Tulsa World Magazine March 2022

TULSA W O R L D

M A G A Z I N E

ENCHANTING OKLAHOMA The 14 most beautiful places to visit

INSIDE FELIX JONES’ HISTORIC MANSION, EUCHEE BUTTERFLY FARM AND BOB DYLAN CENTER

ISSUE 36 SPRING 2022 TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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TULSA W O R L D

M A G A Z I N E

Spring 2022

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ENCHANTING OKLAHOMA

Doing good: Tulsa’s own NFL player Felix Jones and his historic purchase

Find a little slice of heaven at these cherished places in our state. Don’t miss attractions nearby and along the way.

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Life in Native America: Bixby’s Euchee Butterfly Farm preserves native species

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Economic Boost: PGA Championship comes to Southern Hills Country Club

ALSO INSIDE

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Oklahoma Made: Sweet success for Roark Acres Honey Farms

Tulsa Trailblazers: Oil magnate Cecil Canary helped start Southern Hills

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At Home: Tulsa’s coolest Airbnb stays

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Get Outside: What’s new in outdoor sports and activities this spring

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Coming Soon: Bob Dylan Center receives national attention

District: Evolution of Brookside, “The Restless Ribbon” Let’s Go: Upcoming spring events, festivals and more

COVER PHOTO BY TOM GILBERT, DESIGN BY TIM CHAMBERLIN TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Tulsa World Magazine 3

FROMTHE

EDITOR. Highlighting all that is heavenly about Oklahoma

H

Nicole Marshall Middleton Tulsa World Magazine Editor

oyt Axton’s song “Never Been to Spain” came to mind when we decided to compile our list of Oklahoma’s most beautiful spaces for the spring edition of Tulsa World Magazine.

In particular this part: “Well, I never been to heaven, But I’ve been to Oklahoma.”

The stunning sunsets, serene wildflower meadows, peaceful wide-open plains, lush green forests and rushing waterfalls — Axton didn’t dwell, but we get it. (More on Axton and the song in a story by Randy Krehbiel on page 40).

Jason Aldean took it a little further in his song, “Fly Over States:” “On the plains of Oklahoma With a windshield sunset in your eyes Like a watercolor painted sky You’d think heaven’s doors have opened You’ll understand why God made Those fly over states.”

And his song makes a good point. Much of the country has no idea how heavenly Oklahoma can be.

And even the locals can forget sometimes, so we hope our cover story — packed with things to do along the way and near these beautiful locations — can serve as a humble reminder. At the very least, it’s a travel guide for an overdue adventure.

Many people will flock to Tulsa for the PGA Championship in May. Read more about the significance and good fortune of that upcoming event in a column by Bill Haisten. If these visiting golf fans have never been to Oklahoma before, it will be the perfect time to swing by one of these 14 beautiful and worthy destinations.

At the very least, PGA visitors should grab a bite at one (or more) of Tulsa’s iconic eateries. Tulsans know these places well. See how many you have tried in our quiz on pages 8081. And if Tulsa visitors need a place to stay, Grace Wood has featured some of the most unique Airbnbs in the area.

Also in this edition, Jimmie Tramel profiles Felix Jones, a former NFL player and Booker T. Washington Hall of Fame athlete. You may know about his football career and the football camp he coordinates for kids in the Tulsa area. But we talked to him about his childhood growing up in the shadows of the former Brady Mansion, what inspired him to buy it and his plans for the future of the historic structure.

We’re excited about this spring edition, packed with photography and stories by the talented Tulsa World staff!

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TULSA W O R L D

M A G A Z I N E

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

This magazine is published with the March 27, 2022, edition of the World.

All content copyright Tulsa World 2022.

The contents may not be reproduced without permission.

NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON Editor nicole.marshall@tulsaworld.com STACEY DICKENS Assistant Editor stacey.dickens@tulsaworld.com TOM GILBERT Photo Editor JOHN WALBLAY Page Editor

Additional copies of Tulsa World Magazine can be found at the Tulsa World or at local retailers. Annual magazine subscriptions are $29.70 for six issues. To subscribe or have single issues mailed for $4.95, go to tulsaworldmagazine.com or call 918-581-0921.

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at home

COURTESY, MARY BETH BABCOCK

Visit the coolest

Airbnb stays in tulsa Grace Wood // Tulsa World Magazine

Whether you’re interested in a staycation or are visiting from out of town, you’re sure to love these unique Airbnbs in and around the Tulsa area. From the whimsical to the rustic and everything in between, Tulsa has an Airbnb to accommodate every taste and aesthetic.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

TOP: The eccentric Airbnb Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad, shown by owner Mary Beth Babcock, features ample artwork. ABOVE AND RIGHT: Artifacts from “The Outsiders” hang on the walls of a bedroom of an Airbnb across the street from the Outsiders House Museum.

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1. THE GREASER HIDEOUT Fans of the iconic 1983 film “The Outsiders” now have a chance to stay in a newly remodeled Airbnb across the street from the house — now a museum — where the movie was filmed in Tulsa.

“The Outsiders” aficionado and museum director Danny O’Connor created the stay, named the “Greaser Hideout,” and made sure to fill it with memorabilia and Outsiders-themed items from the film. The Airbnb can comfortably house six people.

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2. BUCK’S COSMIC CRASH PAD ON ROUTE 66 Located just behind the Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curio Shop is an ultra-unique Airbnb described as a “living gallery,” where almost all of the art on display is for sale. This stay can accommodate up to six guests and is located adjacent to the Mother Road Market and is minutes away from downtown Tulsa.

COURTESY, MARY BETH BABCOCK‌

Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad can be found behind Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curio Shop on Route 66.

COURTESY, KANTE GROUP‌

COURTESY, KANTE GROUP‌

The entire second floor of the Old City Hall building in Sapulpa has been renovated into an Airbnb.

CLASSIC SHUTTERS • Professional • Reliable • Dedicated

10914 E. 2nd St. | 918-234-0657 | Mon-Fri 10 - 5 pm or by appointment 10 am - 5:00 pm 6 Tulsa World Magazine

www.classicshuttersok.com

This Airbnb is located in downtown Sapulpa near several restaurants and shops.

3. SAPULPA OLD CITY HALL ON ROUTE 66 Sapulpa’s Old City Hall in downtown Sapulpa has been completely renovated to accommodate guests. Filling the entire second floor of this historic gem, this special stay is filled with modern decorations and amenities, giving it an old New York City feel. This Airbnb can house up to four guests and is located near several restaurants, shopping destinations and coffee shops.

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COURTESY PHOTOS, JENNA BROMLEY AND VAST MEDIA‌

Several vibrant touches, including a rainbow tile bathroom, are available in this one-of-a-kind Airbnb.

Casa De Sol can accommodate up to four guests.

4. CASA DE SOL

This stylish stay near downtown Tulsa has no shortage of color and flair. A remodeled bungalow, this Airbnb is brimming with vibrant touches, including a rainbow-tiled bathroom, bright kitchen accents and even a purple fireplace.

Guests can also enjoy a spacious back patio area. This spot can accommodate up to four guests.

5. SUNSET VIEW COTTAGE OVER SKIATOOK LAKE Perfect for a summer getaway with family or friends, this rustic cottage overlooking Skiatook Lake provides a peaceful place to relax by the water. One of 16 cabins available to rent along the lake, this eight-person stay features a lake-facing patio and access to a nearby marina for boating and fishing.

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COURTESY PHOTOS, HANK SPENCER‌

This cottage is located near hiking trails, a marina and restaurant. Enjoy lake views from this Airbnb’s back patio, below.

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LIFE IN NATIVE AMERICA

FARM to

FLIGHT

Bixby’s Euchee Butterfly Farm helps preserve native species, habitats James D. Watts Jr. // Tulsa World Magazine

T

he doorways into the flight room at the Euchee Butterfly Farm in Bixby are hung with lengths of white plastic chain to create a kind of curtain that helps contain whatever species of butterfly may currently be in residence.

Still, escapes are not impossible.

“Whoops,” said David Bohlken, at the sight of a black and yellow zebra longwing perched on a link of chain curtain separating the flight room full of butterflies from the workroom occupied by a few industrious humans.

“Don’t worry,” said Bohlken, who manages to capture the escapee with a deft swipe of his hand. “He’s not trying to get out. He’s trying to get back in.”

Once inside the flight room — a large space housed within one of the farm’s metal buildings — Bohlken opens his hand and the prodigal butterfly flutters off, disappearing among the hundreds of other similar black and yellow creatures that can be seen perched on tree branches, dangling from leaves, hovering around sources of food, or simply flitting about, seemingly at random.

“During the spring and summer months,” Bohlken said, “we can have as many as 20 species in here. But in the winter, we rarely have more than three or four.”

Right now in February, the zebra longwing butterflies are the dominant species in the flight room. On one side of the room, new members of the group emerge from their chrysalis to take their first flight, while others hover around a patch of passiflora, passion flower plants, which serve as both a food source and a place to spawn new generations.

Bohlken points to a sprig that appears to be coated in tiny yellow dots. “Those are the eggs,” he said. “There’s probably two, three hundred eggs right here.”

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It’s just one way the Euchee Butterfly Farm is helping to ensure the butterfly population in Oklahoma survives and thrives, so these delicate creatures can go about their vital work of helping to preserve the state’s natural environment through pollinating all sorts of indigenous plants.

The farm, located southeast of Bixby, sits on the original 160-acre allotment that was presented in 1899 to Neosho Parthenia Brown by her father, Samuel W. Brown, a survivor of the Trail of Tears who later become chief of the Euchee people.

