday

38 Tulsa World Magazine

A tribute to native son Darrell Royal, longtime football coach at the University of Texas, is displayed in the Harmon County Historical Museum in Hollis. OKLAHOMA TOURISM AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT/Courtesy

Take the family to Hollis to see artifacts from dinosaur bones and a covered wagon to blacksmith shop displays at the Harmon County Historical Museum. Displays detail the history of Harmon County, the 76th county in Oklahoma and the secondleast populated behind Cimarron.

One section honors native son Darrell Royal, longtime football coach at the University of Texas.

Other notable sports people from Hollis include Tulsa resident and former University of Kansas and Oral Roberts University basketball coach Ted Owens and former St. Louis Cardinals pitching brothers, Von and Lindy McDaniel.

If you are in Hollis on a Saturday, go by the livestock sale and grab breakfast or a burger at the Sale Barn Cafe. facebook.com/harmoncounty museum/

Haskell County Pop. 12,896 — 625 square miles Strange as it sounds, watching barges and pleasure boats as they move through the lock on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System on the west end of Kerr Lake in southeastern Oklahoma is fascinating.

You can also see everything from sailboats and migrating birds to waterfowl and the hundreds of varieties of wildlife that live on 10,000 acres of the western half of the lake assigned to the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge.

While you’re in the neighborhood, head over to Eaton Hole, 504 E. Main St. in Stigler, for a break or for to-go orders for a lakeside picnic. Fans of the restaurant applaud it for its huge portions, delicious food (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and friendly service. Be sure to ask about the special of the night.

Watching barges and pleasure boats as they move through the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, as well as enjoying the scenery and wildlife, is fascinating.

JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine file TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Jackson County

Pop. 26,088 — 804 square miles An exhibit at the Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus features the history of the 577th Strategic Missile Squadron and the Altus F sites surrounding the Altus area. The featured item is the original launch console in rare excellent condition from Site 9.

Visitors to the museum also can follow the activities of American Indians, frontier soldiers, cowboys and homesteaders from the distant past to the present day. Museum admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and military and $1 for ages 6-18. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

Jefferson County Pop. 6,432 — 774 square miles Ask anyone who travels often through Waurika during their cross-country ventures, and they’ll probably tell you to stop by Bill’s Fish House. Located off Oklahoma 79 west of town, the restaurant has been a local favorite since it opened in 1962. It’s a true mom-and-pop restaurant opened by Bill Schram and has been taken over by his grandchildren. The recipes are secrets that have been passed through generations.

580-228-2872, billsfh.com

bit.ly/altusmuseum

The Pink Pistol store in Tishomingo, opened by country music star Miranda Lambert, is a unique shopping experience. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World Magazine

Johnston County Pop. 10,957 — 658 square miles

The Monterrey is on the menu at Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant in Ponca City. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

Kay County Pop. 45,633 — 945 square miles Going to the airport for lunch or dinner might not sound all that appealing — unless said airport is the Ponca City Regional Airport because this airstrip is also home to Enrique’s Mexican Restaurant, 2213 N. Waverly St. Enrique’s has been serving homemade Mexican and Tex-Mex foods since 1983. Specialties include unique tortilla chips, chicken mole, pork guisado and fried plantains. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30-8 p.m.

Monday-Thursday (to 9 p.m. Friday) and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.

While in Ponca City, check out the nearby Marland Mansion and Estate, the lavish former home of one-time Oklahoma Gov. E. W. Marland.

580-762-5507, enriquesmexicanrestaurant.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Miranda Lambert’s Tishomingo bedand-breakfast, The Ladysmith, was named “the South’s best new hotel” by Southern Living.

Courtesy

Country music star Miranda Lambert may not be visiting Tishomingo as often as she once did (since her divorce from Ada native/”The Voice” coach Blake Shelton), but the businesses she left behind in the town near where the star-couple resided remain as kick-starters to the local economy.

Her clothing store, The Pink Pistol, has made the remote town a tourist destination, and those travelers looking to spend the night can stay at The Ladysmith, her bed-andbreakfast named “the South’s best new hotel” in 2015 by Southern Living.

Pink Pistol: 580-3713724 The Ladysmith: 580-3713886, theladysmith.com

Tulsa World Magazine 39­​

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Eischen’s, which claims to be the oldest bar in Oklahoma, is famous for its fried chicken and okra. And, despite the name, it is kid-friendly.

Photos by JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

Kingfisher County Pop. 15,276 — 906 square miles Eischen’s Bar, 109 S. Second St., in Okarche claims to be the oldest bar in Oklahoma, tracing its history back to 1896. But its true claim to fame is its fried chicken, made famous when it was featured on the Food Network series “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”

And when you order fried chicken at Eischen’s, you get just that — a whole chicken cut into eight pieces, deep-fried to a golden brown and served with bread, two kinds of pickles and onion slices. The other seven menu items include roast beef sandwiches, homemade chili, nachos and fried okra. While “bar” is in the name, Eischen’s is a family-friendly place. Just be sure to bring cash — Eischen’s does not accept credit cards.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday-Saturday.

A plate of chili-cheese nachos is served at Eischen’s in Okarche. It’s pretty good, but trust us, go for the fried chicken.

405-263-9939, eischenbar.com

40 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Latimer County Pop. 10,693 — 722 square miles Bring the family to the 30th annual Robbers Cave Fall Festival on Oct. 14-16 in Wilburton near the woodlands of the Sans Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma and be amazed by the Fall Foliage Cruise car show, which includes almost 500 pre-1981 restored or customized cars. Be prepared for lots of crafts, food, rides and fun, too. Can’t wait that

long? Check out the 3rd Annual Robbers Cave Cardboard Boat Races on Aug. 13.

Robbers Cave State Park also offers rappelling, horseback riding, fishing or even hiking to the famous outlaw cave, a former hideout for outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr. You can even take the Belle Starr Express, a miniature train, on a scenic 30-minute trip through the park.

918-465-2562. bit.ly/robberscaveok

Know what’s good for chunkin? Pumpkins.

JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

Kiowa County Pop. 9,341 — 1,031 square miles What could be cooler than watching a pumpkin being shot out of a cannon? You can see that and much more at the Pumpkin Palooza & Pumpkin Chunkin’ Festival on Oct. 15 in Hobart.

The event begins in the morning on the Kiowa County Courthouse Square, featuring competitive events with pumpkins — pumpkin stacking, pumpkin balancing, pumpkin roll, pumpkin bocce, pumpkin painting, pumpkin cooking, pumpkin relay and pumpkin races.

Pumpkin chunkin’ comes in the afternoon, along with a craft show, food vendors and Lil’ Mr. and Miss Pumpkin contest.

Google “pumpkin palooza Oklahoma Facebook” for more.

Kids climb the bluffs at Robbers Cave State Park near Wilburton.

Tulsa World Magazine file

LeFlore County

The Craig Mound is one of the sites to visit at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center.

MIKE SIMONS/ Tulsa World Magazine file

Pop. 49,761 — 1,589 square miles Channel your best Indiana Jones and attend the annual Archaeology Day and Birthday Bash on May 7 at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, 18154 First St. in Spiro. It’s a day to celebrate the public opening of the only prehistoric Native American archaeological site in Oklahoma. Some of the most important finds include an engraved conch-shell cup that is among the best written visual history left behind by any Late Stone Age culture in North America.

Archaeologists will be there to help identify artifacts, Native American artists will show their wares and several lectures will be given. Call 918-9622062 about guided tours. And don’t forget your signature fedora. bit.ly/spiromoundsfb

The Kolache Festival in Prague celebrates the sweet, yeasty goodness of this Czech pastry.

Courtesy

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Lincoln County Pop. 34,273 — 966 square miles In Stroud, you will find one of Oklahoma’s most iconic restaurants — the Rock Cafe. Eat a buffalo burger and take a picture with the characters from “Cars” outside. Then, down the road in Prague, eat your fill of kolaches, a sweet roll with a fruit center that celebrates the town’s Czech

heritage.

The Kolache Festival on the first Saturday in May is a favorite.

While on the Mother Road, go to Chandler’s Route 66 Interpretive Center, a beautiful rock building housing an everchanging collection of art, films and more. rockcafert66.com; praguekolachefestival.com

Tulsa World Magazine 41­​

Love County Pop. 9,742 — 532 square miles Norton’s Jewelry and Territorial Museum is a jewelry store located on Marietta’s Main Street. The business specializes in fine jewelry but doubles as an attraction for travelers and visitors. It features more than 500 old pop bottles from all over Oklahoma and Indian Territory, including relics from Marietta and the surrounding area. Items include pictures, checks, letterheads, bottles, national currency, medicine bottles and more. Displays also include thousands of arrowheads. Find it at 115 W. Main St. 580-276-2568

A crowd passes by a building during the Victorian Walk Christmas celebration in downtown Guthrie. Other times of the year, you can take a ghost tour through the historic town. BRYAN TERRY/The Oklahoman

Logan County Pop. 44,422 — 749 square miles Guthrie’s history has been as checkered as it is rich, from its start as a railroad stop and being the first state capital to serving as the backdrop for films ranging from “Rain Man” to “The Killer Inside Me.” Delve a little deeper into that history — and some of the spirits left behind — on a Guthrie Ghost Walk. These 90-minute treks through Guthrie’s historic downtown highlight some of the more mysterious locales, such as the Masonic Temple, the old Territorial Prison and Blue Belle Saloon, a building that has been investigated for its paranormal activity more than any other in the state.

Tours are family-friendly and are more about sharing history through the mystery of ghost stories than making you jump with fear.

Walks are held Fridays and Saturdays from March through July and September through January, although special tours can be arranged. Cost is $10 for adults.

405-293-8404. guthrieghostwalk.com

Butterflies are regular visitors to the Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge, which also serves as a pit stop for a variety of birds migrating to their seasonal destinations.

Tulsa World Magazine file

42 Tulsa World Magazine

Dressed in a tutu, a dog named Dolly walks along the edge of Gloss Mountain in Major County. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

Major County Pop. 7,683 — 958 square miles Beep. Beep. If you’re lucky and observant, you just might see a roadrunner chasing lizards on a hike through Gloss Mountain State Park near Fairview.

Rugged mesas spring up from relatively flat land throughout the park and glitter with shades of red, blue, white, green and golden yellow. The cap rock is massive gypsum. Among other sights and sounds are soaring turkey vultures and the echoing song of the rock wren.

In September, look for the Old Time Threshing Bee & 2-Cylinder Show in Fairview. facebook.com/glossmountainpark/

Cars pass by terrain more typical of western Oklahoma, near Gloss Mountain in Major County.

JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

Marshall County Pop. 15,988 — 427 square miles During certain times of the year, the Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge serves as a pit stop for a variety of birds migrating to their seasonal destinations.

Different species of heron, geese, sparrows and warblers are just a few of the common visitors at the refuge, located near the northwest edge of Lake Texoma. Butterflies are another popular attraction at the wildlife refuge with more than 60 species that have been sighted on the refuge, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Department.

The refuge is open to the public throughout the year for viewing wildlife, fishing and hunting. Special events are hosted during the year, including the International Migratory Bird Day, which is held on the second Saturday of May. Visitors can visit the refuge to learn about the migration of nearly 350 species of birds traveling between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean.

580-371-2402, fws.gov/refuge/Tishomingo TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Mayes County Pop. 41,259 — 684 square miles The Pensacola Dam is a magnificent mile, and then some.

The total length of the dam is a little more than a mile. At 6,565 feet long, it is the world’s longest multiple-arch dam, according to the Historical Atlas of Oklahoma. Visitors who travel the length of the dam can walk from one town (Langley) to another (Disney).

Built between Dec. 30, 1938, and March 21, 1940, when Depression-era labor was abundant, the Pensacola Dam is the first hydroelectric facility constructed in Oklahoma.

The dam holds back 43,500 acres of water, which forms the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. For different reasons, the view can be spectacular to the north and to the south.

The Grand River Dam Authority offers free tours of Pensacola Dam. During the summer (between Memorial Day and Labor Day), tours are given seven days a week, including holidays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Off-season tours require at least 10 people and are scheduled based on tour guide availability. Call the tour desk for information.

A guide leads a tour of the Pensacola Dam, situated between Langley and Disney. Tours are available daily through Labor Day. JOHN CLANTON/ Tulsa World Magazine file

918-782-4726

Elaine Butler organizes broaches while working at Butler Antique Shop, housed inside Hotel Love in Purcell. Photos by IAN MAULE/Tulsa World Magazine There’s a camping style for everyone at Beavers Bend State Park. OKLAHOMA TOURISM and RECREATION DEPT./Courtesy

McCurtain County Pop. 33,065 — 1,901 square miles Plan an outing at Broken Bow Lake in Beavers Bend State Park for a chance to unplug and get away for the day or for a weekend. McCurtain County, located in the southeast corner of the state, offers lodging options and campsites perfect for everyone, from lone adventurers to the entire family. You can choose from glamping to roughing it with more than 1,300 square miles of lush forest at the southern end of Broken Bow Lake from which Little River flows into Arkansas.

And if wine is your thing, visit the gals behind Girls Gone Wine winery in Broken Bow. You can do more than just taste their batches of wine, you can create your batch of wine — from fermenting to foiling each bottle. To brew your own bottles, prices range from $290-$540 for 30 bottles.

580-306-9463, thegirlsgonewine.com; beaversbend.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Elaine Butler points at a photo of the original Hotel Love in Purcell.

Antiques line the walls of Butler Antique Shop, housed inside Hotel Love in Purcell.

McClain County Pop. 34,506 — 580 square miles This county that somewhat serves as a kind of bedroom community for Norman and Oklahoma City has its own special charm that can be found in places like Hotel Love, a downtown Purcell building on the National Register of Historic Places. It houses Butler Antique Shop, where Jerry and Elaine Butler have for 30 years been surprising guests with items in the antique, vintage and eclectic varieties.

405-830-5662 Tulsa World Magazine 43­​

McIntosh County Pop. 14,214 — 424 square miles Checotah, famous as the hometown of 2005 “American Idol” and country music superstar Carrie Underwood, is also the Steer Wrestling Capital of the World, where you can watch 300plus contestants compete in the 38th Annual World’s Largest Duvall Jackpot Steerwrestling on May 20-22 at Roy Duvall’s Arena, 4 miles west of

Checotah off U.S. 66.

Checotah is also the site of the Civil War’s Battle of Honey Springs where, in 1863, Maj. Gen. James G. Blunt defeated the Confederates, helping to secure Indian Territory north of the Arkansas River for the Union forces. The battle is re-enacted each fall.