“He picked out this piece of land for his daughter, because it reminded him of his homeland in Alabama,” said Jane Breckinridge, Neosho Brown’s great-granddaughter.

One unique aspect of the land is that it is home to one of last remnants of pure prairie in Tulsa County — a 13-acre natural grassland ecosystem that has never been plowed and has been preserved in its original condition.

Within this relatively modest space are more than 400 species of native plants, animals, birds and insects, including several species not found elsewhere in Oklahoma.

The land has been been passed down “from daughter to daughter,” Breckinridge said, herself a member of the Muscogee Nation. Honoring that legacy was something Breckinridge said was imperative for her.

“My great-grandmother faced a lot of very

EUCHEE BUTTERFLY FARM As it is a working farm, the Euchee Butterfly Farm is open to the public by appointment only.

To schedule a tour to learn more about the programs at the Euchee Butterfly Farm, go to nativebutterflies.org.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

hard times, but she was determined not to sell this land, but to keep it in the family, and to keep it intact,” Breckinridge said. “She also was the sort of person that, no matter what her own situation in life might have been, was always willing to help anyone who came to her in need.

“One thing that was very important to me was to put this land to use in a way that was going to be meaningful,” she said.

“Among Native people, taking care of the land is a sacred obligation. And that obligation was even more important to me, because this land had been bought with blood.”

That is why, in 2013, Breckinridge and her husband, Bohlken, a longtime butterfly farmer and past president of the International Butterfly

Breeders Association, developed the program Natives Raising Natives, a unique conservation initiative in which Indigenous people are able to learn the process of butterfly farming.

“We had three goals,” Breckinridge said. “One was to provide sustainable employment for Native people. We provide all the supplies and training that people need to begin, and all the butterflies that they raise, we buy back and use here.”

Breckinridge said about 90 participants are currently involved in farming butterflies. Although the farm puts an emphasis on serving the Muscogee Nation, Breckinridge said a number of other tribes and nations have also been involved.

“Once we describe the program and its purpose, they want to be part of it,” she said.

The second goal is provide young people with a unique, hands-on approach to science education.

“I’ve learned that there are two

things that kids really get excited about,” she said. “One is dinosaurs.

The other is butterflies. When we have young people come to us, you can see they get really excited about learning, because we’re giving them the chance to learn by doing.”

The third goal is to use native butterflies to help conserve and protect the region’s wild habitat – something that the inexorable growth of modern towns and cities continually threatens.

“It’s not just the big cities,” Breckinridge said. “We look around out here, and see the way that a town like Bixby is growing, and you can easily imagine that in 10 years’ time what we have right here could be gone if things continue unchecked.

“Our ecosystem is a very fragile thing,” she said. “That’s why it’s important to create and preserve these little islands of natural habitats, so that these species of plants and wildlife can continue.”

The farm also established a way

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Zebra longwing butterflies flutter around Euchee Butterfly Farm owner Jane Breckinridge.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 9

One thing that was very important to me was to put this land to use in a way that was going to be meaning ful.

Among Native people, taking care of the land is a sacred obligation. And that obligation was even more important to me, because this land had been bought with blood.”

-JANE BRECKINRIDGE

COURTESY, JANE BRECKINRIDGE

Monarch butterflies cluster on a milkweed plant in the outdoor flight house the Euchee Butterfly Farm sets up during the spring and summer months.

station for monarch butterflies in 2014, growing the milkweed on which these pollinators feed to give them the energy to make their epic journey from Canada to Mexico.

In addition, the farm has created a seed bank, primarily for plants necessary for the broad butterfly populations.

Brandon Gibson, a program coordinator at the farm and member of the Navajo tribe, said the bank focuses on collecting seeds for plants native to the northeastern Oklahoma region.

“Because of all the clay in our soil, native plants have to be tough,” he said. “A similar species that was developed elsewhere may not have that same kind of resilience, and probably wouldn’t be able to thrive here.

“People have offered us a lot of unusual and — speaking as a biologist 10 Tulsa World Magazine

— very interesting seeds,” Gibson said.

“But because they are not indigenous to Oklahoma, we have to turn them down.”

The Euchee Butterfly Farm receives some grants, but a good portion of its funding comes from special events it holds on the property, as well as the live butterfly displays it hosts at places such as state fairs everywhere from Tulsa to Minnesota.

The farm also sells “butterfly boxes” — examples of some of the most extremely colorful members of the order Lepidoptera artfully preserved under glass. Even these items play a part in the Euchee Butterfly Farm’s conservation process — the frames for these displays are made from invasive cedar trees that threaten butterflies’ natural habitats.

It may seem like a small thing, but

COURTESY, JANE BRECKINRIDGE

The outdoor flight house is a mesh-enclosed area outfitted with native plants such as milkweed, the primary food source for monarch butterflies.

those who work at Euchee Butterfly Farm know that even the smallest effort is important.

“It’s really neat to know that I’m doing something that matters,” Gibson said, “and that even the littlest thing — like planting a couple of seeds that can grow into hundreds of plants — can have a profoundly positive effect on this environment.”

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STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

Zebra longwing butterflies reside at the Euchee Butterfly Farm.

l a i c e Sp ! r e ff O Don’t miss another precious moment!

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

The Tobacco Hornworm LEFT: Monarchs bask in sunlight.

COURTESY, JANE BRECKINRIDGE‌

BELOW: Collin Spriggs makes butterfly boxes.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

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OKLAHOMA MADE

COURTESY, ROARK ACRES

Roark Acres Honey Farms is a family-owned business and a member of the Made in Oklahoma Coalition.

Sweet SUCCESS Honey bee hobby blooms into family business for Roark Acres

JUDY ALLEN, FOR TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Nicole Marshall Middleton // Tulsa World Magazine

T

he taste of local honey is truly unique and special.

It’s the taste of home.

Flavor profiles reflect the landscape and plant life of the area where the bees forage. One region is distinct from another.

It doesn’t get more local than that.

And at Roark Acres, which produces honey in the Tulsa area, honey products are created by many members of a local family. It’s their art and homage to the bees that they raise.

No doubt about it, it’s a fulfilling job — and they know it, co-owner Amy Roark said.

“My husband, Michael, always says,

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‘Now, it does not feel like going to work. I used to wear polos and khakis, and now I wear jeans and cowboy boots,’” Amy Roark said.

Michael Roark got his first two hives in 2012 — it was supposed to be a hobby, but little did the Roarks know then, their new family business was in the making.

“We just sort of fell into it and ended up just loving the bees,” she said.

Michael worked with a local commercial beekeeper full time for almost a year. He learned everything he possibly could about honey bees and, in less than eight years, turned two honey bee hives into over 1,000.

They began developing products including pure, raw Oklahoma honey, flavored creamed honey, various infused honeys, bee pollen, beeswax, beeswax candles, honey candy, handcrafted soap, lip balm, lotion bars and many skin care products. In the spring, they even sell bees.

In March 2016, they opened a small storefront in Jenks, offering a downhome, country, vintage experience for guests.

Then, in 2019, Reasor’s grocery stores began selling Roark Acres honey products in all of their stores across northeastern Oklahoma.

Michael’s brother Scott is in charge Tulsa World Magazine 13

COURTESY PHOTOS, ROARK ACRES‌

The Roark family started with two hives and grew to have more than 1,000 in about eight years.

Roark Acres Honey Farms store 217 E. Main St., Jenks 918-578-9201 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 Saturday Closed Sunday and Monday

of delivery, and daughter Courtney is in charge of bottling the product.

Chloe, the oldest daughter, managed the Tulsa Farmer’s Market honey sales every Saturday until she went off to college in 2021.

“Since we started selling honey to the public, we have been able to purchase acreage out in the Sapulpa/ Mounds area (where we bottle now) and open a bigger storefront — still in Jenks — to grow into more of an old-school general store,” Amy Roark said.

While Michael leads the production crew and plans growth for the business, Amy, the “Queen Bee,” runs the store, coordinates more sales avenues and makes the health and beauty products.

14 Tulsa World Magazine

Her cousin, Amanda, sells the Roark Acres Honey at several markets in Bartlesville and does local trade shows or festivals in that area.

The family has certainly become experts in the bee business.

Amy Roark explained that honey will taste different depending on the location where the bees are foraging.

Honey from bees in the Tulsa area and northeastern Oklahoma will taste similar to the honey in western Arkansas because of similar plant life.

“For the spring harvest, the hives are out from the end of April to the first part of July,” Amy Roark said.

“The fall harvest is end of September, first part of October. That honey is very different, almost black, much thicker texture, not as sweet and it tastes like butter pecan.”

And in Oklahoma, it is actually harder to produce local honey than other places, Roark said, so yields are smaller here than other places.

“We just do not have the amount of forage for the bees to take care of.

A lot of the land is used for alfalfa, corn... things that bees do not forage off of as much. People like manicured lawns, they mow down the clover, which the bees like.”

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Flavors of Deliciousness! www.okiegirlfudge.com www.facebook.com/okiegirlfudge TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

ASK THE EXPERT

Injecting fun into ad plan delivers leads and results Marketing expert helps client realize campaign

D

oing the same ole same ole, does not always get results!

Looking around at the home improvement business landscape in the metro Tulsa area five years ago, Burnett Home Improvement wanted to stand out from their competitors.

That’s just what they did when they injected humor in their advertising messages and partnered with the team at the Tulsa World Media Company.

“We’ve doubled in size since 2018,” Eli Ferrell, Marketing Director of Burnett Home Improvement, said.

“The team at the Tulsa World has been a big part of our campaign that has delivered high quality customer leads with high job closing rates.”

“One of the things I like about Eli, is the first time I met him – we took a selfie,” said West. “We connected instantly. He had great ideas and with all of the resources we have, we developed a multi-platform marketing campaign to help him realize his goals.”

With a marketing campaign strategy combining print and digital tactics, those quality leads turned into closed sales with the help of Dallas West, digital strategist with Tulsa World Media Company’s full service digital agency – Amplified Digital.

“It’s been really great working with Dallas,” he said.

“She is great with communication and getting us answers quickly. She knows the right questions to ask to deliver TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

DALLAS WEST DIGITAL STRATEGIST Amplified Digital Marketing

Email us your questions at expert@tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

great opportunities with clarity and transparency.”

Integrity is very important to the team at Burnett Home Improvement.

“It’s part of our culture here and how we work with our clients,” said Ferrell. “It’s also the same way we want to be treated. It allows an environment where we find ways to improve things and encourage that everyone here does the best they can.”

Scott Burnett, owner, started Burnett Home Improvement in 1979 with his dad, who unexpectedly passed away one year in. He has been able to keep the company going ever since, so being creative is right up his alley.

“We like to inject fun in what we do,” Ferrell said.

“Fun not only shows up in our work projects but also in how we work projects. So you can imagine it was no problem in painting the boss’ face blue for a Braveheart-like themed campaign.”

Fun was just what West encountered the first time she met Ferrell.

“One of the things I like about Eli, is the first time I met him – we took a selfie,” said West. “We connected instantly. He had great ideas and with all of the resources we have, we developed a multi-platform marketing campaign to help him realize his goals.”

West said helping businesses grow and meet their goals, starts with a conversation. The team at Tulsa World Media Company’s full-service Premier Google Partnered digital agency – Amplified Digital – can find the right solution for any company!

“I never got a tour of the Tulsa World until I met Dallas!

She really does a great job for us,” Ferrell said.

For more information visit amplifieddigitalmarketing.com or call 918.530.1523.

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ASK THE EXPERT

Selling Your Home: A Q&A with Leland

LeLand Chinowth, president Chinowth & Cohen Realtors

Real estate expert answers today’s questions

W

hen is the best time of year to sell my home?

We’ve typically told people to list your home in the spring and sell it in the summer because real estate kind of works on a bell curve. There is a lot more activity in the summer. But what we found in analyzing the market is that the success rate is usually within about 10% in January and February as it would be in the summer. There’s less competition in winter. So, when you’re ready to buy or sell, consult your realtor and know that your competition is less in the winter and that your success rates are very similar. So, it’s not really worth delaying your process to wait for that summer market.

How long does it take to sell right now?

The average for many years was two to three months on the market with about another month to sell. Both of those timelines have shifted. We’re seeing many homes where the average days on the market has creeped down to 10 or 12 days. A huge chunk of the market has sold within a week with multiple offers. We are seeing interest rates slightly rise and days on market slightly increase, so things are sort of coming back down to earth. However, with things taking longer to get done with the inspection process, appraisals, and the lending process, the average contract-to-close time has crept up from about 30 to about 45 days. So, you still want to give yourself one to two months from A to Z, on average, to sell.

How do I determine the value of my home?

Talk to your realtor about your comparative market analysis, or CMA. First, you’d look at what has sold within your neighborhood in the last six months. Then, you would look a little further out in the bigger market: your school district and the few square miles around you. The trends TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Email us your questions at expert@tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

do change quickly, so it’s important that you take both the small neighborhood picture along with the greater picture into account when trying to determine your home value.

You’ll also want to talk to your realtor about factoring in any major updates you’ve made to your home.

Should I buy a home before or after selling my current home?

That’s a highly specific answer to each scenario. I do think before you sell and you know what your home is worth, you have to determine if you have the equity in order to buy something. That answers your question pretty quickly. Another thing to focus on is what options are out there. There are some buyers today who are looking at a busy market and cannot find more than one or two options.

Leasing is also another option. With our leasing department, we can sometimes move people to a six-month or a year lease if they have a great price on selling their home but can’t find that next home.

How do I prepare my house for selling?

A lot of people assume that they need to redecorate or do a lot to their home. A lot of times, just decluttering and minimizing a little bit so people can visualize what they’re buying is the most important. Talk with a realtor. Make sure you’ve got a great idea of what the comps are and that you have a great marketing plan with professional photography.

For more information, contact Chinowth & Cohen Realtors if you’re looking to sell your home by calling (918) 392-0900 or go online at ccoklahoma.com.

SPONSORED FEATURE OF TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

ASK THE EXPERT CRAIG BURCH, SERVICE MANAGER Video Revolution

Email us your questions at expert@ tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

SPONSORED FEATURE OF TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Save money on TV repairs and home theater setups Video service expert helps clients navigate technology

C

raig Burch is no stranger to television technology. In fact, he grew up in a small town where his dad owned a TV repair shop.

Since being around the tube his whole life, Burch decided to pursue a career to help others. Burch has been the service manager for Video Revolution for the last 25 years and counting.

His big focus: to give customers instructions in their own home so they know how to work their electronics.

“We give them one-on-one instruction in their home on how to operate equipment and navigate their systems,” he said.

Something that might seem so daunting to someone trying to operate a TV remote control or stream a show is likely a simple fix for Burch.

“We’ll get calls from family members saying, ‘can you go help my mom or my dad?’”

His feedback from clients has been appreciation for making them feel comfortable and simplifying today’s technology so they can access their electronic systems.

“Our customers need to know how to navigate their system after their electronic setup is complete and we leave, so we write down notes for them,” he said. “We go over it.”

Burch says that he has seen cord cutting catching up and streaming devices taking the place of cable and satellite. Though technology is constantly changing to bigger, better and brighter, the crew at Video Revolution is keeping up.

“A big thing these days is helping customers navigate their new smart TV or their streaming devices. Everybody wants the latest show, and how do you get it and what app and how do I get the app and how do I watch my show,” he said.

Burch spends most of his work day on the road to residences, lake homes, assisted living and retirement facilities within a great range throughout Green Country and beyond.

He’s worked with some customers for a

couple of decades, forming personal relationships that big box stores often just don’t give.

“Customers call us back because they know they can rely on us and they know we have the answers for them,” said Burch. “I do all of our in-home TV repair service and home theater service. We kind of fill all their needs.”

A big misconception these days, he says, is that people don’t realize they can get their TV repaired.

“If there’s a problem, they think they just have to throw it away and buy another one.”

Burch hates to see a TV trashed, especially if it’s a simple fix of a very minor problem that he could resolve and make it last a few more years.

“A lot of times it’s economical to repair.

If there’s a time where the TV is uneconomical to repair or a part wasn’t available, a lot of times we’ll transition our service call fee for going out, into the purchase of a new TV from our store. It’s a win-win situation,” he said.

Getting rid of your old TV is no problem, either. Instead of putting it on the curb or tossing it in a dumpster, the Video Revolution crew will haul the old TV away for electronic recycling.

Burch says that he can’t recall a slow period at his retail location at the northwest corner of 71st and Lewis.

Video Revolution guarantees the lowest price, and they price match on brand new TV’s.

They carry multiple brands including the big three–Sony, Samsung and LG–with hundreds of TV’s on display for your viewing pleasure. You can also shop wireless systems, soundbars and speakers with the assurance that installation won’t have to be a hassle, according to Burch.

“We’re really excited about technology and the future. We’re going to be around for a long time,” he said.

For more information visit videorevolution. com or call 918-495-0586.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

ASK THE EXPERT

Proposed FDA rule may allow over-the-counter Hearing aid quality – you get what you pay for

T

he Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that would give people access to over-thecounter hearing aids.

The rule would officially permit the purchase of hearing aids in retail stores and online without a prescription.

According to the FDA, hearing loss impacts about 30 million people in the United States, and close to only onefifth of people who could benefit from a hearing aid seek intervention.

Clear-tone Co-owners Paul Jackson and Charley Feeley say that regardless of whether someone chooses an over-thecounter hearing aid or a prescription device, it’s important that people undergo a hearing test and also are fit by a hearing aid specialist.

Both Jackson and Feeley have been keeping up with the new legislation.

“We’ve been positioning ourselves to where we can do what the FDA is publishing rules about. We’ve got the capabilities to do that now. So we have products that people can put on when they need them and take them out when they don’t,” Jackson said.

Think of it in the same terms as glasses. You’ve got overthe-counter reading glasses that you can buy at a drugstore, or you can go to your optometrist.

“An OTC hearing aid is going to be more defeatured and more for situational use instead of more progressive, and maybe access to smartphones and better noise reduction and a lot of the benefits that come with an advanced, prescriptive hearing aid,” Feeley said.

The OTC hearing aids are for perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss.

“The problem there is, people’s perception of their hearing loss is usually very different than the actual impact of their hearing loss.”

“Often, from the time somebody notices issues to the

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

PAUL JACKSON CHARLEY FEELEY Clear-tone

Email us your questions at expert@tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

time they’re willing to do something about that, the industry average is about 7-10 years. They might think that they have a mild hearing loss but what they really have is a moderate or even a profound hearing loss,” Jackson added.

Feeley says that the gradual process of hearing loss is the biggest hurdle because people adapt to the problem over time.

“We see multiple patients every day who come in saying ‘it’s not that bad.’ We do the test, and we put the hearing aids on them, and they are blown away at the difference,” said Feeley.

One of the unique things about Clear-tone is that they’ve worked the manufacturing part of the business for several decades, which gives them unique insight and access to best practices from around the world for the clinical setting of Clear-tone.

Both Feeley and Jackson agree that OTC hearing aids will help some people, but they don’t think it’s going to be a magic silver bullet.

“OTC is one thing to help with access and more affordable hearing aids, but you do get what you pay for,” Feeley added.