Hungry after all that sight-seeing? Pay a visit to June’s diner, 1213 S. Broadway St., for some delicious chicken-fried steak, fried catfish or other Southern dishes.

Turner Falls near Davis is the largest waterfall in Oklahoma. Courtesy

Murray County Pop. 13,488 — 425 square miles

A cowboy competes in the steer wrestling competition. Checotah is not only the home of country music superstar Carrie Underwood, it’s also the Steer Wrestling Capital of the World.

CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World Magazine file

Muskogee County Pop. 70,000 — 810 square miles The Castle of Muskogee in Muskogee County is filled with events from the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival (April 30-May 30) to its annual fireworks sale (June 15-July 4 and then again July 5) to the Zombie Run (Sept. 10) to the Halloween Festival (6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 3-Oct. 29) to the Boare’s Heade Feaste (Nov. 19) and, finally, the Castle Christmas (open 6-10 p.m. Thanksgiving Day-New Year’s Eve with free holiday activities).

The Renaissance Festival is up first with a way for everyone to step back into the 17th century in the village of Castleton.

At the 36,000-square-foot Castle and adjacent 20-acre Renaissance Village, there are also three pirate ships, a mermaid cove, an enchanted fairy boardwalk, a jousting arena, a working clock tower, an Italian piazza, a dungeon, torture chamber and catacombs.

Sulphur is home to the Chickasaw National Recreation area, which American Indians termed “the land of rippling waters” for its swimming holes, streams, lakes and mineral waters. Davis has the Turner Falls area, a wonderland of natural beauty including a 77-foottall waterfall that drops into a swimming hole that will prove to be a refreshing respite, whether you are camping among the Arbuckle Mountains or merely passing through. turnerfallspark.com

King James, played by Topher Rodgers (center), starts the day at the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival in Muskogee.

MIKE SIMONS/ Tulsa World Magazine file

800-439-0658, okcastle.com

44 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Noble County Pop. 11,446 — 742 square miles

Settlers race for land in the Cherokee Strip in 1893.

Oklahoma Historical Society/Courtesy

The Cherokee Strip — officially the Cherokee Outlet — was a 60-mile-wide stretch of northwestern and north-central Oklahoma that was the site of the largest land run.

Immerse yourself in pioneer history at Perry’s Cherokee Strip Museum, set on five acres that house the museum itself; the Rose Hill School, which offers a living history program that re-creates a typical day in the late 19th century school; outdoor exhibits and picnic areas. Follow up your day with a visit to a Perry landmark, Click’s Steakhouse (409 Harrison St., 918-762-2231), which specializes in top-quality aged steaks.

2617 W. Fir Ave. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Admission: $3 adults.

580-336-2405, cherokee-strip-museum.org

Okfuskee County Pop. 12,186 — 618 square miles Music lovers won’t want to miss the 19th Annual Woody Guthrie Festival aka WoodyFest on July 13-17 in Okemah. The annual event, which celebrates the life and legacy of the late folk musician, includes live performances at the historic Crystal Theater, 401 W. Broadway St., and other locations downtown. Or you can just head off to Okemah and visit Guthrie’s boyhood homesite, see the famous Hot and Cold Water towers that mark his hometown of Guthrie, the Okfuskee County History Center and much more. Check the woodyfest.com for ticket and artist information.

While you’re there, stop off at the Okemah Coffee Co., 501 S. Woody Guthrie St. (918-716-7036), for Korean Tacos served with coconut rice or Inside Out Eggroll Lettuce Wraps with a bit of shredded cabbage in the filling. Yum! Call ahead to find out the lunch specials. Check it out online at facebook.com/downwithocc Chris Barbee displays his bowling ball art in his yard in Nowata.

STEPHEN PINGRY/Tulsa World Magazine file

Nowata County Pop. 10,524 — 581 square miles If you’re into quirky attractions, you may want to swing by Chris Barbee’s home a mile east of Nowata on Road 021.

Barbee retired in 2005 and didn’t have a hobby. He has one now, and tourists from all over stop by to check out his handiwork.

Barbee creates bowling ball yard art. He used thousands of bowling balls as building blocks in crafting items like an American flag, a Christmas tree, a croquet set, a billiards table and a row of lollipops. Visitors from all 50 states and more than a dozen foreign countries have signed his guest book, located inside a “bowling ball shed” on the property, so don’t forget to step inside.

Barbee’s bowling ball yard art has been featured in travel magazines and the book “Weird Oklahoma.”

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

A giant photograph of Woody Guthrie graces a stage at a past Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Okemah.

JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World Magazine file Tulsa World Magazine 45­​

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counties Okmulgee County Pop. 39,095 — 697 square miles

Head south out of Tulsa on U.S. 75 and into downtown Okmulgee where making a stop at the town’s bestknown eatery, Coleman’s Burgers and Bakery, is a must-do. Try a tasty burger and world-famous onion rings, washed down with sweet tea and topped off with a big slice of homemade pie.

Coleman’s, 118 N. Seminole Ave., is well known in the area as an Okmulgee institution. It’s open 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. 918756-0560.

Okmulgee is also the location of the 61st Annual Okmulgee “Roy LeBlanc” Invitational Rodeo, set for Aug. 12-14.

The sanctioned Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is open to all African American cowboys and cowgirls. Find more information at facebook.com/okmulgeeblack.rodeo

Runners race by the Finish Line Tower at the Oklahoma Regatta Festival in the Boathouse District of Oklahoma City. The Oklahoman file

Oklahoma County Pop. 755,245 — 718 square miles In the center of Oklahoma City’s urban sprawl is an oasis for the serious aquatic athlete or the family that relishes riparian entertainment — the Oklahoma City Boathouse District. The district has the prestige of being an Olympic and Paralympic Training Center but also offers a variety of sport and adventure possibilities for the casual visitor, from kayaking and paddleboarding to hiking and biking trails and ziplines at

the Oklahoma River site and at Lake Overholser west of the city.

The latest addition to the district, Riversport Rapids, a $45.2 million whitewater rafting and kayaking center, will open to the public May 7-8, with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Road to Rio celebration, USA Canoe/Kayak Slalom Olympic Team Trials and a music and fireworks festival.

Oklahoma City Boathouse, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., and Route 66 Boathouse, 3115 E. Overholser Drive.

Hours of operation are variable. Day pass is $39.

405-552-4040, boathousedistrict.org

A bison waits to be sent through a chute at the Tallgrass Prairie Reserve in Osage County.

CORY YOUNG/ Tulsa World Magazine file

Osage County Pop. 47,987 — 2,304 square miles Take a short drive to Okmulgee for Coleman’s Bakery, 118 N. Seminole Ave., with its mile-high pies. During the holidays, we like the pecan and pumpkin. Any other time of the year, we get adventurous. This cherry cream was great. And the custard is a classic. Courtesy 46 Tulsa World Magazine

One of Oklahoma’s natural wonders, the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, is a way to experience the American Plains as it once was, when the expanse of land from Minnesota to Texas was covered with tall grass, through which hordes of wildlife roamed freely.

The preserve, which is owned and managed by the Nature Conservatory, covers some 39,000

acres and is home to more than 700 plant species and more than 300 species of animals, including bison and prairie chicken. Drive along the 10-mile loop or follow one of the designated hiking paths to explore this stretch of living history. The preserve is open from dawn to dusk and the visitors center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 to Dec. 15. Admission is free. Find it at 15316 County Road 4201, Pawhuska.

918-287-3623, nature.org TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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The majestic Coleman Theatre takes visitors back to another time. GARY CROW/for Tulsa World Magazine

Ottawa County Pop. 31,848 — 485 square miles A few months before a historic stock market crash in 1929, the majestic Coleman Theatre was unveiled in Miami, Oklahoma.

Built for $600,000, the theatre opened April 18, 1929, to a full house of 1,600 folks who shelled out $1 per ticket.

Located on Route 66 (103 N. Main St.), the theater is visited by tourists from around the world who check out the Spanish colonial mission-style exterior and the Louis XV interior. They are treated to the sight of gargoyles, dolphins and cherubs throughout the facility — and a “Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ.

If the walls could talk, they might share stories about the stars who walked onstage, including Will Rogers, Tom Mix, Sally Rand, Bing Crosby, Moscelyne Larkin, Jim Thorpe and the magician Harry Blackstone. colemantheatre.org

The cheese fries are a favorite food at Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater.

JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World Magazine file

Some of the museum exhibits at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum in Pawnee.

Tulsa World Magazine file

Pawnee County Pop. 16,513 — 595 square miles Gordon William Lillie was known as “Pawnee Bill” because of his long friendship with members of the Pawnee Tribe, a friendship that served him well when he and members of the tribe began performing in wild west shows — first with Buffalo Bill Cody, then as part of the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show. The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum in Pawnee offers a glimpse into this aspect of Oklahoma’s past, from the 14-room mansion Pawnee Bill called home to the herds of bison and longhorn cattle that roam the grounds.

Each summer, the ranch at 1141 Pawnee Bill Road in Pawnee, hosts a re-creation of the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show, which this year will be June 10-11. Winter hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m.

Sunday. Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday-Monday.

Admission: $5 adults.

918-762-2513, okhistory.org.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Payne County Pop. 79,066 — 683 square miles What’s now known as “Stillwater’s Jumpin’ Little Juke Joint” started out in 1975 as a bar that a couple of childhood friends opened a block or so from the Oklahoma State University campus.

A sketch of a toothsome fellow in a parka and his accompanying dog served as the Eskimo Joe’s logo and was printed on 72 T-shirts that sold

out the first day of business. The logo is now known worldwide, and the restaurant’s T-shirts are among the most collected in the world. Every year, thousands of people come to sample the restaurant’s eclectic atmosphere and its signature hamburgers and cheese fries.

Find it at 501 W. Elm St., Stillwater. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

405-372-8896, eskimojoes.com Tulsa World Magazine 53

Pontotoc County Pop. 37,992 — 725 square miles There’s something to be said for taking in the “Friday night lights” of high school football in Ada, where 19 state championships are the most titles of any school in Oklahoma, and with alumni including University of Oklahoma All-Americans like Bob Warmack, Dan Cody and Mike Vaughan, as well as NFL tight end Jeremy Shockey.

The county seat of Ada is also the headquarters of the Chickasaw Nation, the birthplace of country-music star Blake Shelton of “The Voice” and home to the McSwain Theatre, an old-school moviehouse with a balcony that now hosts live music shows and more, which would be fun after enjoying some of the best Mexican food in southeastern Oklahoma at Polo’s Mexican Restaurant.

Pete’s Place, home of Choc beer, is a must-see in Krebs.

TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World Magazine file

Pittsburg County Pop. 45,837 — 1,378 square miles The little town of Krebs is home to one of the state’s oldest churches and its worst mining disaster (more than 100 men died in 1892), but it’s bestknown today for its Italian food.

Pete’s Place has been serving family-style dinners for more than 90 years, and Isle of Capri for six decades, just to name a couple of the local eateries, with good choices to be found in McAlester as well. The trip here will prove tasty, and Pete’s is also the home of Choc beer. petes.org, isleofcapriofkrebs Van’s Pig Stand is famous for its barbecue and the Pig sandwich.

DAVID MCDANIEL/Courtesy

Pottawatomie County Pop. 71,811 — 787 square miles Make it a family tradition. Take your kids to Van’s Pig Stand, 717 E. Highland St. in Shawnee — the oldest barbecue restaurant owned and operated by the same family in Oklahoma, for lunch or dinner.

Leroy Vandegrift started in the restaurant business by selling breakfast and lunch to his co-workers in the oilfields in early 1900s. From one stand in Wewoka in 1930, he expanded the business to four locations. Be sure to order the brisket or Pig sandwich, juicy smoked ribs or sausage or try the original twice-baked Vanized Potato. You won’t regret it. pigstands.com

Roger Mills Pop. 3,761 — 1,146 square miles

Keep your eyes peeled for Bigfoot in Honobia. The tiny town hosts a Bigfoot event every year. Courtesy

Pushmataha County Pop. 11,233 — 1,423 square miles Every year, Honobia hosts a Bigfoot Festival and Conference as a fundraiser for scholarships. The festival celebrates everything Bigfoot related, including Bigfoot storytelling. The two-day event is presented by the Honobia Bigfoot Club, a nonprofit group that focuses its efforts on raising money for scholarships that will be awarded to deserving students in the surrounding area of Honobia. This year’s annual festival is slated for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. honobiabigfoot.com 54 Tulsa World Magazine

Parts of Oklahoma’s past are quite dark, but it’s important to learn from those events so they are not repeated. The Washita Battlefield near the city of Cheyenne is one of those places and events. In November 1868, Lt. Col. George Custer led a The Washita Battlefield National surprise dawn attack with Historic Site is in Roger Mills County. nearly 575 soldiers on a Tulsa World Magazine file Southern Cheyenne village with Chief Black Kettle and a camp population of about 250 people. A visitors center built in 2007 offers visitors a lesson on the history of the event that left more than 100 Native Americans dead or captured and about 20 soldiers killed. Explore the area where the tragic event happened and hike the nearby Black Kettle National Grassland. bit.ly/washita TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Rogers County Pop. 86,905 — 711 square miles Will Rogers — movie star, humorist, trick roper — was a man of multiple talents, so it’s only fair that there are multiple spots in Rogers County where folks can get reacquainted with him.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum (1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore) and the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch (9501 E. 380 Rd. in Oologah) are close enough to each other that you can double dip.

The eight-gallery museum, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, sits atop a hillside in

Claremore. On the property is a tomb with one of many famous Rogers quotes: “I never met a man I didn’t like.” Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors 62-older and $5 for those with a military ID. Children 17-younger are free.

Admission is free at the Will Rogers Ranch, where visitors can step into a two-story home built in 1875 and see the log-walled room where Rogers was born. Pet grazing goats and burros or picnic under shade trees while watching longhorn cattle roam the ranch, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Like the museum, it’s closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. willrogers.com

Stephens County Pop. 44,919 — 891 square miles Marlow’s Main Street is home to the area’s best Italian food. Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant is in downtown’s State National Bank building, which was built in 1911. Giuseppe’s transformed the building, at 203 W. Main St., to fit its needs by moving the bar and wine into a vault and maintaining the original sign on the brick building designating it as the State

A statue of Will Rogers riding his horse sits at the Will Rogers Memorial and Museum in Claremore.

JAMES GIBBARD/ Tulsa World Magazine file

National Bank building.

There’s even a special broom closet where up to 10 diners can be served from a premium menu, according to the restaurant’s website, but only if you know where the secret entrance is. It’s known best by the locals for its Italian classics, including osso bucco, lasagna and pizza, but it also serves bottles of wine with the Giuseppe name.