Jackson believes that OTC hearing aids will be a gateway for some people realizing that the need that they have is greater than what they thought it was.

It comes down to getting a professional test.

“Our initial hearing test and consultation is completely free. So at a minimum, folks leave Clear-tone with a better idea of what their hearing loss is, how it’s affecting them, what their options are and whether or not they’re a good candidate for an over-the-counter product vs. a prescription product,” Jackson added.

Though the timeline for OTC hearing aids isn’t exact yet, it is in the process of being approved sometime in late 2022 For more information visit mycleartone.com or call 918-493-4040.

SPONSORED FEATURE OF TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

BUILDING

CHANGE Historic Tulsa mansion gains new vibe thanks to homegrown NFL player Felix Jones

JOEY JOHNSON, FOR TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

20 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa World Magazine 21

Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Magazine‌

U

sually, Felix Jones isn’t keen about forking over a big check to pay for something.

Sticker shock? Real.

An exception came when the former NFL player had an opportunity to purchase a piece of property that had fascinated him since he was a kid. He said he enjoyed writing a check to buy Skyline Mansion.

“It definitely was not hard to write the check for this place,” Jones said during an interview conducted inside the mansion.

“Me, knowing the history here and me, being a kid and knowing I wanted to be in here, it was easy to do.”

Jones, 34, accumulated 4,000-plus scrimmage yards in five seasons as a running back with the Dallas Cowboys and one with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He took his last handoff in 2013.

Perhaps Jones’ post-football accomplishments will be measured in acres rather than yards. His interests include real estate. The 102-year-old mansion Jones was eager to acquire has 15 rooms, six fireplaces, a grand staircase in the entry, a large basement and multiple stories — structurally and historically.

Tulsa architect John Curtain is credited with designing the 8,352-square-foot mansion in what has been described as a Greek Revival style. Curtain modeled the mansion after Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Virginia home, which he named “Arlington.” Perched on a hill at 620 N. Denver Ave., Skyline Mansion is equipped with a second-story balcony that allows visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of downtown Tulsa.

Skyline Mansion’s original name: Brady Mansion.

When new, the mansion served as the home of W. Tate Brady, a Tulsa co-founder, businessman and political mover/shaker who once had membership in the Ku Klux Klan.

For decades, many in Tulsa’s Black community viewed the mansion as a reminder of what happened the year after it was “born” — the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the destruction of Black Wall Street.

Now the script for the mansion’s 22 Tulsa World Magazine

JOEY JOHNSON, FOR TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

For decades, many in Tulsa’s Black community viewed the former Brady Mansion as a reminder of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Now, former NFL player Felix Jones owns it and has given it a new identity.

story is being flipped because Jones has a vision for what he wants the mansion to be.

“That was the whole plan,” he said.

“Once I got in here, it was like, ‘OK, how can I get it to where my community can feel good about coming in and feel better about the house and not look at it as it’s dark and it’s this and it’s the Brady Mansion.’ Yeah, that was dark.

But let’s come in and let’s see what type of energy we can get from it and put into it and make it feel like ours and revive it and not have that in the back of our minds.”

Once foreboding to Tulsa’s Black community, the mansion’s new vibe is welcoming.

Poster-type displays adorn the mansion’s walls to acknowledge Black Wall Street, Black historical figures and homegrown Tulsa ballers (Jones, Tyler Lockett) who have embraced pay-itforward endeavors.

The mansion symbolizes something different.

Said Jones: “And that’s what I wanted to do with this house, something different than what the history is on it.”

‘THE BOOGEYMAN’S HOUSE’ ‌ Born and raised in Tulsa, Jones grew up less than a mile from the mansion.

Lil’ Felix attended school at Roosevelt and, hey, why go directly home after TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

school when you can explore the area?

“I saw this house and got fascinated,” he said, referring to Brady Mansion/ Skyline Mansion. “‘Is this a house or is it an office building that is supposed to be downtown or something like that?’”

There are other homes in the vicinity, but the mansion, the first house on the block, stood out to Jones because of massive pillars in front.

“It’s exciting when you see it,” he said.

A seed was planted. Maybe, someday...

Jones said he had never been inside the mansion or walked on the driveway until he bought the house.

“For some reason it felt like it was the boogeyman’s house,” he said. “As a kid, you don’t want to step on the property.”

Jones, asked if the Brady connection had anything to do with why the mansion felt like the boogeyman’s house, said, “I think it was because of the Brady thing. I liked the house. I just didn’t know who was in the house that would be coming out saying ‘get off my lawn’ or whatever it may be. I guess (I felt that way because of ) the movies I was watching.

“The church is across the street. I rode my bike on that side. I didn’t ride on this side because I guess I thought I was getting too close. That was just me. But I always wanted to come in. I always wanted to knock on the door.

I didn’t know who was here. I didn’t know if anybody would get mad or if it was a tourist spot. I was just a kid.”

As an adult, Jones delved more into the mansion’s history.

A 1994 Tulsa World story, recalling the mansion’s early days, said murals painted on the mansion’s canvas walls were scenes of the Confederacy (Brady’s father had been a Confederate soldier).

In front of the mantle was a wall painting of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston and Stonewall Jackson. Two years before the mansion opened, Brady organized what the 1994 story said was probably Tulsa’s largest national convention up to that time — an annual reunion of the Veterans of the Confederacy. In 1941, the mansion became a clubhouse for the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

When World War II arrived and housing was needed for soldiers, Brady’s widow offered the mansion for use. Post-war, the mansion was sold and it was divided into apartments.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

By that time, Brady was two decades gone. On Aug. 29, 1925, he died of suicide in the mansion. He was 55 when he shot himself, reportedly due to grief over a son’s death.

Brady’s KKK ties and his purported activities during and after the 1921 race massacre (he was accused of trying to profit from a proposed new use for the Greenwood District) have been more closely scrutinized in recent years. The name “Brady” has been stricken from Tulsa’s Brady Arts District, a downtown Tulsa street and the former Brady Theater (now Tulsa Theater).

Jones, asked if he was taught about

the 1921 Race Massacre, said he learned about it only because his family mentioned it a few times “and it was like I still don’t believe that. Nobody could ever do that to other people. It’s hard to believe. But it happened.”

Jones said it’s still hard to comprehend just how detrimental the race massacre was.

“Nobody ever taught us that you had business people that were Black and they were doing a whole lot of good — doing good for themselves and doing good for the community, raising the stakes for people who were living in the area. ... We had dentists. We

The Skyline Mansion in the Brady Heights district was originally the home of W. Tate Brady.

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Felix Jones engages in pay-it forward endeavors. He has a history of staging youth camps in Tulsa.

Tulsa World Magazine 23

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Booker T. Washington alumnus Felix Jones (center) was surrounded by family when he was honored during the school’s Ring of Honor ceremony in 2020.

had hospitals. We had schools. We had lawyers. Anything that a town needed, we had.”

Tulsa’s Black Wall Street was “the” example for what Black communities strived to be. And it was wiped out in a span of two days in 1921.

“I lived not far from Greenwood and never knew that happened down there,” Jones said.

As Jones got older, he began asking friends and others questions about the race massacre because he was curious to know details. One of those friends is Steph Simon. Simon is a Tulsa hip-hop artist who contributed to “Fire in Little Africa,” a multimedia project commemorating the centennial of the race massacre. Skyline Mansion was one of the sites where material was recorded for a “Fire in Little Africa” album, released last year by Motown Records/ Black Forum in partnership with Tulsa’s Bob Dylan Center and Woody Guthrie Center. Simon performed songs from his album “Born on Black Wall Street” during a 2020 event at Skyline Mansion.

“We are just trying to inform and empower people who were affected by (the race massacre) and just make sure we can continue to gain ground and do better in business and do better in life and take care of our families and live in the place we want to live in,” Jones said, adding that we need to come together to make sure something like the massacre doesn’t happen again.

24 Tulsa World Magazine

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Felix Jones excelled as a running back at Booker T. Washington High School and the University of Arkansas on his way to the NFL.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE‌

Felix Jones sprints away from the Carolina Panthers’ defense in a 2009 game.

“That’s the whole thing for me is we need to learn history because history repeats itself.”

HAPPY CHILDHOOD‌ Let’s move past the mansion’s original owner and get to know more about the mansion’s current owner.

Jones said he had a blessed childhood and a great upbringing. He loved living at Skyline Ridge. Dad was a pastor and carpenter. Mom worked inside

and outside the home. He described his siblings as helpful. If he needed something, they gave.

“Nothing to complain about,” he said. “We weren’t in the best living conditions, but we still had great living conditions. I didn’t know anything different.”

Jones and his friends rode their bicycles all over Tulsa. He often rode to Owen Park and would be in the gym for hours. Summer days were especially great. “You could stay out until the street lights come on, and TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE‌

Felix Jones celebrates a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during his Dallas Cowboys career.

then you are rushing home because it’s too late now.”

Simon stayed across the street and was among participants in pickup basketball games.

“We had plenty of games,” Jones said. “I have to give Steph a couple of games out of the thousands we played.

He got lucky every now and then.”

Basketball and the TV series “Dragon Ball Z” were among childhood passions. Explaining his interest in the latter, Jones said, “It was fun for me because you could see somebody have such power and be such a calm and cool person and then, once you tick them off, they can go to a whole other level. There were so many turns and twists and different exciting parts of the show that it just grabbed my attention. It was fighting. It was action. It was suspense. ‘OK, this is about to happen. Why did we go to a TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

commercial?’”

Jones also watched the 1995 film “Friday” a lot, and he dug old blackand-white TV fare like “The Three Stooges” and “I Love Lucy.”

Back to the topic of basketball: Hoops initially captivated Jones more than football, but he and others came to recognize that his athletic skills were more suited to football. He also has carpentry skills. His first job was working with his father — getting on roofs, fixing houses, painting, etc. — and that’s how he made his “summer money.”

Meanwhile, Jones was “money” on Friday nights. He was named the Tulsa World’s All-State Player of the Year in 2004 after rushing for a Class 5A-leading 2,528 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior football player at Booker T. Washington High School.

“I really feel like I didn’t do too

much,” Jones said at the time. “It was a big year for us as a team. I’ve got a great offensive line, and they gave me the holes to run through. They deserve the credit.”

Jones said during the Skyline Mansion interview that his mindset was to use football to “take me out of the struggle.” He twice was a 1,000-yard rusher at the University of Arkansas (despite sharing carries with fellow 1,000-yard rusher Darren McFadden) and was an All-America kick returner for the Razorbacks before leaving school early to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

“Football helped me get to college.

Football helped me make some money,” Jones said. “I used football as a tool to get me to where I wanted to be. That’s how I’m trying to inspire the next generation.”

Jones has a long history of staging football camps to benefit young people.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused him to hit the pause button, but he wants to bring his free football camp back to Tulsa this summer, conditions permitting.

“I’ve been successful on my end and I’m trying to pass it along and do the best I can to help the next person so they have some type of understanding that we have to still help each other and we have to still come back and do the best we can to help the next person,” he said. “That’s all it is. We are looking for help, but we don’t know where to get it from. We don’t know any answers because we don’t know who to ask for answers. All I try to do is help and give some kind of energy and some type of motivation for them to keep going and be the best person they can be.”

Jones has a foundation (Running Back to Make A Difference) with a mission along those lines. The foundation’s mission is to inform, inspire and empower low-income high school student-athletes to become well-rounded and productive citizens Tulsa World Magazine 25

MIKE SIMONS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

An event and market celebrating MLK Day was held at Skyline Mansion in 2021.

through life skills and college preparatory training. If sports is your ticket to a better life, go for it. But...

“There are so many different ways and avenues that people can get to their dreams,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to highlight is it’s not only sports. It’s anything you are passionate about. Once you get into the phase of being focused on your dreams and goals, everything else tends to get out of the way. Even when there are hurdles, they still seem to smooth out if you keep your focus right.”

‘DESTINED TO BE’‌ Jones said he does not miss football.

“I miss some of the interactions with people that we used to have and I miss going out there and just having fun and scoring touchdowns and stuff like that.

But all the preparation and stuff like that, I don’t miss it.”

Playing in the NFL allowed him to run in different circles. Asked if he ever was in awe of someone he met, he immediately said Michael Jordan. No offense to little girls, but Jones said he acted like a little girl around Jordan.

“I wanted to go up and ask him for his autograph, and I couldn’t do it,” he said.

Eventually, Jones got the autograph.

Eventually, he got the mansion that fascinated him when he was a kid.

“It was destined to be,” he said. “It happened at the right time to where I was able to move finances around and purchase the home. It worked out perfectly.”

26 Tulsa World Magazine

IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Hip-hop artist Steph Simon performed at the mansion in 2020.

Once the deal was done, Jones had a question for himself: What can I do with this?

Jones never planned on living at the mansion. He resides in Texas. He doesn’t want to yank his family from familiar friends and schools there.

Maybe, when the kids are grown, he will return to Tulsa, the town he will always consider home. So, back to the dilemma, what should be done with the mansion?

Skyline Mansion became an event venue. For interior photos and rental information, check out skylinemansion. com.

Jones said he has purchased other properties in Tulsa.

“North Tulsa definitely has a lot of real estate available, but now I think the times are changing where it’s pretty much getting bought up,” he said.

“I think the times are changing where that’s going to be an area where people want to live if they upgrade the property values and all that to where people want to stay out there. I’m very interested in real estate. That’s one of the reasons I purchased this home as

well.”

A recording studio is among Jones’ ventures. He and Simon previously partnered to create Skyline Star Records. “I feel like Steph has shown that he has potential to make hits and put himself out there,” Jones said. “I’m just trying to help him get there. I’m trying to build that up so he can be an inspiration on the next person.”

Jones is sort of scratching an itch with the music stuff. He played saxophone in elementary school and learned how to read music. He logged choir duty because his father was a pastor, but he says he’s not a good singer.

“I always had a passion for music and trying to create new sounds,” Jones said, adding that he never had a chance to dive into it.

A poster of the GAP Band, so named because of the Tulsa streets Greenwood, Archer and Pine, hangs on the wall of Skyline Mansion to educate visitors about another piece of the city’s history.

“It has been a long two years, but now I think the community is seeing what I’m trying to do with the house and hopefully they see the good in it as far as I’m trying to teach the next generation,” he said.

“I want to empower the less fortunate and continue to encourage them to be civilized citizens. That’s what I’m trying to continually do. Now I have this building to kind of help me do that.”

Jones was asked how he feels when he is in the mansion. He paused before answering.

“I don’t know. Sometimes I guess I lose myself in this house because there is so much, I think. If these walls could talk to me and tell me what has happened in years and years and years of this being here... (But) I feel little. I feel small in this because I really think a lot of people feel the same way, just coming in here and understanding that this is a place where they did a lot of private planning on Black folks — right across the street, right next door. It’s crazy because now, being here, we are trying to make it better and planning how to help the neighborhood and make the community better again. I feel humbled. I’m definitely humbled in here because it’s not a place that everybody gets to step foot in here and open the doors and come in every day.”

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ASK THE EXPERT

GREG GIRARD Tulsa Men’s Clinic

Email us your questions at expert@tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

A

Make your way back to the man you once were Expert says Prolific ED therapy is second to none

re you looking for a more natural way to reverse your erectile dysfunction or just improve on your existing erection?

According to Greg Girard, Tulsa Men’s Clinic Prolific ED therapy is second to none and offers you a way back to the man you were before without the use of medication.

“We’ve been doing shockwave therapy in our clinic for about five years,” he said. “Everybody that has received benefit from this therapy has maintained it.”

Girard advises not to be fooled by claims from other companies that guarantee to double blood flow.

“The one thing they don’t tell you is that if you start out with a 10 percent blood flow, and we double it, now you have a 20 percent blood flow. What good is that? You’re still not achieving an erection. Or even if you have a 40 percent blood flow and they double it to 80, you’re still only getting a partial erection,” he said. “In my opinion, that’s very deceiving.”

“I think it’s like five grand to do that procedure. You spend all that money and come out of there and you still can’t get an erection. You’re not a happy customer. They don’t really do a full analysis of your problem, and we do.”

Tulsa Men’s Clinic doctors and medical professionals will advise you whether you are an ideal candidate for shockwave therapy treatment, as it works mostly for men in the early stages to mid stages of ED. Men in the advanced stages of ED should not expect to have good results with Shockwave therapy other than perhaps existing medications working better, he said.

Prolific ED therapy has three levels based on your physical condition.

Prolific Basic uses the “latest and greatest” shockwave therapy using the Alma Duo and should be solely used for people in the early stages of ED. For late early stages and intermediate stage ED, Girard SPONSORED FEATURE OF TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

recommends Prolific Plus. The procedure is done the same day as your Duo shockwave sessions to eliminate the need for a separate appointment.

“The penis itself is not responsible for the entire erection. There are muscles and pumps that work below the testes between the scrotum and the anus. Behind the perineum is the area that is never treated by most ED therapies.”

Tulsa Men’s Clinic uses the Emsella chair to use electromagnetic waves causing contractions to those muscles and pumps, rebuilding the blood flow system from the bottom up.

“We’re not just taking care of a part of the problem.

We’re taking care of all of the problem,” Girard said.

Finally, for Intermediate-to early-stage advanced ED, your best choice is Prolific Ultimate.

“What happens with men is that as time goes on, our ears continue to grow and our penis shrinks. It doesn’t seem like it’s actually fair, right? But, it’s a fact. But it’s not actually shrinking, it’s actually retracting,” he said.

These muscles are what carry the blood to the penis which causes the erection. As the muscles contract, they give less length to the erection and begin to restrict blood flow.

A procedure using PRFM often referred to as PRP, or the Priapus shot, is administered.

The result is rebuilding blood vessels, rejuvenating nerve endings, increasing blood flow, and restoring up to 20 percent more length and girth. If you have started to notice ED issues, the best thing, according to Girard, is to go in for an evaluation.

“Let our staff of doctors and medical professionals guide you to your best decision, because the educated patient is our best patient,” he said.

For more information visit tulsamen.com.

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DIAGNOSED WITH NEUROPATHY?

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ASK THE EXPERT

CYNDI WALKUP MARKETING STRATEGIST Tulsa World Media Company

Email us your questions at expert@tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

Scoring on and off the court takes teamwork Marketing expert increases tickets for ORU

S

ometimes things can be as clear as mud. One thing is clear, the long-standing relationship between Oral Roberts University Athletic Department and the Tulsa World Media Company has grown, evolved, and more importantly - delivered!

“At ORU athletics, we are always looking to increase our ticket sales to our events.” Scott Higgins, Senior Associate Athletic Director, said. “We have tried different approaches with other media companies and weren’t as happy with the results.”

A proud print subscriber to the Tulsa World, Higgins said with the new management at the Tulsa World Media Company’s Premier Google Partnered digital agency – Amplified Digital and his marketing strategist Cyndi Walkup, the combination of print and digital advertising platforms together can’t be beat.

“At ORU athletics, we are always looking to increase our ticket sales to our events,” said Scott Higgins, Senior Associate Athletic Director. “We have tried different approaches with other media companies and weren’t as happy with the results.”