580-658-2148, giuseppesitaliandining.com

A steer wrestler practices for the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.

LESLEY VERMILLION/ Guyman Daily Herald via AP file

Carson Hardy, 3, pulls a large bubble around himself at an exhibit at the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole.

JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine file

Seminole County Pop. 25,482 — 640 square miles

The Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum is guaranteed to keep the kids busy for hours with its assortment of hands-on activities. They can pretend to be a surgeon, go shopping in the mini-grocery store or experience the feel of tornado-force winds in a tube that will hold the whole family.

For a look back at Oklahoma’s past, as well as present, there’s the Oklahoma Oil Museum, featuring oil equipment from the 1920s and even a 127-foot derrick.

If you’re driving through Seminole and you’re hungry, find the famous Robertson’s Hams store just south of Interstate 40, where delicious sandwiches and authentic beef jerky await. bit.ly/moranmuseum

Sequoyah County

Texas County Pop. 21, 853 — 2,449 square miles The town of Guymon goes all out for the Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for the first weekend in May to mark the anniversary of the Organic Act, which made “No Man’s Land” of the Oklahoma Panhandle part of Oklahoma Territory.

One of the state’s longest-running rodeos also happens to be the fourth-largest outdoor rodeo in the national Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. bit.ly/pioneerdaysrodeo

Pop. 42,391 — 715 square miles Sequoyah is a significant figure in Native American history.

He created the Cherokee alphabet.

His home — Sequoyah’s Cabin — is located at 470288 Highway 101 in Sallisaw. In 1965, the cabin was designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Born in Tennessee, Sequoyah moved near Russellville, Arkansas, before building the one-room cabin in Indian Territory in 1829. For preservation purposes, the cabin is housed inside a memorial building.

Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 2-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. Email seqcabin@okhistory. org for more information.

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Tillman County Pop. 7,711 — 879 square miles If you want to know what life was like in western Oklahoma in the 1920s, go to the Pioneer Heritage Townsite Center in Frederick, where exhibits include a 1902 Frisco Depot, the 1902 Horse Creek School, a 1924 farmhouse, a mini cotton gin and a 1924 church. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday and

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free.

Those in the area Nov. 5 will want to check out the Cotton Fest & Chili CookOff in Frederick. Events include the cookoff, live entertainment, craft vendors, the Little Miss Cotton Bowl Pageant and cotton gin tours. tillmanokhistory.org, frederickokchamber.org Tulsa World Magazine 55­​

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counties

Peaches take center stage during the Porter Peach Festival, set July 14-16.

Tulsa World Magazine file

Wagoner County Pop. 75,702 — 561 square miles The peachiest place in Oklahoma is Porter, and Livesay Orchards produces not only peaches, but also items like corn, summer squash, nectarines, watermelons, cantaloupe, tomatoes, apples and pumpkins.

The Porter Peach Festival is an Oklahoma tradition. Visitors come to enjoy the small-town festival atmosphere (live music, street games, peach-related cooking contests) and for the star attraction — tasty peaches.

Free peaches and ice cream are made available during the final day of the three-day festival. But don’t be last in line. It’s a whilesupplies-last endeavor.

The 2016 Porter Peach Festival is July 14-16, but come back to Livesay Orchards on weekends in October for a hayride to a pumpkin patch where you can pick out your own pumpkin. livesayorchards.com; porterpeachfestivals.com

Cowboy actor Tom Mix was Hollywood’s first big Western star.

Courtesy

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The Golden Driller has stood on the grounds of Expo Square since 1966, although temporary versions were erected earlier. He received a major overhaul in 1979 and has been resurfaced since then. He stands 76 feet tall and wears a 48-foot belt and size 393-DDD boots. Tulsa World Magazine file

Tulsa County Pop. 629,598 — 587 square miles For culture, visit Gilcrease Museum or the Philbrook Museum of Art. You can’t go wrong with world-class museums.

But for a classic Oklahoma experience, visit the Golden Driller during the annual run of the Tulsa State Fair.

Built in 1966, the Golden Driller is a 76-foot-tall statue that serves as a reminder that Tulsa has been called the Oil Capital of the World.

The Golden Driller (you can’t miss him if you drive down 21st Street between Harvard and Yale avenues) also is synonymous with the Tulsa State Fair because he stands on the southern edge of the fairgrounds. A trip to the fair is a treat for all the senses. Admit it. Just reading this makes you want a corn dog or a funnel cake. The 2016 Tulsa State Fair launches Sept. 29 and continues through Oct. 9.

Washington County Pop. 51,937 — 415 square miles Tom Mix Museum, 721 N. Delaware St. in Dewey, has a 30-seat theater featuring the Oklahoma megastar’s Western films and a documentary. It also contains exhibits that include the heavy metal Halliburton suitcases that killed him.

Traveling on the highway on Oct. 12, 1940,

near Florence, Arizona, Mix had his suitcases stacked in the back seat. When he made a sudden stop, one of the cases flew forward and broke his neck.

The colorful cowboy appeared in 291 films — all but nine were silent films. He was Hollywood’s first big Western star. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Admission: donation. tommixmuseum.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Washita County Pop. 11,678 — 1,009 square miles If the kids are getting itchy to get back in the backyard pool or go swimming at the lake, take off for the Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park in

Clinton. It’s 80 degrees all year, and the park offers 28,000 square feet of water slides, pools, fountains and a lazy river.

Tubes, parking and life jackets are free. Bring a towel. Locker rental is available, and outside food or drink is not allowed. Admission:

$23.49 guests under 48 inches, $24.99 guests 48 inches and taller, ages 3 and younger free; admission after 5 p.m.: $15.99 guests under 48 inches, $21.99 guests 48 inches and taller.

Check the website or call 580-323-9966 for hours and details. water-zoo.com

Woods County Pop. 9,288 — 1,290 square miles More than 1,600 acres of large, rolling, sandy dunes at the Little Sahara State Park make this one of the most unique and fun adventures in Oklahoma.

Named for its resemblance to the sandy expanse of the African Sahara Desert, sand dunes stretch as far as you can see at some spots, with freedom to explore as much as you desire. Trails also cut through. Camping is available, as are ATV and dune buggie rentals from private vendors. The park is located near Waynoka. bit.ly/littlesaharaok

Little Sahara State Park in Woods County is 1,600 acres of sand that is used by ATV riders and campers. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

Alabaster State Park in western Oklahoma is home to the Alabaster Caverns, the largest natural gypsum cave in the world.

JOHN CLANTON/ Tulsa World Magazine

Woodward County Pop. 21,529 — 1,246 square miles Oklahoma’s geology is one of a kind, and there’s no better place to see that than deep below the surface. The Alabaster Caverns, about 5 miles south of Freedom, is the largest natural gypsum cave in the world and one of only three places in the world where a vein of black alabaster can be found.

A walking path through the cave lets visitors see those unique formations and some of the wildlife that make the caves their home. Or get a permit and go off spelunking on your own. Camping and hiking trails through the western Oklahoma prairie are also available. bit.ly/alacaverns

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Little Sahara State Park in Woods County is 1,600 acres of sand that is used by ATV riders and campers.  

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wonder From sand dunes to swamps, the western part of the state is full of surprises STORY BY J ER RY WOFFORD & P H OTOS BY JOH N CLA N TON \\\\

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There are places in Little Sahara State Park in Woods County where the only sight on the horizon is more sand.

ith your boots sinking slowly and your face gently blasted by the fine grains of sand from the Oklahoma wind, there are places in Little Sahara State Park where the only sight on the horizon is more sand.

It’s an alien world, a picturesque facsimile of the sand dunes you’d imagine in expansive deserts on the other side of the globe. Not in Oklahoma. Climb up the dune and look a little farther — barren trees, an expansive mesa and a winding river take you to the desert southwest.

It was my first time to visit Little Sahara and even more than that, it was my first time in a desert-like environment covered by sand dunes. A world apart, and only a three-hour drive west of Tulsa.

Karsen Kinder, 11, keeps an eye on his older brother, Brayden, as he talks with family during a break in action at Little Sahara State Park in Woods County.

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Dani Luna, of Great Bend, Kansas, rolls down sand dunes at Little Sahara State Park.

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Brayden Kinder jumps his ATV at Little Sahara State Park.

We went about 40 miles southwest the next day, and the sand dunes seemed more like thousands of miles away as we climbed over the trunks of fallen trees that slowly sink into a swamp, ducking under the branches of the tall cedar trees that groaned and whispered in the strong south wind.

Those were just two stops in the expansive northwest corner of one of the most ecologically and geologically diverse states in the country. Two days in the area gave me an entirely new perspective on my state, and we haven’t even gotten to the largest gypsum cave in the world that’s open to the public.

Little Sahara The Sunday afternoon that Tulsa World Magazine Photo Editor John Clanton and I went, the dunes were full of people enjoying the park’s top attraction: ATV cruising over the open dunes and through the sandy, wooded trails that cut through the 1,600 acres in the park.

A faint, whining buzz grows louder until an ATV flies over the crest of a sand dune followed by another and another, and suddenly, we’re extras in a “Mad Max” hellscape. If it weren’t for the joyful screams and laughter, it could be terrifying.

I had read about Little Sahara for the decade I’ve lived in Oklahoma, but never made the trip. Connie Kinder and her family have a similar story.

“My husband had been reading about it for years, and we had to come out here,” Kinder said as her relatives ramped their ATVs over dunes behind her.

They came once and have been back nearly every year for almost 30 years.

Every spring break, they spend several days camping, riding the ATVs all around, stopping occasionally to take a break and let the kids show off a little.

Brayden Kinder was one of those relatives ramping his ATV. He grew up coming to Little Sahara, slowly building his confidence and his knowledge of how to best handle the shifting dunes and tricky terrain. But, yeah, it’s still as crazy as it looks.

Visitors to Little Sahara State Park in Woods County leave their mark on its shifting dunes and tricky terrain.

Two days in the area gave me an entirely new perspective on my state.

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“It’s still a little nerve-wracking now and then,” he said, grinning. “I whipped my dad. It’s always fun when you have a faster bike than your dad.”

As the day fades and the riders leave the dunes one by one, a serenity takes over that’s hard to match. Sitting on top of a seven-story-tall sand dune, the orange glow of the western sunset growing brighter is the best reminder that you’re still in Oklahoma.

Alabaster Caverns After a night in the bustling oil town of Woodward and a visit to a monument to creationism where a child is riding a dinosaur, the drive to Alabaster Caverns State Park was typical of what one would expect to see in western Oklahoma. Yes, generally flat, but that’s such a cop-out description.

Hills roll over green pastures and under crystal blue skies. And in those rolling hills are real treasures.

Boiling Springs State Park shows a natural spring that spits up water and sand to give the appearance of boiling water, which isn’t an apt enough

Boiling Springs State Park in western Oklahoma features walking trails and a cedar forest.

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Tulsa World Magazine Writer Jerry Wofford walks along terrain in a valley at Alabaster Caverns State Park in western Oklahoma.

description for this strange phenomena. But the trail down to the North Canadian River showed an entirely different landscape — a thick cedar forest oasis in this grassy prairie.

Among the trees was a swamp — about the last thing I thought I would see out in western Oklahoma. For a kid from Arkansas, a forested wetlands made me feel strangely at home.

With high winds blowing through the trees, a symphony took place over our heads.

The sounds of Oklahoma were as attentiongrabbing as the sights: complete silence standing on a ridge over Alabaster Caverns, the wind blowing through the trees, the ATVs buzzing across the sand.

But the dripping water and squeaking bats echoing through the largest gypsum cave that’s open to the public was truly a unique experience.

I’ve done a lot of amateur spelunking, where the first thing you’re told is to not touch anything because you’ll ruin the stalactite and stalagmite formations with your filthy hands.

Most of the world’s caves are limestone but not Alabaster Caverns. You are welcome to touch the walls, which sparkle and shine with the stone.

It’s literally a dazzling sight, one that park employee and guide Kim Hall never gets tired

66 Tulsa World Magazine

of after 27 years at the site.

“I say I helped dig it,” she jokes. Of course, she didn’t. It’s several million years old, the marks of water erosion clearly visible everywhere, even the ceiling.

As she points out one of the largest deposits of rare black alabaster in the wall of the cave, a cat comes sauntering up to visit. Cave Cat (its remarkably descriptive name) follows our small tour, with our many exclamations of amazement as we turn each corner.

It’s not a particularly deep or long cave, but the wonders it holds are endless. There are 16,000 bats that call the cave home, graffiti from tours before Oklahoma was a state (Orland Moon visited Alabaster Caverns in 1900, his handwriting tells us).

Emerging from the ground to the sun, it’s clear we’re back in Oklahoma, but underground was like being transported to another place.

“I had a reporter once ask me to describe Oklahoma in one word,” Hall said. Her answer? “Diverse.”

From the mountains and caves of the southeast to the forests, rivers and lakes of northeast, the prairie grasslands of southwest to the tallest, most distant point in the state in the Panhandle, I’d say she’s right.

About the author Jerry Wofford grew up among the Ozark Mountains, hiking and waterfall hunting through the mountains with his brothers. A native of Alma, Arkansas, Wofford attended the University of Oklahoma and worked in Kansas before joining the Tulsa World in 2010. He now covers music and other features for Tulsa World Scene.

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Alabaster Caverns State Park in Woodward County is a natural wonder.

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VIEW

POINT.

GINNIE

GRAHAM > Ginnie Graham is a Tulsa World news columnist whose columns appear each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

She has been a reporter with the Tulsa World since 1994, covering social issues, education and criminal justice.

When not working, she is usually whisking her two children to dance, sports or school events. She has a professional guitar-playing husband, reads quite a bit and believes Thanksgiving is the best holiday.

68 Tulsa World Magazine

What to do when you find yourself in a small town

S

mall towns can be quaint, tight-knit, friendly, safe and positively boring.

It’s not an elite thing. It’s not a big-city thing.

It’s just a fact.

There is simply not as much stuff to do in towns with populations less than a fourth of the size of Tulsa Public Schools.

My upbringing in rural Oklahoma provided a solid foundation in lessons for life, but it required creativity for entertainment.

No one tipped cows or hunted snipes. We cruised around the local Pizza Hut, had impromptu parties in empty fields and made a big deal about homecomings and Friday night football.

Well, my town was more about wrestling, but every place has its own traditions.

When day-tripping around Oklahoma small towns, there can be much to see — local museums, old folklore, notable restaurants. Each community usually can find one thing that’s unique for out-of-towners.

The challenge is when it’s for more than a night. What do you do when a car breakdown strands you for a few extra days? Or a snowstorm curtails the road trip a while? A family event keeps you in a hotel for a week? There are a surprising number of reasons people wind up in weird spots.

Having lived in and visited often in small-town Oklahoma, here are a few tips. > Go to the beauty or barber shop. Everyone could use a pedicure or a trim. This is the hub for information. It’s where to find out the real hot spots and information. Plus, this is like checking into a hotel. They can vouch for you later when seen on the town square. > Read the newspaper. There are no television stations or daily blogs documenting small-town life. The local newspaper is going to list every spaghetti dinner, county demonstration workshop, fundraiser, school dance and city meeting. > Find a sporting event. Big cities tend to have so-so turnouts for high school games. It doesn’t matter how the small-town football team is doing, the stadium will be full. Same goes for basketball season, and nothing is more relaxing than a baseball or softball game on a lazy Saturday.

> Hang out at the library. Rural towns rarely have a bookstore, but it’s a good bet the residents take pride in the public library. Even if you can’t get a card and check out items, it’ll be a nice place to read and pass the time.

Also, librarians usually know just as much about what’s happening as the beauticians and barbers. > Find a gun range. In Oklahoma, most towns have one, and owners would be happy to give a lesson or two. I mean, really, when in Rome ... > Go to church or find the prettiest one in town to attend. Even if you aren’t particularly religious, why not sit in a beautiful architectural setting for a little meditative reflection. You might luck out with a bake sale afterward. > Explore the park or maybe a trail. There might be a tennis or basketball court to check out, too. > Check out the courthouse. Every county in Oklahoma has one and many have some historical value. It’s not likely you will find a fiery Atticus Finch at a murder trial, but, you never know. > Local bars. This is a hit-or-miss idea. Sometimes, there might be a local band or other entertainment. Other times, it’s a sad, drunken place.

A benefit to being in a small town for days is that most people are nice, sincere and appreciative of your interest. If you are good to them, they will be good to you.

Boring is all about state of mind.

If your mind is open, a person can make memorable moments in isolated places.

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Dream job at 21 College student Lucien Littledave cherishes 70 Tulsa World Magazine

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I

Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave relaxes in his office before changing into nicer clothes for a playoff game.

f you’re the youngest high school head basketball coach in the state — anybody out there younger than 21-year-old Lucien Littledave? — proving you are the coach can be as difficult as proving you can coach.

Littledave is a Northeastern State University student who is on pace to graduate in 2017. He moonlighted last season as the boys basketball coach at his alma mater, Salina High School.

Before boarding a bus for a Feb. 9 game at Adair, Littledave and the Wildcats were treated to a big spread of food at the gym.

Piles of cold cuts remained after bellies had been filled.

Gina McSwain of Blue Springs Church, which supplied the food, wanted to know if coaches would like to pack sandwiches for the road trip.

“Is that the boss?” McSwain said after being told Littledave was the head coach.

“That little one right there? He’s just a baby!”

Terri Wheaton, helping out in the food room, wondered if Littledave was a player.

“I thought he was 15,” she said.

“I get that all the time,” he said.

In December, Littledave was eating in the hospitality room at a tournament and was mistaken for a player.

Littledave and his girlfriend, Sarah Sordahl, visited Salina’s gym to run stairs on a Sunday, and there was a problem with the alarm. The policeman and maintenance man who showed up wanted to know how they got inside. He flashed a key. How did you get that?

“They probably thought we were high school kids,” Littledave said.

McSwain suggested to Littledave that perhaps he will stay young looking for a long time and be glad about it.

Good luck with that. Coaching was more fun — and more stressful — than Littledave envisioned.

“I’m going to come back next year looking 42,” he said.

Littledave began the season as a helper on the Salina bench. In January, amid unusual circumstances, he was promoted to head coach for the remainder of the season.

Interesting things happened after a 21-year-old became the boss.

Littledave, with an assist from an NBA video game and the new “Star Wars” movie, made things fun. The Wildcats grew up, at least as much as they could. And Littledave, disproving youth is wasted on the young, was voted by his peers as the conference coach of the year.

******* Jody Hull began the season as Salina’s head coach and stepped down due to health issues. Hull’s replacement didn’t last long.

STORY By JIMMIE TRAMEL I PHOTOS BY IAN MAULE Tulsa World Magazine 72 Tulsa World Magazine

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un and done!

“With my first mortgage, I remember being pretty freaked out. I was like, I’m 22 years old and I’m gonna try to get a mortgage, how crazy is that?

But I had my checking and savings with TTCU, so I went over there… and I bought my first house! It was so easy-breezy.

Cheryl S. TTCU Member

It’s like everything else with TTCU. It’s comfortable. They know my name.

It’s like Cheers for me. I walk in and it’s like, ‘Heyyyy Cheryl!’ I’m the Norm of TTCU!”

That’s my unbank.

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Above, Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave talks to his father, Judge, after his team’s loss to Nowata. Judge said his son was initially terrified to be the coach for his hometown team.

At center, Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave (center) talks to his team during a timeout. Salina rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat Nowata in the final home game of the regular season but lost to the same team in the playoffs.

Instead of bringing in an outsider to finish the season, Salina went with an insider, and, sure, the age factor was a little scary.

“Oh, yeah. I’m not going to lie,” Superintendent Tony Thomas said. “But I didn’t want to put our kids through somebody else at that time.”

Littledave, who had impressed Thomas as a lay assistant, was offered the head coaching gig the same day Salina faced eventual state champion Verdigris.

Welcome to coaching. Verdigris led 29-10 after one quarter and won 80-44.

But Thomas knew almost immediately that promoting Littledave was the right move. Players responded. Win or lose, they seemed to play hard for Littledave. A double-digit loss to a ranked Sperry team was followed by a double-digit victory in a rematch.

As a result, the gym started rocking for boys games like it hadn’t for several years, according to Thomas. The gym was rocking for a homegrown guy.

Littledave is a 2012 Salina graduate. Truth: In some small towns, you better know the lay of the land if you’re going to coach there.

“I would say it’s extremely important,” Adair Superintendent and former Salina basketball coach Tom Linihan said, adding that he was prepared to be a Salina head coach because, in two years as an assistant there, he familiarized himself with the community, learned how hard he could coach the kids and learned who he could count on.

Littledave is a “fit.” About 60 percent of Salina’s students are Native American. Littledave is Cherokee.

His family’s roots run deep here. Fourteen Littledaves were students in the Salina school system during the 1967-68 school year.

74 Tulsa World Magazine

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Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave walks with his girlfriend, Sarah Sordahl, after the team's loss to Nowata.

Salina players get pre-game words from 21-year-old coach Lucien Littledave (left).

Far left, Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave rubs his eyes while relaxing in his office before his team’s game against Nowata. Littledave had a head cold and was trying to shake it before the game.

At left, Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave (foreground) watches his team play during its game against Nowata.

Since 1979, more than 45 Littledaves have attended Salina Public Schools, including Lucien’s father, who, in 1984, played on the first regional championship basketball team in school history.

Dad’s name is Lucien, too, but people call him Judge. If you’re a Littledave, people might know you by your nickname instead of your birth name. Solly. Babe.

Porky. Skunk. Dude. Lucien is sometimes called Biggie Boy, or “Beeb” for short.

Not only is Beeb familiar with his hometown, but also his hometown is familiar with him. He said he can call Dairy Deal (one of two revered drive-up burger joints in the Mayes County town) and, when he places a take-out order, the voice on the other end of the line says, “Is this Lucien?”

The coach guessed he can recognize 70 percent of faces at home games. Knowing everybody can be good and bad, according to Thomas. “You’ve got to put the best kids out there, and those are tough decisions when you are coaching at home — people you know, with parents you know.”

Judge said his son was initially terrified of being the head coach. It wasn’t because he didn’t know what he was doing. It was because he didn’t want to mess up in this

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

town that he loves.

******* Littledave said there’s no way he could have done this job without his assistant coaches.

“You can put that in bold letters,” he said.

The assistants are Sean Smith (29, could pass for much younger), Brock Thomas, 21, and Justin Kindle, 31. Almost immediately after meeting them, a visitor to the coach’s office is warned to expect a surprising amount of fashion talk.

How’s the length of my tie?

Are those Perry Ellis pants?

Is it OK to wear brown shoes and a brown belt with a black watch?

On game day, an ironing board gets as much use as a clipboard.

There’s a legit reason why the dudes are fixated on fashion points. Fair or not, they will be judged on appearance, and, as pup coaches, they’re out to show that they can look professional.

Littledave can tie a necktie, but Kindle tied it for him the first three games.

Said Kindle: “I felt like I was getting my

Tulsa World Magazine 75­​

son ready for the prom.”

Smith took heat from one of the other coaches because he owns a $60 tie. “I just like the tie,” he said.

They bust each other’s chops — about appearance and everything else — because that’s standard procedure. Smith said he once loaned his truck to Brock Thomas because he wanted to practice driving a vehicle with standard transmission. Smith said the truck died seven times between Jiffy Stop convenience store and the field house.

“They cut up with one another, and they can take it,” said Tony Thomas, who was a coach before he was a superintendent.

“They don’t get their feelings hurt. That’s kind of fun to see. The camaraderie in coaching, that’s the kind of thing I miss.”

Of course, the young coaches turn serious when it’s time to put on game faces. But don’t discount the importance of having fun.

“I look forward to getting here and hanging out with the guys,” Kindle said. “They are here a lot later than I would be because my wife wouldn’t allow it. But you don’t want to leave. And when you don’t want to leave, there are things that get done.”

Fun needed to trickle down to players.

The head coach’s father said nobody was having fun before Lucien became the coach. Judge said this happened after Lucien’s promotion: “They got their heart back.”

Salina basketball assistant coaches Justin Kindle (center) and Sean Smith (right) tease coach Lucien Littledave about having gray hairs before the playoff game against Nowata.

******* Salina rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat Nowata in the final home game of the regular season.

Kindle suggested the Wildcats play hard for Littledave because he’s young enough to relate to them and built relationships with them. Littledave can play the “it wasn’t long ago when I was in your position” card and it rings true.

“Well, yeah,” Kindle said. “Look at him.

It really wasn’t too long ago.”

Did somebody say long time ago in a galaxy far, far away?

After Littledave became the coach, he had players congregate in the coach’s office to watch “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.” Too much romance? “We skipped ahead to the big fight,” Littledave said.

When “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released, the Wildcats traveled to the Allred Theater in Pryor to watch it as a team. Coby Backward is Salina’s only senior starter (he was in the eighth grade when Littledave was a senior), and he’s bound for the Naval Academy after graduation. Backward had seen “The Force Awakens” twice before, but he was OK seeing it a third time since his Twitter alias is Cobi-Wan Kenobi.

Salina did not have school on Presidents Day. Idle time? No way. A box of Subway food was delivered to the high school, 76 Tulsa World Magazine

Above, assistant coaches Brock Thomas (left) and Sean Smith (center) join 21-year-old Salina coach Lucien Littledave in the coach’s office before a game.

Knowing that appearances matter, they change from casual clothes into nicer apparel before games.

At left, Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave attempts to tie his tie before his team’s game against Nowata on March 19.

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Salina basketball coach Lucien Littledave (center) watches his team play during its game against Nowata on March 19.

“

He feels like one of the guys, and we don’t feel like he is above us all the time.

We’re not scared to get yelled at by him.”

Freshman Chris Cooper, On 21-year-old coach Lucien Littledave

78 Tulsa World Magazine

where Littledave had scheduled lunch and an NBA 2K16 video game tournament for coaches and players.

On his way to the video game tournament finals, Littledave rallied to beat player Bret LoCoco. The son of a kickboxer, LoCoco was on a January kickboxing card and lost to an older opponent. “Honestly, when you get kicked shin-to-shin is probably the worst thing I ever experienced,” he said. “I thought it broke, but it didn’t.”

If the Wildcats’ spirit was broken from having three coaches in the first three months of the season, healing occurred.

Freshman starter Chris Cooper said he didn’t enjoy playing until Littledave became the coach.

“He feels like one of the guys, and we don’t feel like he is above us all the time,” Cooper said. “We’re not scared to get yelled at by him.”

******* Word spread around the region that Salina had a pup for a head coach. But people didn’t know the rest of the story.

They didn’t know that four days a week he was driving his 2005 Mustang GT from Salina to Tahlequah for spring semester

Salina basketball players take part in a video game tournament arranged by Wildcat coaches. JIMMIE TRAMEL/Tulsa World Magazine

classes at NSU. The drive should take about 40 minutes, give or take a slow-moving vehicle on twolane Oklahoma 82.

“Some days a tractor will be rolling through here,” Littledave said.

During a commute, Littledave says he thinks he has a test in a political propaganda class that he likes. Just in case, he studied from 1 a.m. to about 2:30 a.m. He set three alarms for the next morning, and by the time the third alarm went off at 6:30, he was so tired of hearing it that he headed to the shower.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

After finishing a test at Northeastern State University, Lucien Littledave had time to eat breakfast at a fast food restaurant before returning to Salina. His day began with a college class and ended with him coaching the Salina High School boys basketball team in a road game at Adair.

JIMMIE TRAMEL/ Tulsa World Magazine

Littledave said coaching didn’t really affect his grades.

He had an intersession class the week of the Locust Grove Tournament and still doesn’t know how he finished two assignments per night. Assistant coach Brock Thomas is an NSU student, too, so it helps having someone who can offer reminders when assignments are due.

College years can be glory years. Littledave drove by a par-

ty spot near campus and said he has never been inside. He also said he hadn’t been inside his dorm all semester. He’s living at his parents’ home, a two-minute drive from the Salina gym.

“I would much rather do this than be a typical college kid,” he said.

Eaten up with basketball (his mother, Kelly, said he knows everything about players, from stats to what kind of shoe contract they have), Littledave said he has always wanted to coach.

“Either that or play in the NBA,” he said. “When I stopped growing at 5-10, I pretty much knew.”

Littledave called the Salina job his dream job in coaching because it’s his school. Who gets a dream job at 21?

When Lucien Littledave wasn’t coaching the Salina High School boys basketball team last season, he was commuting to Tahlequah for classes at Northeastern State University.

JIMMIE TRAMEL/ Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Littledave was having so much fun during the season that he wished he didn’t have to go back and forth to college.

Coaching was fun even when a player forgot his shoes and was absolutely sure someone took them. Coaching was fun even when he was informed someone dropped an orthodontic retainer in a nasty bucket of water outside a locker room in Chelsea.

“Is it one of ours?” Littledave asked.