“A big difference is that we can see in real-time how a campaign is performing so we can make adjustments if needed to produce the ticket sales results we are looking for,” he said. “Cyndi – thank goodness – has made the process extremely easy. We work together to decide where, when and how we want to advertise.”

And the proof is that attendance to ORU athletic events is through the roof!

“Our relationship with Scott and ORU over the years has grown dramatically,” Walkup said. “We started as a sponsor and he had a precious little budget, so we were very SPONSORED FEATURE OF TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

strategic to maximize every dollar. Because of those efforts, ORU has been able to continually grow, and we’ve been able to add targeted digital tactics along the way to put his message in front of the right audience.”

“For business owners who are unsure how to put together the right marketing approach to achieve their goals, it’s easy to get started,” Walkup said. “All it takes is a few minutes to have a conversation.”

Together with successful campaigns that utilized timing, creative messaging, and a close working relationship with both teams for fulfillment, it’s clear how that builds excitement in the market – translating to increased ticket sales, she said.

While Higgins’ personal connection to Tulsa World goes back to when he interned there in high school, then college, and even wrote in several sections of the paper, the need as a client is to reach the people who want to attend ORU athletic events.

“Fortunately, with print and digital, we have a twoedged sword that works,” he said.

The team at Tulsa World offers a full-service menu of marketing resources from traditional media, online digital tactics ranging from website build and design, ads, social posts to streaming video commercials, and e-commerce solutions including a partnership with Amazon.

“For business owners who are unsure how to put together the right marketing approach to achieve their goals, it’s easy to get started,” Walkup said. “All it takes is a few minutes to have a conversation.”

For more information visit tulsaworld.com, amplifieddigitalmarketing.com or call 918-260-1425.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Hippy Cowgirls Grand Opening!!!

Saturday April 2nd!!

103 N Main St, Sand Springs Come and shop the newest Boutique around!

Grab a glass of wine….Stay for the boots and purses!!

Western Flair meets Rodeo Hippie!

Be sure and follow our social media for more fun events and special happenings!!

Enjoy a Day at OkieSpice!

Saturday April 16th 107 N Main St

Westival Outdoor Event and the Sand Springs Herbal Affair!

Showing off our Made in Oklahoma partners and products!

Wine & Beer Garden, Live Music and More!!

Be sure and follow our social media for more fun events and special happenings!!

26th Annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival Six Weekends of Merriment!

T

he Castle invites one and all to join the festivities of the 26th Annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival! Travel back to 1569 England to experience the royal quest for knighthood, a full-contact Jousting Tournament, Birds of Prey exhibitions and traveling Acrobats!

We celebrate the joyous return of the festival on Saturday April 30th.

The patrons of Castleton shall be welcomed through the village gates by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and her Court of Nobles. Season Passes are now available on www.okcastle.com. Daily passes will go live on March 1st (Great idea for unique gift options this spring).

10+ stages throughout the grounds provide guests with a steady stream of joyous entertainment. Plan to enjoy the exciting sounds of the Craic, or the hilarious balancing act of Bob the Juggler and join the merriment of the maypole dancing. The Washing Well Wenches will return to encourage clean living and slightly soiled humor, great fun for all ages.

New for 2022: The Wheel of Death - Guests will marvel at this death-defying act which is featured 3 times per day from the Castle Keep. For a bit more of a light-hearted show, guests are sure to enjoy the comedy of The Renaissance Men. Grab a bite and enjoy a show throughout the day! For a complete lineup for the season, please visit the Castle’s website.

Whether shopping for homemade desserts or fire forged weapons of the Castle’s Blacksmiths, the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival is available for guests of all ages. The clothing is unique, the food is delicious and most importantly… the memories made are once in a lifetime! Check out www.OKCASTLE.com for themes and events to coordinate with each weekend. This is a fantastic opportunity for families to dress the part and have fun celebrating the history of Renaissance!

SPONSORED FEATURE OF TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

2022 Protocols: The Castleton mask mandate has been adjusted to “Strongly Encouraged”. We continue the crusade of defeating Covid and request that all guests please be courteous of others.

Dates and Hours: Saturdays & Sundays: April 30 - June 5th, plus Memorial Day, May 30th, 10:30 am-6 pm. For more information on discounts & purchasing online tickets: https://okcastle.com. Like us on Facebook as The Castle of Muskogee • 3400 Fern Mountain Rd. Muskogee, OK 74401

“Well, I never been to heaven, but I’ve been to Oklahoma...”

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e’ve all heard the song, and we bet you sang along to that slow-moving, twangy tune.

Hoyt Axton was right when he wrote the words. Oklahoma has its share of heavenly places. Here are 14 of those places — the most beautiful places our state has to offer, in our opinion — with some suggestions for things to see and do nearby or along the way.

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TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

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BEAVERS BEND Tom Gilbert // Tulsa World Magazine

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short three-hour car ride from Tulsa will get you to Beavers Bend State Park near Broken Bow, where the trees are tall and the air is

clear.

It is like traveling to Colorado but here in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.

Bring your backpack and hiking boots and visit the state park’s hiking trails. It really gets you back to nature, hiking the various trails in the park.

Horseback riding is also available.

Don’t forget about the lake. Broken Bow Lake

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was built under the supervision of the Tulsa District of the Corps of Engineers. The lake covers 14,000 acres and has a shoreline of 180 miles. Boats and houseboats are available for rent, and one can camp in a cabin, RV or tent. If you get a chance to visit the dam’s spillway while it is not spilling, it is a nice spot to relax.

There is also a zipline at Broken Bow Lake, which fills up fast, so make sure you make reservations.

The nearby Hochatown community is full of things for kids and adults to do. You can rent a cabin, go hiking, visit a brewery, a winery and even a distillery in this unincorporated town.

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Bring your backpack and hiking boots and visit the Beavers Bend State Park’s hiking trails. LEFT: Broken Bow Lake. ABOVE: The spillway at the dam and Beavers Bend State Park are picturesque locations.

A well-known and popular spot is Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Tap Room, 10251 U.S. 259. It offers a variety of pizzas and has a great beer selection.

If pizza isn’t your thing, then 100 yards away is The Blue Rooster, which serves lots of fried things, including fried green tomatoes.

The Mountain Fork Brewery also offers up some delicious pizzas.

Mark McDaniel and Chuck Wilson opened Mountain Fork Brewery, 89 Lukfata Trail, Broken Bow in the Hochatown area in 2015. The shopping center also includes The Noodle Shop, Okie Girls Coffee & Ice Cream, Knotted Rope Winery and Hochatown Distilling Co.

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TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE ‌

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KEYSTONE ANCIENT FOREST Sharon Bishop-Baldwin // Tulsa World Magazine

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wned by the city of Sand Springs and protected through a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy, the Keystone Ancient Forest is considered a world-class hiking destination.

And a new acquisition this spring is redefining the concept of “hiking.”

Two new Action Trackchairs — imagine an electric wheelchair with tracks like a tank — will allow virtually anyone of any ability to trek across the nearly 1,400-acre nature preserve west of Sand Springs, home to 500-year-old cedar trees and 300-year-old post oak trees.

The forest’s rugged terrain will be no match for the Trackchairs, which Parks Department Director Jeff Edwards says are “something unlike any other trails system in Oklahoma has.”

The Keystone Ancient Forest is part of a vast cross-timbers woodland that stretches from Kansas, across Oklahoma and into Texas, formed by a mosaic of rugged oaks and occasional prairies that forge a point at which the deciduous forests of the east transition to the Western Plains.

Deer, mountain lion, bobcats, eagles, migratory birds and more than 80 species of butterflies are among the forest’s inhabitants.

Recent upgrades to the preserve include its new $1 million visitor center, a freshly unveiled hiking trail to add to its collection and two recent expansions of its public hiking hours.

The preserve has five trails of varying lengths and difficulty, totaling more than 12 miles of hiking adventures that offer great views of Keystone Lake.

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Sand Springs is a long way from Italy, but the town’s Little Venice restaurant, at 208 N. Main St. on “The Triangle,” has patrons and critics raving.

It’s less than three weeks until tens of thousands of gardening enthusiasts (and plain ol’ festival fans) will head downtown for Sand Springs’ 33rd annual Herbal Affair, featuring more than 100 vendors selling herbs, perennials, natives and heirloom plants, as well as gardening supplies, décor, arts and crafts, and food. Herbal Affair runs 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 16.

Case Community Park, 1050 W. Wekiwa Road in Sand Springs, offers something for everyone, from basketball and workout facilities in the community center to sports fields of every variety, as well as a 7,000-square-foot custom concrete skate park, one of the only BMX tracks in the metro area, and a splash pad.

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Writer of ‘Never Been to Spain’ was as Oklahoma as it gets Randy Krehbiel // Tulsa World Magazine ‌ Well, I never been to heaven But I’ve been to Oklahoma Well, they tell me I was born there But I really don’t remember In Oklahoma, not Arizona What does it matter What does it matter — Hoyt Axton, “Never Been to Spain” Hoyt Axton was about as Oklahoma as it gets, even though he spent most of his life elsewhere.

Often described as a big, friendly bear of a man who turned out playful songs such as “Joy to the World” and acting performances such as Randall Peltzer in “Gremlins,” Axton had a darker side that battled addiction and produced Steppenwolf’s anguished “Pusher Man.”

As the third verse of his song “Never Been to Spain” suggests, Axton was born in Duncan in 1938 and spent his early years in Comanche. His father, John Axton, was a naval officer and high school football Axton coach; his mother, Mae Boren Axton, was a songwriter and publicist whose work included Elvis Presley’s first big hit, “Heartbreak Hotel.”