Because Littledave arrived early for his 9:30 a.m. political propaganda class, he “chilled” in his car for a few minutes before walking to Seminary Hall, Room 207.

There was, as Littledave suspected, a test.

Littledave completes the exam at 10:10 a.m., scans his work and hands it to the instructor, Daniel M. Savage, at 10:13.

Seventeen people took the test. Littledave is the sixth-fastest finisher. The most problematic question dealt with how propaganda was used in the ancient world.

Like the 1970s?

“Further than that,” he said.

Test day means leaving when you finish, so Littledave has time to drive to Carl’s Jr. on the other side of Tahlequah and eat breakfast. On the way back home, he talked about each of his players: Backward. LoCoco. Cooper. Victor Holleyman. Jake Sitsler. Heath Stewart.

London Shrum. Corey Vance. Treyton Morris. Caleb Ball. Matthew Littledave (Lucien’s freshman brother). Darren Daniels. Andrew Littlefield. Riley Smith.

River Breeden.

By 11:40 a.m., Littledave is back in Salina observing a junior high practice. At 1:32 p.m., he’s using a laptop to take a quiz for a college class.

Long day? Salina has a road game against a ranked opponent, Adair, that night. The Wildcats, down 10 in the first half, tied the score in the fourth quarter.

Shots stopped falling. Littledave’s team lost by 14, but he gained respect, as he would later discover.

******* Near the end of the regular season, the 21-year-old represented Salina at a gathering of conference coaches.

Feel out of place?

“Not really,” Littledave said. “Brock was with me.”

So, two 21-year-olds...

“We felt kind of out of place,” Thomas said.

“We sat off to ourselves and people came to sit with us,” Littledave said.

When it came time to select a conference coach of the year, Littledave’s plan was to keep his mouth shut and vote.

Then Adair coach Travis Cannady nominated Littledave for coach of the year. It wasn’t a sympathy nomination.

Tulsa World Magazine 79­​

“I honestly think he did a good job,” Cannady said. “They were competitive in every game they were in. That’s just a sign of good coaching.”

Salina’s record was 2-6 before Littledave was promoted. The Wildcats won nine games with him at the helm.

“I told him I hope they don’t hire him back,” Cannady said. “Of course, I was being facetious.”

Tony Thomas said getting the chance to coach a high school team at 21 should be a great resume-builder for Littledave, whether it’s at Salina or somewhere else after he earns a degree. For Salina to have enough faith in Littledave to let him coach the bulk of last season says a lot about his character, said the superintendent.

“It’s so exciting to watch him coach,” Littledave’s mother said. “I can’t wait to see what he does in the future.”

******* Winning a conference coach of the year award is such an adult thing. In what way is Littledave still a kid?

He really misses playing video games.

Spare time vanished once you-know-what happened.

He collects Funko pop culture figures (he has about 50 Marvel, "Star Wars" and "Game of Thrones" characters).

And then there’s this: Kindle said the way Littledave eats reminds him of the way some of his nieces and nephews eat.

“His eating habits drive me crazy,” Kindle said. “I’ve never seen anybody that’s as picky an eater as he is.”

Items on Littledave’s plate aren’t permitted to touch other items. Bigger issue: He is repulsed by ketchup (“it’s so nasty”) and condiments and sauces. He said he eats his food dry “like it’s supposed to be.”

There’s a back story. Littledave said he was diagnosed with sensitive taste buds when he was little.

“Maybe I have grown out of it,” he said.

“But in my mind it’s still there.”

Salina’s coaches visited Chelsea’s concession stand before a late-season game.

Smith is aware of Littledave’s Kryptonite.

He grabs a squirt bottle of ketchup and, smiling, says to Littledave, “Hold that for me.”

Littledave: “Huh-uh.” He shrugged it off and coached the Wildcats to a 14-point win.

******* It’s playoff time, but Salina’s young coaches are loose before a postseason opener against Nowata — the same opponent the Wildcats rallied to beat on Senior Night.

Smith is helping Thomas iron a shirt, and Kindle is getting kidded about downing 13 ribs during a Rib Crib outing a few days earlier. (On that same trip, Littledave 80 Tulsa World Magazine

Salina basketball players listen to pre-game advice from head coach Lucien Littledave.

Salina basketball players meet with coach Lucien Littledave before a game.

ordered a three-meat combo — no sauce, of course — and encountered a crisis. “Someone get that pickle off my plate,” he said.

“Please, someone get it.”)

In the coach’s office before the playoff game, Smith notices something.

“Look at this boys,” Smith said, drawing attention to Littledave’s head. “His first gray hair.”

There was a compliment to be found that night, too.

Adair’s Steve Hall, the fellow who earlier in the season had mistaken Littledave for a player in a hospitality room, showed up to watch the Salina-Nowata playoff game.

Hall was told Littledave had been voted conference coach of the year. Said Hall: “He needs to be.”

But this wasn’t Salina’s night. The Wildcats lost by 16. The home crowd filtered out, and Littledave made his way across the court to have a lengthy chat with his dad, who once had ambitions of being a coach.

Father and son try to talk after every game. Because of a double-elimination playoff format, there would be other games — better games — for them to talk about.

Before leaving the gym that night, Judge fielded this question: On a scale of 1-to-10, how proud are you of your son? “About 100,” he said.

******* Salina players are on the court for a regional tournament consolation bracket game against Keys in Verdigris. ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man” is blaring over the sound system.

“That’s our song, man!” said Brock Thomas, who, of course, was wearing a tie.

Once again, Thomas and other Wildcat coaches placed a pre-game priority on dressing for success. But Kindle’s pre-game duties included dressing ankles.

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Salina coach Lucien Littledave (foreground) got his dream job in coaching at age 21. He got to coach his alma mater. Players listen to him in the locker room.

do it,” Kindle said as he taped Stewart’s ankles. “I’ve been around longer.”

Keegan Rice, a seventh-grader who teams with Chance Condit to record Salina’s games, strolls past the ankle-taping session and is asked if he thinks coach Littledave is old.

Rice shakes his head no and gestures toward a “real” old man — 31-year-old Kindle.

The only married man among the coaches, Kindle gives the other coaches grief that they need to get wives. He contends that, if they were married, they wouldn’t be spending money on neckties.

Meanwhile, “money” shots came from Holleyman, who hit five 3-pointers against Keys. Salina led 54-42 after the last of them, but Keys forced overtime and made Littledave sweat for his first postseason victory. He got a congratulatory hug from his grandmother Barbara.

One day later, the Wildcats beat Kansas and earned their first trip to the area tournament since 2001. Only 24 teams in Class 3A were still playing at that point. The school that rolled the dice on a 21-year-old coach was among the survivors.

******* Kindle, who admits he would finish 82 Tulsa World Magazine

last in a coaching staff fashion show, has stepped up his game.

For the first time all season, he’s wearing a tie.

Why? “Area,” he said.

This is a big deal, to be so close to the state tournament.

It was a big enough deal that Littledave skipped a college class. He wanted to be with his players for a shootaround before the team bus departed for an afternoon game in Bixby.

Inside a locker room in Bixby, players seem nervous. Littledave, who urged players to treat the playoff game like any other game, is more anxious than nervous, never mind that he is coaching against someone more than twice his age.

Salina was matched against Cascia Hall in the area tournament. Cascia Hall coach Brian Rahilly, a former University of Tulsa player selected in the 1987 NBA Draft, is 50.

“You wouldn’t have wanted me coaching your team when I was 21,” Rahilly said, smiling. “Playing for your team, yes.

Coaching your team, no.”

The score was tied with more than five minutes remaining. Cascia Hall, which led by four with 1:40 left, made eight free throws in the last minute to win by 12.

Littledave had to deliver the dreaded

speech — the "season-is-over" speech. He’ll give a lot more of them if his answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” remains the same. He complimented players and chose words intended to console.

“I want to say thank you to you guys,” he said. “It was a tough situation for you guys and a tough situation for us. ... There’s not a lot of experience at all in this whole room. But you guys playing hard and coming in and working hard every day, it makes it easier for us to do what we have to do.”

Assistants (and Backward) took turns sharing their thoughts. After everyone said their piece, Littledave told players and coaches to “bring it in” for a post-game huddle. “We’re going to go eat,” he told them. “We’re going to have a good time and joke around. And I don’t care if we are immature.”

Wildcat backers applauded when players and coaches walked out of the locker room and into the lobby. A few minutes earlier, Brock Thomas had told players they had seen how fun it was to bring a community together.

Players boarded a bus bound for a Rib Crib in Bixby. The 21-year-old head coach ordered a triple-meat combo with fries and again refused all sauces and condiments.

Same old story.

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HOW I GOT HERE.

“I’m 82. I like working,” said local car dealership owner Don Thornton. “They say, ‘Don will be there until he sells that last car.’ ”

84 Tulsa World Magazine

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I n t e r v i e w b y J a s o n C o l l i n g t o n / P h o t o b y J A M E S GI B B A R D

While the car business has changed, the rules of success have stayed the same for Don Thornton > My wife, Barbara, told me: “Are you going to tell Dex you aren’t going to get in the car business?” I told her I would. I was a stockbroker in Greensboro at the time. Dex was a client who was a Ford dealer. He took a shine to me. But finally at this steakhouse I told him I had something to tell him. He said he had something to tell me. > I told him to go first. He said, “Don, I have been trying to get you in the car business. But I think that would be a mistake. College graduates don’t make good car salesmen. They want a corner office and don’t want to work on Saturdays.

They don’t want to work at night.” And I thought, “My gosh.” I said, “You know, I sold encyclopedias when I was in college.

And I sold advertising. I think I can sell. I think I can.” He said, “If you are so convinced, I will give you a chance to prove it.” > It was like hanging a red flag in front of a bull. I took the bait. Well, after I got in my car. I said, “What have I done?”

When I got home, Barbara was already in bed. I tried to sneak in and not turn on any lights. But she was awake and said, “Did you tell Dex that you aren’t going to work for him?” I said, “Not exactly.” She said, “Are you going to be a used car salesman?” I told her I would sell new and used. She asked me what my salary would be. I said it was going to be only commission. She had a couple other questions. Then she cried. That’s how this started. > So I was a salesman at Greensboro Ford. Then we moved to Dallas. There were 12 Ford dealers, “Big D’s Big Dozen.” We were ninth out of 12. I didn’t ask before I interviewed. We got it from ninth to second place, and that made me a hero with Ford. Then people started talking to me about moving to Tulsa to own this Volkswagen dealership. > I had never been to Oklahoma. I took my bonus to buy the stock and lived off my salary. Ford kept calling me. Finally, I took over a dealership in 1971 on Admiral and Mingo. I was the least capitalized and had to borrow everything I could and take a second mortgage on my house.

Don Thornton

is president and owner of Lexus of Tulsa, Jaguar Land Rover Tulsa, Don Thornton Cadillac, Audi Tulsa and Don Thornton Volkswagen of Tulsa.

> Had three floods there in ’74, ’76 and ’84. Finally moved to higher ground after that last one. > There were 12 big dealers. We started out as 12th out of 12. Then ninth. The last nine years we were No. 1 in the state for Ford dealers. > I am a dumb Southerner from North Carolina who wasn’t that smart. Made a lot of mistakes. But I had a lot of mentors who helped me. > With the right training, you take someone who has never flown an aircraft and make him a pilot. > Here is where I differed from other dealers: We preached do what you have to do to make them happy. How do you want customers to feel when they leave? > There is so much pressure to sell cars. Roll the iron. Sell the iron. Sell the iron. Push and if a customer is close, grind them. We get a lot of blowouts from other dealers. People would come in and say they were worn out. That is part of how things worked for me. We didn’t do that. We have a saying: “People don’t care unless they know how much you care.” > My heart is bigger than my head. My wife says that. > We do testing to see if a person has a sales personality. Do they care about people? If you are just in it for the dollar, we can sense that. One guy, I asked him where he wants to be in 10 years. He said he wanted my job. I told him, “You’re on.” > I have promoted and mentored seven who are now dealers. > I played baseball in high school and college. It taught me not to be down when you lose. After you lose, you have to ask yourself, “Why did I lose? How can I get better?” And do better the next day. You have to have a short memory. > To take a guy who hasn’t sold cars and see him grow and develop and see how his family reacts as he does more for his family. That is what makes me feel incredible. > A guy told me once to manage by objective. As you manage, people agree on an objective for them. You can’t say sell 30 cars. You have to know, how many do you think you can sell? Get an agreement. Then you check on them every couple days and ask, “How can I help you? I want you to win.” > I’m 82. I like working. They say, “Don will be there until he sells that last car.”

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 85­​

Who is this guy? > Jeff Moore is the director of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture to be built in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District.

Age: 46 Born: Fort Worth, Texas Education: Graduated from high school in El Paso, Texas.

Bachelor’s degree in history from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Master’s in history with an emphasis in museum studies from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

Jeff Moore stands in the archives at the Oklahoma History Center with a guitar used by a punk band in Atoka and a special makeup effects piece from an episode of “The X-Files.” Many items in the center’s archives will be moved to the OKPOP museum coming to Tulsa.

JOHN CLANTON/ Tulsa World Magazine

86 Tulsa World Magazine

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Building onhistory OKPOP Director Jeff Moore details efforts to make Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture a reality

H

STORY By BARBARA HOBEROCK

I

Tulsa WORLD magazinE

e may be a transplant to the state but Jeff Moore knows a bit more than most folks about Oklahoma culture and history.

He rattles off the names and history of movie stars, singers, artists and bands. He is proud of the numerous legends the state has produced.

Bob Wills. Toby Keith. Garth Brooks. Wes Studi. Leon Russell. Woody Guthrie. Wanda Jackson. Will Rogers. Clarence Nash. Kristin Chenoweth. Patti Page. Kings of Leon. Ron Howard. Chester Gould. All-American Rejects. Jim Halsey. Alfre Woodard. Joan Crawford. James Garner. The GAP Band. Carrie Underwood. Reba McEntire.

Brad Pitt. Mary Kay Place. Rex Linn.

And that is just a starting point.

Moore is the director of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, which will be built in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District and is expected to open in 2018 or 2019 with 50,000 square feet, of which 25,000 square feet will be used for exhibits.

He is full of cultural facts that may not be well-known to the public.

The late Mae Boren Axton, who is related to University of Oklahoma President David Boren, co-wrote Elvis Presley’s hit “Heartbreak Hotel.”

And then there is the late Mary Blair, who was born in McAlester and went on to be a top artist for The Walt Disney Company.

Growing up the son of a military man, Moore moved around a lot — 16 schools in 12 years. During the family’s trips around the country, they always stopped at museums and historical locations, fostering his passion for the past and interest in how

Items being relocated to the OKPOP museum coming to Tulsa include a sign advertising a Bob Wills concert, along with two of Wills’ fiddles.

Photos by JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 87­​

“

Tulsa had to want this. If Tulsa didn’t want this, we wouldn’t be there.”

> > JEFF MOORE, DIRECTOR OF OKLAHOMA MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE

it shaped the future.

He views his adopted state as the crossroads of creativity.

“What is it about Oklahoma that so many creative people came from here and changed the face of what we know of music, television, stage, dance and comic books?” he said. “Every day, we are finding someone new.”

The museum of popular culture, dubbed OKPOP, was the brainchild of Bob Blackburn, Oklahoma History Center executive director, and a few others. It gained momentum with support from the George Kaiser Family Foundation.

Ken Levit, executive director of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, said Tulsa had a historic lack of state investment. Blackburn, he said, had a good idea.

The George Kaiser Family Foundation pledged $1 million to the effort.

“Oklahoma has a well-earned reputation in the arts and, particularly, in music,” Levit said. “It makes great sense to partner with these great Oklahoma artists and their families to create a special place in Oklahoma to celebrate their accomplishments and teach the next generations of Oklahomans about our history and contribution to the world.

“Otherwise, we know that places like the Country and Western Hall of Fame in Nashville will be actively soliciting our great Oklahomans for their artifacts and memorabilia.”

OKPOP was years in the works before finally passing the Legislature, despite facing some devastating setbacks. For a number of years, the idea failed to get legislative approval, something that dampened interest among those who would be featured, Moore said.

In the past session, it first failed in the Senate, was reconsidered and passed. It then failed in the House, was reconsidered and passed, heading for the governor’s signature.

“Timing is everything, isn’t it?” said Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, who pushed the measure through the Legislature. He said numerous people were involved in the effort to get it passed.

For Moore and Blackburn, securing final approval and having it signed into law was a long-awaited moment. It also helped secure donations from “creatives.”

88 Tulsa World Magazine

“That was a very exciting couple of days notifying people,” Moore said.

OKPOP will serve as a showcase of the creative work of Oklahoma’s sons and daughters, adopted and otherwise, according to Moore.

“People like Bob Wills’ family were looking for a safe, secure, long-term home for their father and grandfather’s collections,” he said.

It will also further the mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society to collect, preserve and share Oklahoma history.

“Oklahoma is different,” Moore said.

“It is amazing what has happened in this state in such a short amount of time. So many amazing people have come from this state.”

They win Oscars, Tonys, Emmys and Grammys, he said.

The OKPOP director said building relationships with the creatives takes lots of time.

“We want this to be a buy-in from the creatives,” Moore said. “It is ridiculous for us to think we can do this by ourselves when we have some of the most talented people in the world. They need to be part of this, and they love the idea that they are part of this.”

And word of mouth travels, something promoters are hoping will secure additional collections.

In fact, officials will announce significant new collections soon, Moore said.

Many famous Oklahomans got into the business “because another Oklahoman opened the door for them,” Moore said.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett Jr. said supporters pulled the project out of the ashes.

“I think it is a pretty big deal because it gives us another good draw into the downtown area, especially into the Brady area,” Bartlett said.

“It also gives us a real opportunity to showcase the history that Tulsa is really known for and, in my opinion, give us a real jump-start in beginning a real serious process to use our music and film heritage as a way for the world to identify our city.”

Levit agreed.

“I hope that it will become a magnet for tourism, an engine of economic development, as well as a source for education and inspiration,” Levit said.

OKPOP will showcase Oklahoma’s creative legends such as Bob Wills, whose collections are currently stored in the Oklahoma History Center archives.

JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine

How Senate Bill 839 became OKPOP May 11, 2015: Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, introduces Senate Bill 839.

May 18: The measure fails in the Oklahoma Senate by one vote but is held on a motion to reconsider.

May 19: The measure passes the Senate by a vote of 28-18.

May 21: The Oklahoma House defeats the measure on a vote of 44-49. The bill is held on a motion to reconsider the vote by which it failed.

May 22: The Oklahoma House reverses course and passes the measure by a vote of 51-40.

May 29: Gov. Mary Fallin signs the bill to provide $25 million for the facility.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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The BITE

KIDS TREAT, ADULT TWIST These spiked snow cones are for mature consumers only

90 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

BY JESSICA RODRIGO

tulsa world magazine

F

orget the frozen margarita machine. Take your next party up a notch with adult snow cones.

For a 25-year-old Tulsan, it only seemed natural to turn her experience churning out snow cones as a teenager into a business for herself.

Zina Rentfrow started whipping up delicious sugar-laden snow cones for teens, children and parents when she was 16 years old as an employee for Josh’s Sno Shack.

As she moved up the ranks, she eventually started hosting the many catering events for the company. She got the idea from customers who requested alcoholic blends for their snow cones. Sometimes it was a corporate event or a wedding or a small gathering at someone’s home.

The idea grew, and she started planning Speakeasy Sno, speakeasysno.com, which would specialize in adult snow cones.

“It brings out the kid in you,” she said.

“For the adults, sometimes they just want to feel silly.”

And the name? Rentfrow pulled the idea from speakeasies that were popularized during Prohibition. Only prospective drinkers who knew the proper password or knock could gain access to the secret nightclubs.

Speakeasy Sno’s tagline: “For those in the know.”

Rentfrow continues to tinker with the endless possibility of flavors, including Tigers Blood with Malibu Rum or margarita flavor with tequila, to serve at Speakeasy Sno events. The trick is in the sugary concoction, which helps slow down alcohol’s effect on the shaved ice.

Here’s what goes into a few of her snow cone concoctions. Try them at home with any number of shaved ice kitchen appliances available in stores. Or, with the right ration of alcohol to juice, pull out the ice cream maker and churn your mixture until slushy.

FRENCH 75 • Pink Champagne and lemon flavorings • Lemon juice • Gin • Simple syrup

FUZZY NAVEL • Peach and orange flavorings • Vodka • Simple syrup

SILVER FOX • Vanilla and coconut flavorings • Rum • Simple syrup

Zina Rentfrow, owner of Speakeasy Sno, turned her first job making snow cones into a new business.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

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Tulsa World Magazine 91

Market season Area farmers markets provide a one-stop shop for local goods 92 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

BY JESSICA RODRIGO

tulsa world magazine

B

uying produce fresh from farmers is not a new concept to Judy Prieto.

When she was growing up in upstate New York, it was part of the weekend routine to visit the farmers market and buy vegetables and other items for the week’s meals.

“That’s what I want for our market,” said the Rose District Farmers Market coordinator. “It becomes a part of your lifestyle when you shop at the market. It supports local vendors, and you’re buying fresh, just-picked produce. Everybody wins.”

The Broken Arrow market is held every Saturday from the end of April to September.

Since its start about 10 years ago, the market has grown to include about 50 vendors selling everything from produce and honey to meat and crafts. Individual vendors also accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) from shoppers to provide healthy food to the community.

Beyond Broken Arrow, plenty of farmers markets are slated throughout the growing season to provide shoppers with the freshest produce available, including in Tulsa, Owasso, Jenks and Sand Springs.

“Embrace buying locally,” Prieto said.

“The farmers market has a great atmosphere, it’s a fun place to go to meet your friends to shop.”

Here are the opening dates, hours and locations of area farmers markets:

Radishes are often available early at local farmers markets.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine

ENJOY THE GREAT TASTES OF OKLAHOMA! Check out the MIO app and discover new places to eat, new food to try and products to buy. It’s FREE!

Brookside Farmers Market

7:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays through October Whole Foods parking lot, 39th Street and Peoria Avenue tulsafarmersmarket.org; 918-636-8419

Cherry Street Farmers Market

7-11 a.m. Saturdays through October 15th Street, just east of Peoria Avenue tulsafarmersmarket.org; 918-636-8419

Claremore Farmers Market

7 a.m. to noon Saturdays from May 7 through September Rogers County Courthouse parking lot, 200 S. Lynn Riggs Blvd. facebook.com/ClaremoreFarmersMarket; 918-284-4668

Emily Oakley from Three Springs Farm in Oaks arranges heirloom tomatoes at the Cherry Street Farmers Market.

MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World Magazine file TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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Sunday Market (Fontana Shopping Center)

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through November Fontana Shopping Center, 51st Street and Memorial Drive facebook.com/Sundaymarket2015; 918260-3327

Jenks Saturday Market

9 a.m. to noon Saturdays through October Second and Main streets facebook.com/JenksSaturdayMarket; 918-629-9495

Rose District Farmers Market

8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through September Temporarily relocated to parking lot at the southeast corner of First and Dallas streets in downtown Broken Arrow. facebook.com/BAFarmersMarket/; 918-451-2815

Owasso Farmers Market

8 a.m. to noon Saturdays from May through September 8300 N. Owasso Expressway in the YMCA parking lot, between 86th and 76th streets. theowassofarmersmarket.com

Fresh flowers are among the many things you can find for sale at the Rose District Farmers Market in Broken Arrow. CORY Young/Tulsa World Magazine

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TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Taste of the

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Thursday, June 30th, 2016 2-5 p.m. Shopping 5-9 p.m. Cooking Show Cox Business Center, Assembly Hall 100 Civic Center

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Demonstrating a summery, flavorful meal you can make at home. A culinary vacation from the ordinary!

VIP ADMISSION: $40 GENERAL ADMISSION: $15 Cash Bar • Food • Giveaways • Swag Bags for VIPs

Reserve your seats today at www.tulsataste.com

VIEW

POINT. A taste of home comforts Tulsa transplant in K.C. CHRISTOPHER

SMITH

A native Tulsan, Smith has been a visual journalist for 20 years.

His career has taken him from Oklahoma to Texas, Indiana, Chicago and even back home to Tulsa where he served as photo editor for the Tulsa World.

He now works as a freelance photographer in Kansas City. His work has appeared in publications worldwide including Der Spiegel, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and many more.

Through his career, he has discovered a love of food and a love of food photography. His travels and experience as a journalist have taught him that a good meal is one of the best cultural equalizers.

The steamed bun, the cinnamon-laced chili, the finely grated cheese: these coneys have all of the components of a Tulsa Coney Island coney. But they can be found in a Kansas City suburb. CHRISTOPHER SMITH/for Tulsa World Magazine

here are certain things about Tulsa that are in my blood; things so deeply rooted inside me that though I may have moved away, wandered and settled elsewhere, they have become woven into my DNA. It wasn’t until I was gone that I realized this.

I now call Kansas City home, but my experience growing up in Tulsa will forever root me there.

And there are things so distinctly Tulsa that the very mention of them carries me back home.

Things like the way the hot winds in summer force leaves

96 Tulsa World Magazine

Ronnie McGowan stands behind the counter at the Coney Island he opened in Lenexa, Kansas.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH/for Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

When Ronnie McGowan moved to Kansas City, he searched for a Coney Island. When he didn’t find one, he opened one.

Photos by CHRISTOPHER SMITH/ for Tulsa World Magazine

to show their underside as if to shield themselves from the white-hot sun or the way I can walk right to the very edge of the Arkansas River mere blocks from a thriving downtown.

And there is the sweetly sad twang of steel guitar and whine of the fiddle when I listen to Bob Wills that makes me see flashes of the red neon star at Cain’s Ballroom. And let’s not forget the golden tower of kitsch that is the Golden Driller or oppressively hot summer nights in the back of a truck at the Admiral Twin Drive-In. Then there is the food. Food has a magic way of connecting us to our hometown.

I’m not talking about the wave of hip, elegant restaurants popping up everywhere.

I’m talking about greasy griddle burgers, chicken-fried steak and coneys.

I grew up going to “The Original Coney Island” near 21st Street and Garnett Road.

And the coney and three-way was as common a meal to me as chicken or meatloaf.

My mom knew the owners by name, and they knew us. Occasionally, my father would treat me to a trip to the downtown Coney Island and we would sit in the oldschool desks.

As a child, I assumed Coney Islands were as ubiquitous as any nationwide chain.

Sadly, I found out I was wrong.

I’ve had hot dogs elsewhere and some are fine, even good. I lived in Chicago, and I love Chicago-style hot dogs, but they don’t compare to the Tulsa coneys I grew up with.

I love Kansas City. It’s a great city with great art, great museums and great food.

But, of course, no coneys ... or so I thought until I found a Coney Island in Lenexa, Kansas.

I was skeptical, but the allure of a taste

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Ronnie McGowan scoops chili onto coneys. The chili was tested over and over again to get it as close to Tulsa’s as possible.

of home was strong. As I sank my teeth into three loaded coneys, the taste was almost identical to the coneys I grew up with.

And there’s a reason for that. The owner, Ronnie McGowan is a former Tulsan, and he grew up eating the same coneys at 21st and Garnett that I did.

When Ronnie moved to Kansas City, he “made assumptions that this is a big city and there would be Coney Islands everywhere.”

He opened the phone book, and there were none. So he said to himself, “There has got to be a market for this. I’m just going to roll the dice.”

He fine-tuned his recipe to closely emulate the Tulsa coney, which is actually based on a Cincinnati coney. He even uses the same hot dog.

“It’s not a coney unless it has Greek chili,” he said. “What I like is it’s one of those things that makes you go, ‘Damn.’ It’s the balance of flavors. It’s the beef and pork dog, the cinnamon and spice of the chili and the tangy mustard.”

I was transported back to a smaller me

Kris and Dennis Bruns of Shawnee, Kansas, eat coneys at the Lexexa Coney Island. With the smell of cinnamon-spiced chili in the air, this could be any Coney Island in Tulsa.

sitting in those school desks eating those tiny little coneys with my father.

And I realized that thing I miss about Tulsa is not the food or the wind or the water or the music. It’s every little feeling tied up with those physical things. It’s a reminder of a loved one or a milestone. A setback or defeat. It’s that rush of a past self rising up when you close your eyes.

I eat a coney and suddenly I’m sitting in the backseat of my mother’s pea-green Gran Torino with the smell of Greek chili in Styrofoam containers clinging to the green upholstery.

That very specific formula that relies on that steamed bun, the cinnamon and spice, the mustard, the onions might as well be a secret potion for unlocking a piece of me.

While McGowan has tweaked the formula ever so slightly to appeal to the barbecue-loving Kansas City palate, there is plenty of Tulsa left in those coneys to ease me when I’m homesick and give me a small taste of home.

Tulsa World Magazine 97­​

LET’S GO.

O

klahomans love a good festival like they love the smell of barbecue sizzling on the grill.

Throw some of Bixby’s best corn, still in the husk, on that grill and you’ve got yourself a cookout.