She was also the sister of Congressman Lyle Boren and the aunt of Oklahoma governor, U.S. senator and University of Oklahoma President David Boren.

Axton was a high school football star in Florida and briefly played for Oklahoma State University before enlisting in the Navy.

Like so many Oklahomans before him, Axton wound up in California, where he found work as an actor, singer and songwriter. He proved most successful at the last of those.

His first hit was the Kingston Trio’s 1963 recording of “Greenback Dollar,” but his biggest was Three Dog Night’s 1971 cover of “Joy to the World.”

Three Dog Night’s recording of “Never Been to Spain” was released the same year.

According to Axton, the third verse originally read “in Oklahoma, in a coma,” but that “in Oklahoma, not Arizona” was judged more palatable.

Hoyt Axton died in 1999.

The Keystone Ancient Forest is a place where forest ecology intertwines with human history. Over 80 different butterfly species call the Keystone Ancient Forest home, as do bobcat, deer, American Eagles, and migratory birds. The landscape is rich in biodiversity with 500 year-old cedars and 300 yearold post oak trees. “Old growth” Crosstimbers trees studied at the forest date back to Christopher Columbus, and hold vast amounts of atmospheric information trapped inside their trunks.

This virgin forest was also witness to Native Americans, Spanish Explorers, and early American travelers like Washington Irving, who passed by in the fall of 1832. The Keystone Ancient Forest has been preserved and protected from urban sprawl. This magnificent forest was always intended as an oasis for children, families, and travelers to learn more about Oklahoma’s unique Crosstimbers forest and our state’s history – and its preservation remains at the forefront of our mission. www.sandspringsok.org

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WICHITA MOUNTAINS Bob Doucette // Tulsa World Magazine

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straight shot down Interstate 44 and not far from Lawton is one of the few mountainous areas in the state, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Hiking, camping, wildlife viewing and rock climbing are among the favorite activities at this federally protected wildlife refuge.

Several easier hiking trails will take you through scenic portions of some of the country’s oldest mountains. In some places, you can see remnants of old mining claims, hidden caves and curious woodland called the “parallel forest,” where cedars were planted years ago in straight lines.

For the more adventurous, reserve a backcountry camping permit (tent only, and no fires allowed) and explore the wildest portion of the Wichitas. If you’re looking for a more comfortable camping option, reserve a space at the Doris Campground, which offers tent and RV sites.

Rock climbers can find anything from easy scrambles to expertonly routes in numerous spots in the range, including crags on Mount Scott, Elk Mountain and Crab Eyes.

As far as wildlife goes, keep an eye out for elk, deer, eagles, coyotes and bison, among other species that call this mountain range home.

The refuge is about 3½ hours southwest of Tulsa.

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Grab a burger at the Meers Store and Restaurant, just north of the refuge on Oklahoma 115. Huge burgers, pie and more will satiate appetites gained from a day of exploring.

Head to Medicine Park. Hang out at Lake Lawtonka, grab a bite to eat or check out some of this town’s stores and galleries. If you want to make more than a day of it, you can camp at the lake or stay at one of Medicine Park’s many rental cabins, most of which have a view of Mount Scott.

Stay at Quartz Mountain State Park lodge.

The park is on the western edge of the Wichitas and sits next to Lake Altus-Lugert near Lone Wolf.

You can get a room at the lodge or rent one of the park’s cabins while enjoying scenery of the Wichitas from another vantage.

COURTESY, LORI DUCKWORTH, OKLAHOMA TOURISM

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NATURAL FALLS Bob Doucette // Tulsa World Magazine Tucked away in the foothills of the Ozarks, Natural Falls State Park often ranks as one of the most scenic spots in Oklahoma.

The park’s namesake is a slender, 77-foot waterfall that cascades down a cliff face and into a pool below. You can view the falls from above or take a walkway down to the pool and see the falls from below.

Aside from that, this 120-acre park has a 4.5mile network of trails that winds throughout this lush, heavily wooded space. Some of the trails are easy, some are steep.

Hiking the park, you’ll get a healthy dose of thick broadleaf trees and tall lodgepole pines.

If you’ve seen the movie “Where the Red Fern Grows,” the park might look familiar: It was filmed here.

The park also has RV campsites (a few of which have full hook-ups) as well as tent sites.

If you’re looking for more unique accommodations, reserve one of the park’s five yurts — climate-controlled and equipped with a microwave oven, a small refrigerator and electrical hookups. Each yurt can sleep between four to six people.

Looking for more to do? Natural Falls State Park also has an 18-hole disc golf course, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground and on-site fishing.

The park is about two hours east of Tulsa on U.S. 412.

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Try your luck at the Cherokee Casino and Hotel in West Siloam Springs.

Are you into water sports? Head further east and paddle at the Siloam Springs Kayak Park.

Bring your mountain bike and drive to Bentonville, and see why it calls itself the “mountain biking capital of the world,” with numerous trail systems in and around the city.

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TALIMENA NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY Nicole Marshall Middleton // Tulsa World Magazine

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he Talimena National Scenic Byway is Oklahoma’s best-known scenic drive. It might even be called heavenly.

It’s 54 miles, with 40 miles of it in Oklahoma, and has 22 designated vistas. The byway stretches along Oklahoma 1 and Arkansas 88 from Talihina, Oklahoma, to Mena, Arkansas.

Drivers wind through the Ouachita National Forest with the Kiamichi Mountains as the backdrop.

The road dips and swirls along the ridgeline 2,000 feet over valley floors.

While the scenic byway gets a lot of attention in the fall for its striking foliage display, Talimena also makes a beautiful drive in spring. The surrounding forest comes alive with green as winter fades away.

Stop at some of the area’s most popular destinations, including Talimena State Park, the Ouachita National Forest and the Cedar Lake Recreation Area. The route is also rich with history. Of note, Deadman Vista was a site lawmen used to hang horse thieves in the 1800s. Horse Thief Springs, another vista, is where outlaws watered their mounts.

Without stopping, the entire drive takes a total of one hour and 10 minutes. Hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, horseback riding and more outdoor activities are available year-round.

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Less than 30 minutes out from Mena is Queen Wilhelmina State Park and Lodge at 3877 Highway 88 West, Mena, Arkansas. Originally built in 1898 for railroad passengers, Dutch investors named the lodge after Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

Pam’s Hateful Hussy Diner, 304 Dallas St., Talihina, is an icon in these parts. This friendly restaurant serves homestyle food made fresh daily.

In a former bootlegger’s hide-out, travelers find The Rock House at 52060 Blackjack Ridge Drive, Talihina. It offers fine dining an each table offers panoramic views of the Kiamichi Mountain Range, the Potato Hills and Buffalo Mountain.

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TALLGRASS PRAIRIE PRESERVE Michael Overall // Tulsa World Magazine

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he largest patch of native tallgrass left on earth, the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve sprawls across more than 39,000 acres of Osage County an hour and a half northwest of Tulsa.

The preserve offers mostly rough, unpaved roads and sparse amenities because the focus remains on conservation, not tourism. But it nonetheless attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year to enjoy the epic scenery, which can stretch for miles across the prairie.

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Bison are the most popular attraction, with more than 2,500 roaming free across the preserve. But the prairie is also home to more than 700 species of plants, more than 250 birds and 80 mammals.

Most visitors stick to a 15-mile road that leads from the main gate to the preserve headquarters and gift

shop, where a historic 1920 ranch bunkhouse offers public restrooms.

Along the way, the route passes four scenic turnouts, picnic locations, a self-guided nature walk and a twomile hiking trail.

Starting and ending in Pawhuska, the drive takes about two hours at a leisurely pace with time for stopping.

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TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

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Woolaroc Museum: Half an hour east of Pawhuska, the 3,700-acre estate was built in 1925 for Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company.

The 50,000-square-foot museum focuses on the cultural heritage of the early West, with artifacts from about 40 Native American tribes along with an impressive collection of Colt and Winchester firearms.

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Bartlesville Union Depot: Half an hour northeast of Pawhuska, the historic train station features the last remaining Santa Fe-type “2-10-2” steam locomotive. Built in 1903, engine No. 940 operated for a half century across Oklahoma and five other states.

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Osage Hills State Park: Twenty minutes north of Pawhuska, the park was an Osage tribal settlement, but today it offers one of the most convenient places to stay overnight while visiting the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

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LITTLE BLUE Jimmie Tramel // Tulsa World Magazine

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t’s impressive when water comes roaring down the rocks at the Little Blue Area at Grand Lake State Park near Disney.

Depending on how much water is flowing, the atmosphere can be serene or it can be powerful, with mist from the water peppering those who stand and watch from a distance.

Little Blue isn’t just a place for photo ops. It’s a bring-your-tentand-ice-chest area.

Camping spots are available on site and, hey, if the kids need something to do while you’re kicking back and relaxing, they can play in a creek that runs adjacent to the camping area. The creek provides welcome relief from the heat during summer months.

To the west of the swimming hole is where the water churns down

JIMMIE TRAMEL, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE

Depending on how much water is being unleashed, the spillway at Little Blue can be peaceful or roaring.

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the rocks. When there’s no water pouring down the hillside, visitors sometimes climb the rocks to go exploring. Campers and visitors bring rods and reels to go fishing below the spillway.

Little Blue is located about 65 miles northeast of Tulsa. Leashed pets are welcome, according to travelok.com, and the park is open 24 hours a day.

Stores are nearby in Langley and Disney for campers who need to stock up or replenish supplies.

If camping isn’t your thing, it’s at least worthwhile to show up for photo ops below the spillway.