As the landscape starts to bloom, lush with the first signs of spring, food festival season arrives to celebrate Sooner state specialties and cherished bounty.

From the tabouleh in Bristow, to strawberries in Stilwell and even the calf fries in Vinita, our culture and history carries on through events that bring communities together.

Here’s what you need to know to find upcoming festivals, concerts and celebrations:

> 4/1-4/30, AZALEA FESTIVAL Muskogee’s Honor Heights Park boasts 40 acres of manicured gardens with more than 30,000 azaleas. Visit the park through the month of April for the celebration of blooming azaleas, tulips, dogwoods and wisteria as the buds begin to unfurl during the warmer temperatures of spring.

Muskogee’s Azalea Festival attracts visitors from around the world. Drive along roadways that wind around the blooming flowers, walkways perfect for runners or birders, five lakes, a variety of picturesque ponds, a butterfly sanctuary and a tree arboretum.

WHERE: Honor Heights Park, Muskogee FOR MORE: visitmuskogee.com

A bee enjoys the azaleas at Honor Heights Park during the azalea festival, which runs throughout the month of April yearly. Tulsa World Magazine file 98 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

LET’S GO. >>4/9-5/7, TRAIL OF TEARS ART SHOW The annual Trail of Tears Art Show, held at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, is one of Oklahoma’s oldest shows. Open to artists from all federally recognized Native American tribes, the Trail of Tears Art Show displays a wide range of creativity and artistic style.

WHERE: Cherokee Heritage Center, 21192 S. Keeler Drive, Tahlequah FOR MORE: cherokeeherritage.org >>4/29-4/30, PHILBROOK WINE EXPERIENCE The Philbrook Wine Experience Weekend brings internationally renowned vintners, regional restaurants and an impressive auction together under one roof to create one of the top 10 wine events in the nation.

WHERE: Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road FOR MORE: philbrook.org >>4/29-5/1, OKLAHOMA ALL AMERICAN TATTOO CONVENTION The Oklahoma All American Tattoo Convention will feature more than 100 of the tattoo industry’s most talented artists.

Richard Stell from “Ink Master,” Anthony Montemayor from CMT’s “Tattoo Titans,”

acclaimed artist Steve Byrne and many others will appear.

WHERE: Hyatt Regency Hotel, 100 E. Second St. FOR MORE: oklahomainternationaltattooconvention.org >>4/30-5/30, OKLAHOMA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Step back in time to the 16th century with Queen Elizabeth I of England, King James of Scotland and hundreds of costumed performers and artisans as they create the boisterous village of Castleton at the annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival.

WHERE: The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee FOR MORE: okcastle.com >>4/30, SIP, SAVOR & SHOP: THE TASTE OF CLAREMORE Sip, Savor & Shop: The Taste of Claremore showcases the city’s favorite eateries.

Come sample tasty treats from the Hammett House, The Nut House, Pink House, Oak Hill’s Winery, Perry Dogs, the Elks Lodge and more.

WHERE: Will Rogers Boulevard, Claremore FOR MORE: downtownclaremore.org

Dressed as a barbarian, Bonnie Petrone of Bixby visits the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival at The Castle of Muskogee last year.

JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine file

EYE EXAMS LUXURY EYEWEAR 101st & Yale | winkoptique.com 918.417.7774 TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 99­​

LET’S GO. >>5/6-5/7, BIXBY BBQ ‘N BLUES FESTIVAL One of the largest barbecue competitions in the state of Oklahoma, Bixby BBQ ’N Blues marks the beginning of the barbecue season. The festival features two days of mouthwatering barbecue and great music. The festival’s special guest will be Steven Raichlen from the PBS series, “Primal Grill.�

WHERE: Washington Irving Park, 137th Street and South Memorial Drive, Bixby FOR MORE: bixbyrotarybbq. com

Get your fill of brisket and other tasty options at the Bixby BBQ ‘n Blues Festival in Bixby.   JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine file

>>5/6, PAUL SIMON As half of Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon helped give voice to a generation with hits like “Sounds of Silence,� “Bridge over Troubled Water� and “Mrs. Robinson.� Simon has garnered multiple Grammys and has been named one of “100 People Who Shaped the World� by Time Magazine.

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

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>>5/6-5/8, TULSA OPERA PRESENTS: “SAMSON & DELILAH�

Watch as Samson tries to free his people while Delilah does her best to dissuade him from his mission. This performance will be sung in French with English subtitles.

WHERE: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsaopera.com >>5/7, JENKS FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL The Jenks America Food Truck Festival brings together the best in Tulsa-area food trucks, musicians and artists for a day on Jenks’ Main Street. Sample a wide variety of foods, listen to local acts and browse dozens of shops.

WHERE: Main Street, Jenks FOR MORE: jenkschamber.com

For more information, visit TulsaBotanic.org or call 918-289-0330 | 3900 TULSA BOTANIC DRIVE

100 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

LET’S GO. >>5/12-5/14, ROOSTER DAYS FESTIVAL Rooster Days Festival in Broken Arrow is one of the oldest continually running festivals in Oklahoma. Rooster Days includes amusement rides, corn dogs, fried ice cream and cotton candy, as well as music and entertainment.

WHERE: Central Park, 1500 S. Main St., Broken Arrow FOR MORE: roosterdays.com >>5/13-5/14, BOOTS & BBQ FESTIVAL Go to the Boots & BBQ Festival in Claremore for a sanctioned Kansas City-style barbecue cookoff. This event attracts some of the top barbecue competitors in the nation. Get a heaping plate of barbecue and vote for your favorite team.

WHERE: Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs, 20900 S. 4200 Road, Claremore FOR MORE: claremorereveille.com >>5/14, TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: AMERICAN FANFARE Pianist Jeffrey Biegel will be featured while playing pieces by Aaron Jay Kernis, George Gershwin and Aaron Copland.

WHERE: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St. FOR MORE: tulsasymphony.org >>5/14-5/22, TULSA CRAFT BEER WEEK Tulsa Craft Beer Week highlights the growing craft beer community in Tulsa with the help of breweries and local business owners. Past events have included beer dinners, pint nights, brewery tours, a beer-themed brunch, tap takeovers, outdoor festivals and more in places all over the city.

WHERE: various locations in Tulsa FOR MORE: facebook.com/tulsacraftbeerweek >>5/14, TABOULEH FEST Tabouleh Fest celebrates Bristow’s Middle Eastern ancestors who arrived in Oklahoma during the late 1800s. Immigrants brought with them tabouleh, also spelled tabouli, a fresh salad dish made with bulgur wheat, fresh vegetables, parsley, mint, olive oil and lemon juice.

WHERE: Main Street, Bristow FOR MORE: bristowchamber.com >>5/14, STILWELL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Held since 1948 as a way to promote the strawberries grown in the area, the annual Strawberry Festival in Stilwell has become one of Oklahoma’s most-loved hometown festivals.

With games, live entertainment and free strawberries and ice cream, the annual festival will also feature a 5k run, helicopter rides, carnival rides, plenty of food and merchandise and vendor booths.

WHERE: Downtown Stilwell, Division Street FOR MORE: strawberrycapital.com

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Exhibition season title sponsor is the Sherman E. Smith Family Charitable Foundation. Support also provided by Mervin Bovaird Foundation, C.W. Titus Foundation and M.V. Mayo Charitable Foundation.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

GILCREASE.ORG Tulsa World Magazine 101­​

LET’S GO. >>5/19-5/22, TULSA INTERNATIONAL MAYFEST Tulsa International Mayfest is an outdoor tribute to the arts and music in the heart of downtown Tulsa. The outdoor area of Mayfest includes fine arts, crafts, three stages of performing artists and a festival of food. Mayfest also features KidZone, a hands-on art activity area for children.

Mayfest features four indoor galleries.

WHERE: Downtown Tulsa, centered at Third and Main streets FOR MORE: tulsamayfest.org

The 2016 Tulsa International Mayfest runs from May 19-22 in downtown Tulsa.

Tulsa World Magazine file

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>>5/19-5/20, THE BEACH BOYS For more than 50 years, The Beach Boys have recorded and performed the music that has become the world’s favorite soundtrack to summer.

WHERE: River Spirit Event Center, 8330 S. Riverside Drive FOR MORE: riverspirittulsa.com >>5/20-5/22, BLUE DOME ARTS FESTIVAL Enjoy browsing through booths filled with handmade crafts, paintings, pottery, carvings, photography, jewelry, home decor and more.

Chat with local artists while perusing and shopping original works by these regional artisans.

WHERE: Blue Dome District, Second Street and Elgin Avenue FOR MORE: bluedomearts.org >>5/21-5/22, 2 HIP CHICKS ROADSHOW This traveling vendor show features vintage and shabby-chic items for your home and yourself. Shop row after row of clothing, home decor, party items and more at the Exchange Center at Expo Square.

WHERE: Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: 2hipchicksroadshow.com >>5/22, THE HOP JAM A unique celebration of beer and music, The TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

LET’S GO. Hop Jam celebrates the artisanal beer movement in Oklahoma, as well as the Oklahoma music scene. Organized by pop-rock trio Hanson, this event has grown every year.

WHERE: Brady Arts District FOR MORE: thehopjam.com >>5/26-5/30, TULSA INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FESTIVAL Find hot air balloon launches, night glows, a giant carnival, six stages of live music, children’s play area, a wide variety of fair food, craft beer tent, vendors and more. Each morning and evening features a massive balloon launch, and there will also be a nightly glow event where the balloons are illuminated to the sound of music.

WHERE: Tulsa Airpark, 1211 W. 36th St. North FOR MORE: tulsaibf.com >>5/26, TASTE OF BIXBY Sample delectable appetizers, entrees and drinks at Taste of Bixby. There will also be a live DJ to complete the evening.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

WHERE: 10441 S. Regal Blvd., Bixby FOR MORE: bixbychamber.com >>5/27-5/29, ROCKLAHOMA A three-day rock music festival featuring more than 70 entertainment acts on three stages, featuring some of the top names in hard-rock music, as well as 1980s-era classic rock and metal bands. This year’s lineup includes the Scorpions, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Rob Zombie, Chenille, Megadeth and 3 Doors Down. Rocklahoma 2016 will also feature performances by Collective Soul, Sixxam, Sebastian Bach, Bullet for my Valentine, Hellyeah, Steel Panther, Sevendust and more. Festival passes or one-day tickets are available.

WHERE: 1421 W. 450 Road, Pryor FOR MORE: rock­ lahoma.com

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LET’S GO.

JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World Magazine file

>>6/10-6/12, SAINT FRANCIS TULSA TOUGH Saint Francis Tulsa Tough offers cycling activities for people of all abilities, ranging from the 8-mile Townie Ride to the Saturday and Sunday Gran Fondo with distances from 30-100 miles, as well as criterium racing events.

FOR MORE: tulsatough.com

>>6/3-6/5, SUNFEST Bartlesville’s SunFest is known as one of Oklahoma’s biggest outdoor picnics. Live music, arts and crafts, children’s games, storytellers, food and much more.

WHERE: Sooner Park, Bartlesville FOR MORE: bartlesvillesunfest.org >>6/4, WORLD’S LARGEST CALF FRY FESTIVAL & COOK-OFF Experience the ranching history of the Vinita area by tasting the festival’s namesake — calf fries — also known as a local delicacy.

WHERE: Craig County Fairgrounds, Vinita FOR MORE: vinita.com >>6/4-6/5, TULSA PRIDE BLOCK PARTY & PARADE The longest running LGBT festival in Oklahoma features live music, food, various vendors in a marketplace setting, a children’s zone and more.

The Tulsa Pride Parade is 6 p.m. on Saturday, presented by the Oklahomans for Equality. On Sunday, join Tulsa Pride in Centennial Park for a picnic from noon to 5 p.m.

104 Tulsa World Magazine

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LET’S GO.

The 2016 Leake Collector Car Show and Auction begins June 10 in the River Spirit Expo at Expo Square. More than 700 cars are expected to be on the auction block.

CORY YOUNG/ Tulsa World Magazine file

WHERE: Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth St. FOR MORE: okeq.org >>6/4, ROUTE 66 BLOWOUT Held in downtown Sapulpa since 1989, the Route 66 Blowout celebrates the nostalgia of the Mother Road with a car, motorcycle and truck show. The event features an art show and sale, historic walking tours of Sapulpa, live music, crafts and commercial vendors.

WHERE: Downtown Sapulpa FOR MORE: route66blowout.com >>6/4, BRAINIAC BALL The Brainiac Ball combines brains and benevolence to change the lives of those in our community. Cocktails, dinner, team trivia, a live auction and more benefit Family & Children’s Services.

WHERE: Tulsa Ballroom, Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: fcsok.org

Tulsa Opera Presents Camille Saint-Saëns’

>>6/9, BOSTON IN CONCERT Since its self-titled debut in 1976, Boston has remained on heavy radio rotation, due to acclaimed albums and chart-topping singles like “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Smokin’ ” and No. 1 hit “Amanda.”

WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.org >>6/9, TOP OF THE TOWN The event grants exclusive access to some of Tulsa’s most iconic structures and benefits the Child Care Resource Center. See for miles from some of the tallest buildings in the state.

In addition to touring downtown hot spots at your own pace, you’ll be provided some tastes of Tulsa along the way, as well as beverages and live music.

WHERE: Downtown Tulsa FOR MORE: ccrctulsa.org >>6/10-6/12, LEAKE COLLECTOR CAR SHOW & AUCTION More than 700 cars are anticipated to cross the two-ring auction block. The Leake Collector Car Show and Auction will feature a vast array of cars.

WHERE: River Spirit Expo at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: leakecar.com >>6/11-6/18, OK MOZART INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Audiences will enjoy the soaring sounds of classical and chamber music, as well as a wide array of performing arts, jazz, pops and Broadway show tunes.

WHERE: Bartlesville Community Center, 300 S.E. Adams Blvd., Bartlesville FOR MORE: okmozart.com

Friday, 5.6.16 - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, 5.8.16 - 2:30 p.m. single tickets ON SALE NOW starting at only

$25

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Tickets at TulsaOpera.com 918-587-4811

>>6/12-6/16, 2016 CENTRAL NATIONAL MEET The Tulsa Early Ford V8 Club (Regional Group #39) will host the 2016 Central National Meet, TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 105­​

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

one of two such events authorized by the prestigious Early Ford V-8 Club of America. Hundreds of 1936 to 1953 Ford, Mercury or Lincoln automobiles and trucks will be on display during the four days.

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

>>6/19-6/25, OKLAHOMA FREEWHEEL Freewheel is a weeklong bicycle tour through the state. The route changes each year but typically begins near the Red River, Oklahoma’s southern border with Texas, and travels north to end just across the Kansas state line. Distances traveled each day can vary from 50 miles to 75 miles. Participants camp in rural communities, and their gear is transported to the next site.

WHERE: Starts in Madill and ends in Caney, Kansas FOR MORE: okfreewheel.com

>>6/16-6/18, G FEST This three-day music festival is scheduled to feature the Avett Brothers, Turnpike Troubadours, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, John Fullbright and many more.

For the full festival experience, take advantage of the RV and camping sites.

WHERE: Hatbox Field, Muskogee FOR MORE: gfestmuskogee.com

>>6/23-6/25, GREEN CORN FESTIVAL The Green Corn Festival is an old-fashioned family festival and picnic in downtown Bixby. See the Green Corn Parade, an antique tractor pull, corn-eating contest, watermelon seed-spitting contest, balloon toss and more.

WHERE: Charley Young Park, Bixby FOR MORE: bixbyoptimist.com

>>6/16-6/19, BLACK GOLD DAYS Black Gold Days in Glenpool celebrates the city’s rich oil history with family-oriented activities and fun. The city honors the history of the local Glenn Pool oil field, named after Ida Glenn.

WHERE: Black Gold Park, Glenpool FOR MORE: glenpoolchamber.org

>>6/23-6/25, MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION FESTIVAL This annual celebration includes cultural exhibitions, a golf tournament, concerts featuring local and national acts, arts and crafts, food, a parade

>>6/19, SELENA GOMEZ Selena Gomez is bringing her worldwide Revival Tour to Tulsa’s BOK Center.

through downtown Okmulgee and activities for all ages.

WHERE: Claude Cox Omniplex, 2950 Warrior Road, Okmulgee FOR MORE: creekfestival.com >>6/24, JAMES TAYLOR Five-time Grammy award-winner James Taylor will play at the BOK Center in Tulsa. Get ready for a night of hits like “Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got a Friend” and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.”

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com >>6/30, TASTE OF THE CITY COOKING SHOW Shop the vendors’ booths from 2-5 p.m. and see a live cooking show with Brian Morris, 5-9 p.m. at the event, which is presented by Tulsa World Media Company. The theme of the cooking demonstration is a summery, flavorful meal — a culinary vacation from the ordinary. Morris worked for Le Cirque 2000, Jacques Torres Chocolates and as a private cooking instructor to the stars. He’s cooked for Derek Jeter, Ally Sheedy, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Clint Black, and Lisa Hartman, to name a few.

WHERE: Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: tulsaworld.com/events/tasteofthe­ city

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TULSA SYMPHONY’S 2016-2017 SEASON

918/584-3645 www.TulsaSymphony.org

Oct. 8, 2016 7:30 PM

Sept. 10, 2016 8:00 PM

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

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January 14, 2017 7:30 PM

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April 8, 2017 7:30 PM

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Tulsa Performing Arts Center TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Marquee

Casting news and upcoming projects for Oklahoma-native actors

Lee Pace

James Marsden

The plot is being kept under wraps, but the Chickasha-born Pace is starring in “Book of Henry” alongside Naomi Watts and child actor Jacob Tremblay (“Room”). The film, which has no release date, is directed by Colin Trevorrow, who has been chosen to helm “Star Wars Episode IX.”

The Stillwater native will star in HBO’s “Westworld,” a J.J. Abrams production inspired by Michael Crichton’s 1973 Western thriller about the dawn of artificial intelligence.

Production on the series was delayed, but HBO is planning a 2016 debut.

Marsden is also among a top-billed cast in the animated comedy film “Henchmen,” in which he’ll voice a leader in the Union of Evil. That comedy from Pixar animator Adam Wood is filming now.

BY ANNA CODUTTI, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Olivia Munn The Oklahoma City native is about to show off her swordplay and purple spandex on the big screen as psychic ninja Psylocke in “X-Men: Apocalypse,” set for a May 27 debut.

Samantha Isler The Tulsa teen who broke out with a role in NBC’s “Sean Saves the World” will appear in “Captain Fantastic,” starring Viggo Mortensen as a father of six who brings his kids back to society after living with them off the grid for a decade.

That film should arrive late this summer.

Alfre Woodard Marvel fans in Tulsa may notice a familiar face when “Luke Cage” comes to Netflix.

The video-streaming service will release the series, which will feature Woodard as Harlem politician Mariah Dillard, on Sept. 30.

Bill Hader The Cascia Hall grad will play Leonard the evil pig in the upcoming “Angry Birds” movie, set for release May 20. Hader seems to be all about the voice work after he consulted for the voice of BB-8 on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” He’s the voice of guacamole in Seth Rogen’s raunchy animated “Sausage Party,” coming in August, and Hader’s character in Steven Spielberg’s “The BFG” (release date: July 1) is a giant named Bloodbottler.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tracy Letts The Tulsa-native playwright and actor is playing a Secret Service agent in this spring’s “Elvis and Nixon,” starring Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey in those titular roles.

AP file and Courtesy images Tulsa World Magazine 107

VERSUS

•

The issue: RIGHT TO FARM Edited by WAYNE GREENE, Tulsa world Magazine

Experts take a side and face off on the region’s issues

Two sides to the story

Right to Farm. It sounds simple. But as with many issues, there’s more to it than a catchy name.

State Question 777 would prevent “the Legislature from passing laws that would take away the right to employ agricultural technology and livestock production without a compelling state interest.”

Proponents say it’s necessary to protect family farms, which have long been vital to Oklahoma’s culture and economy.

Opponents say it will do more to protect corporate farms and could actually lead to more federal involvement in state industries.

On Nov. 8, Right to Farm will be decided by voters. Today, two state leaders lay out their views.

james gibbard/Tulsa World Magazine 108 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Protect family farms from onerous intrusion

T

This dog won’t hunt: The case against SQ 777

O

o those who think it unnecessary to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to afford protections to agriculture and farming, you need only look at how interference from out-of-state interests and the federal government have made it more difficult for the family farm to survive and thrive. On the ballot this fall is State Question 777, which will present Oklahoma the opportunity to take significant steps to protect family farming and ranching operations in this state.

President Ronald Reagan famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”

Few people understand that pearl of Scott wisdom more than Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. Farmers and ranchers Pruitt routinely face burdensome and intrusive rules from government regulators. These Attorney general regulations often fail to achieve the of Oklahoma stated health, safety and environmental goals. Instead, the regulations are aimed at advancing a political agenda and accomplish nothing more than making the job of farming and ranching more difficult and expensive.

Just as harmful are out-of-state interests that seek to force Oklahoma farmers and ranchers to comply with the rules and regulations of other states to do business. A farming law in California would force Oklahoma farmers to comply with strict regulations on egg-laying hens to sell their products in California. That law is being challenged by Oklahoma and other states to protect the ability of farmers to sell their products in all 50 states without fear of other states imposing burdensome new requirements.

The family farm is an intricate part of the fabric that makes up Oklahoma. Farming and ranching is a fickle and noble endeavor and requires resiliency and toughness — traits for which our state is known. But the reach is far beyond cultural.

Agriculture in Oklahoma provides more than 208,000 jobs and has an economic impact of $39.6 billion. Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are feeding the world, providing us with the safest, most secure, most abundant and affordable food supply. But that work is undermined and threatened by the constant barrage of unlawful and burdensome regulations. Current law is proving insufficient to provide the necessary tools to protect the legacy of the family farm.

Unless as a state we think it unnecessary to protect this essential part of our identity and unless we want to give up protecting this important part of our state’s economy, Oklahomans should take necessary steps to protect farming and ranching from unlawful regulations and intrusion into the operations of family farms and ranches.

The founders of our state recognized the importance of agriculture to the future success of Oklahoma. To protect farming and ranching from unfair competition, Article 2, Section 31 of the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits the state from engaging in agriculture, except for educational or scientific purposes.

Article 13, Section 7 instructs the Legislature to provide for the teaching of agriculture in public schools. And Article 6,

n the ballot this November is a measure that is not needed, is poorly written and carries in its wording the potential for creating great harm. State Question 777, the so-called “Right to Farm” measure, might better be labeled 666, the “Right to Harm.”

This measure amends Article 2 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which is our Bill of Rights, by adding a new right: “The Legislature shall pass no law which abridges the right of citizens and lawful residents of Oklahoma to employ agricultural technology and livestock production and ranching practices without a compelling state interest.”

“Compelling state interest” is a legal Drew term. It is a description the courts have Edmondson attached to measures that require “strict scrutiny,” such as laws that discrimiFormer attorney nate on the basis of race or religion or general restrict voting rights. You could consult of Oklahoma, law books on these terms or just Google chairman of them. The Legislature apparently did the Oklahoma neither.

Stewardship This is important: Where a compelling Council state interest is required, any measure passed by the Legislature or a municipality or by a vote of the people, pertaining to agriculture, would be presumed to be unconstitutional. It also applies to municipalities because the next paragraph of the measure refers to ordinances, and SQ 777 creates a constitutional protection for agriculture. If the state cannot violate it, neither could a city or a county.

For the law or ordinance or zoning regulation to be upheld, its defenders must not only prove a compelling state interest, they must also prove that no less restrictive means would accomplish the purpose. This is a very heavy, virtually impossible burden.

By contrast, the vast majority of legislative enactments, if challenged in court, are (1) presumed to be constitutional, and (2) must only show a “legitimate” state interest, not “compelling,” and (3) must be rationally related to meeting that interest.

Oklahoma passed a law several years ago banning the cultivation of castor plants, grown and sold as decorative plants for yards. The rationale for the law was that ricin, a chemical that can be used by terrorists, might be manufactured from the beans of this plant. Based on my 16 years of reviewing statutes as attorney general, it is my opinion that this statute would not have survived lawsuits if 777 had been on the books.

More important, new protections to prevent waste from massive hog and chicken farms running into our waters could be challenged and thrown out. If Oklahoma abandons its ability to pass reasonable laws regulating agriculture and protecting the environment, we would see more federal involvement from the EPA and other agencies in these areas, not less.

Nothing in 777 would prevent the Legislature from repealing measures to protect our waters or land, as was done in North Dakota after a similar measure passed in that state. And, if repealed, neither a future Legislature nor a vote of the people could put them back.

See for 110

See AGAINST 110

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 109­​

For From 109

State Question 777 will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Tulsa World Magazine

Section 31a established a Board of Regents for agricultural and mechanical schools and colleges. Our founders took these deliberate steps to promote and protect agriculture.

The time has come for Oklahoma to build upon those protections for farming and ranching in Oklahoma.

State Question 777 would afford Constitutional guarantees to farmers and ranchers to engage in agricultural operations. It would also prohibit the Legislature from passing laws obstructing the right to farm without a compelling state interest. The hyperbole has reached epic levels by those who oppose State Question 777. This question is not an effort to empower corporate farms to operate without regulation in Oklahoma. Of the 80,100 farms in Oklahoma, more than 73,000 are family farming operations. State Question 777 doesn’t end all regulation of farming and ranching in Oklahoma, nor does it give farmers and ranchers a license to pollute. Farmers and ranchers are stewards of the land; they have every incentive to ensure the land and water will be able to sustain future generations of farmers and ranchers. State Question 777 simply protects the ability of family farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma to continue to do what they’ve done for generations: feed the world. When voters go to the polls in November, they should support State Question 777 and protect the legacy of Oklahoma agriculture.

Against From 109 “Agricultural technology” and “livestock production practices” are not defined in the measure and change with time. Are we so certain that no technology or practice, no new chemicals or genetic modifications, no additives to feed or seed, will ever be invented that we might want to regulate or control? The backers of SQ 777 ask us to give up our right to do so.

Even the people, by initiative petition, could not enact reasonable regulations pertaining to the future practices of the agricultural industry. Nor would the legislature or the people be able to enact protections for small farm operations against the predatory practices of the food processors and livestock collectives.

In 2008, Oklahoma added to its Bill of Rights the right to hunt and fish but that was subject to “reasonable regulation as prescribed by the Legislature and the Wildlife Conservation Commission.” It received more than 80 percent of the vote. SQ 777 says clearly by the compelling state interest standard it requires: “subject to no future reasonable regulation by the Legislature, municipalities or the people of this state.”

That absolute freedom to harm, enjoyed by no other industry or interest in the state, should be rejected. Vote “No” on 777.

110 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

THE END. See Oklahoma through another’s eyes 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 a 7-year-old boy.

M

The Tallgrass Prairie is a majestic sight, especially when seen through fresh eyes. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World Magazine

any years ago, after a tour of Chatsworth House, one of the grandest and most beautiful homes in all of Great Britain, some friends and I took a winding, narrow road across rural Derbyshire, passing one lush green pasture after another and stopping occasionally to let a flock of sheep cross in front of us.

We even drove through a couple of quaint villages with cobblestone streets and pubs with names like the Bull’s Head and the White Horse — everything exactly the way an American tourist would want England to look. A Hollywood set designer couldn’t have done it any better.

I remarked to the native-born driver — a gray-haired gentleman in (what else?) a tweed jacket — that he was lucky to live in such a charming part of the world.

“What, this?” he asked, speaking in a perfect Masterpiece Theater accent. “I can’t imagine any place more ordinary.”

What he really wanted to see was Oklahoma.

“They say the wheat fields stretch from horizon to horizon for as far as the eye can see in all directions,” he said excitedly. “Is that true?”

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa, of course, has a lot of rolling green hills. But I grew up in Ponca City, and I could assure him that, yes, there are many places across Oklahoma where you can see nothing but wheat, wheat and more wheat.

“That sounds so beautiful,” he said. “So majestic.”

I stared out of the car window. A stone wall, about knee-high, ran alongside the road. And not far beyond the wall sat a small farmhouse built from the same rough-cut local stone, probably dug out of these very fields. And, of course, I could never know for sure, but I wanted to believe the stones had been dug out by the great-great-grandfather of the guy who lived in that house now. And I pictured that guy looking just like James Cromwell in “Babe.”

“Really?” I asked the driver, and I couldn’t have been more incredulous. “You would rather see Oklahoma than this?”

“Well,” he said, shrugging as he drove, “I’ve seen all this before.”

Familiarity, as they say, breeds contempt. Or at least apathy. The trick is to look at a place as if it’s for the first time, even if you’ve been seeing it your whole life.

And that is what this issue of Tulsa World Magazine is all about.

Explore the Alabaster Caverns. Dig crystals from the Great Salt Plains. Take a dune buggy across Little Sahara. Climb the Wichita Mountains.

Tulsa World Magazine 111

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