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Hogan’s Off Road Park is located beside the neighboring dam spillway. The park gives off-roaders easy access to the range with about 5 square miles of trails and rock structures for rock crawlers.

John Sumner’s Big Meat Run has a 20-plus-year history in Disney.

Thousands of people head to the rocks below Pensacola Dam for an annual weekend of riding and fun.

People exploring the area can visit the Grand River Dam Authority Ecosystems and Education Center and book a tour of the Pensacola Dam.

Hear sounds from state parks on free album Nicole Marshall Middleton // Tulsa World Magazine

Track list

Dreaming of your getaway to one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful spaces?

The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department has an album that will take you there before you even get in the car.

In July 2020, they released “Oklahoma State Parks Soundscapes with Music,” a free album featuring ambient sounds from 12 Oklahoma State Parks accompanied by instrumental music.

The album is available for download at TravelOK.com/ Soundscapes. It is also stream-

1. Alabaster Caverns State Park 2. Beavers Bend State Park 3. Black Mesa State Park 4. Grand Lake State Park 5. Great Salt Plains State Park 6. Greenleaf State Park 7. Little Sahara State Park 8. Natural Falls State Park 9. Robbers Cave State Park 10. Roman Nose State Park 11. Sequoyah State Park 12. Talimena State Park

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ing on 32 platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Google Play Music, iHeart Radio, Pandora and Spotify.

“This album and the videos are a wonderful way to de-stress and spend a few minutes taking in Oklahoma’s natural wonders,” Oklahoma State Parks Director Kris Marek said.

This release also includes a set of YouTube videos that feature each track of the album accompanied by scenic video footage and images from each park. The

COURTESY, OKLAHOMA TOURISM & RECREATION DEPARTMENT

videos are available on the TravelOK YouTube channel at YouTube.com/TravelOK. The park sounds were recorded during the fall filming season by Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films.

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LITTLE SAHARA

ABOVE: Sunset is seen at Alabaster Caverns.

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

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Nicole Marshall Middleton // Tulsa World Magazine

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or a surreal experience that feels as if you have traveled across the globe, head west three hours to Little Sahara.

The name sort of says it all.

It’s a desert-like environment covered by sand dunes.

The main attractions at Little Sahara State Park, 101 Main St. (from U.S. 412, go 7 miles north on U.S. 281) in Waynoka, are dune buggy and ATV-riding across the sand dunes. Visitors can bring their own ATV or rent one off-site by a private vendor.

Little Sahara State Park has over 1,600 acres of sand dunes, ranging in height from 25 to 75 feet. The vast dunes have formed over time from terrace deposits, remnants of prehistoric times

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when the Cimarron River flowed over the entire area.

One of Little Sahara’s biggest events happens in the spring — but it might not be fit for everyone.

The Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt, held the first weekend after Easter, is April 23-24 this year.

The hunt custom dates back to the 1940s when area farmers had snakes attacking their livestock.

Over time, it became a festival.

But one of the best things you can do at Little Sahara is sit on top of a seven-story-tall sand dune and watch the glow of the western sunset growing brighter. Then you will know this unique little desert is truly pure Oklahoma.

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En route to Little Sahara from Tulsa, make a stop at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, 507 S. Fourth St., in Enid. The exhibits take visitors on a journey through history from life before and after the Land Run of 1893, to early settlers, oil and gas, the story of Enid and Phillips University.

Railroad Museum of Oklahoma, 702 N. Washington, Enid, named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, the museum houses one of the largest collections of railroad material in the United States.

Just north and west of Little Sahara is Alabaster Caverns State Park at 217036 Oklahoma 50A, Freedom. Explore one of the largest natural gypsum caves in the world.

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RED ROCK CANYON AND GLOSS MOUNTAIN

COURTESY, LORI DUCKWORTH, OKLAHOMA TOURISM

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Stacey Dickens // Tulsa World Magazine

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wo scenic examples of Oklahoma’s diverse topography feature striking red dirt formations — Red Rock Canyon Adventure Park in Hinton and Gloss Mountain State Park in Fairview.

The western Oklahoma parks, located about 90 minutes apart, have widely varying activities, but both areas are visually vibrant and family friendly.

Red Rock Canyon is a former state park that has been privately owned since 2018.

It’s a popular spot for rappelling, though visitors must bring their own ropes and gear. Other activities include fishing, hik-

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ing trails and swimming in a large pool with a climbing wall and slide. Camping enthusiasts can rough it in a tent, bring their RV or book a pop-up glamping tent for a hotel-like experience.

Gloss Mountain is a stunning landmark as well as a convenient roadside attraction for those traveling on U.S. 412. A trail of stairs up rocky Cathedral Mountain leads to the top of a scenic lookout spot. The land contains many shiny selenite crystals, which might account for some calling it “Glass Mountain.” There is no camping at Gloss, but visitors can picnic, walk around and view wildlife.

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At the Hinton Historical Museum and Parker House, 801 S. Broadway, one can see the progression of washing machines from the scrub board to the wringer washer, antique cars and bicycles. The Parker House contains local relics, including Oklahoma’s largest horse carriage collection and the nation’s second largest barbwire collection. Other exhibits include the state’s largest antique phone collection, American Indian items and pioneer items.

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If you’re looking for a sit-down meal near Gloss Mountain, take a quick jog south on U.S. 60 at Orienta to stop at El Maya Mexican Cuisine, 508 S. Main St., in Fairview. Online reviews praise the margaritas, salsa, fajitas and menu variety.

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Baseball fans won’t want to miss the Johnny Bench Museum, 202 W. Main St., in Binger. Memorabilia includes the former Cincinnati Reds star’s Gold Gloves, All-Star Game bats, trophies and more.

The museum is free to enter.

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Stacey Dickens // Tulsa World Magazine

GATHERING PLACE

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eaturing an array of native plants and wildlife, Gathering Place was designed to blend smoothly into the Tulsa landscape. The park’s rolling lawns, hills, walking trails, gardens and groves provide a variety of scenery.

Gathering Place, designed by Michael Van Valkenburg Associates, has a mix of ecological regions such as prairies, wetlands and forests.

Spring blooms at the park include dogwood, Lenten rose, hyacinth, daffodils, crocus, viburnum, winter jasmine, bleeding hearts, and many more.

Creativity also blooms at the park. Gathering Place has works by local artists as well as traveling displays, such as the prestigious Kinsey African American Art and History Collection.

Children can learn through play with the Art Start program.

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TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Gathering Place won Best City Park in the 2021 readers’ choice competition sponsored by USA Today.

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The popular River Parks trails run from 11th to 101st streets along the Arkansas River.

The Discovery Lab children’s museum opened earlier this year. The 57,000-square-foot facility has rotating exhibits.

Toss a disc at the Riverside disc golf course, 4100 Riverside Drive.

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TURNER FALLS Grace Wood // Tulsa World Magazine It’s hard to imagine a more idyllic summer getaway than a day spent at Turner Falls Park in Davis.

Located in the Arbuckle Mountains on 1,500 acres, the park is home to a 77-foot waterfall, with a natural swimming pool formed at its base. Another swimming hole, Blue Hole, has both a slide and a diving board for summertime fun. This park, however, is loved for much more than its swimming areas — guests can also enjoy hiking, camping, cabins, picnic areas and even RV sites with convenient hookups for overnight stays.

There are many unique features that make Turner Falls Park such an enjoyable place to explore. Wildlife such as whitetail deer, wild turkeys and more roam the park freely. For geology enthusiasts, the park is filled with natural wonders such as caves, conglomerate formations, limestone, granite, shale and limestone. What’s more, a historic castle constructed in 1930 is on the property for all to enjoy.

“There’s just a mystique about the park that people fall in love with when they come in because of its beauty,” said Cathi Neal, sales and service manager at Turner Falls Park. “It’s very cool to watch families come and have quality family time while being outdoors. Internet and phone service isn’t the greatest here, so people are actually interacting with each other and having a good time.”

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Turner Falls Park, managed by the city of Davis, is home to great swimming, one of Oklahoma’s largest waterfalls and is very popular with summer crowds.

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The Arbuckle Wilderness Park is a fun attraction located on over 200 acres and features hundreds of exotic animals, a house of reptiles and a petting zoo. Come feed the animals or drive through the park in the comfort of your car.

Found in nearby Sulphur, the Chickasaw Cultural Center allows guests to take a deep dive into Native American history and culture. Learn more about the Chickasaw people through performances, collections, exhibits and much more.

About 25 minutes away from the park in Pauls Valley, the Toy and Action Figure Museum is a roadside attraction dedicated to the art and sculpture of action figures. Thousands of rare, collectible action figures are on display.

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BLACK MESA Stacey Dickens // Tulsa World Magazine

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he key word for Black Mesa is “up” — as in going up and looking up.

During the day, one can hike to the highest point in Oklahoma at 4,973 feet above sea level. (For comparison, Tulsa’s elevation is 722 feet.) The 8.5-mile trail is in the remote Black Mesa Nature Preserve, which is run in conjunction with the state park, near Kenton (pop. 5). The preserve is home to animals such as mule deer, golden eagles, piñon jays and red-tailed hawks.

At night, sit back and take in an awe-inspiring display of the Milky Way. Black Mesa State Park offers some of the darkest skies on public land in the nation. Star-gazing enthusiasts flock here each August to watch the Perseid meteor shower.

Hundreds turn out each fall for the long-running Okie-Tex Star Party, hosted by the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club. The gathering takes place at Camp Billy Joe, just outside Kenton.

Other points of interest are Lake Carl Etling, which offers fishing for bass, bluegill sunfish, walleye and flathead catfish, and the Preston Monument that marks the meeting point of Oklahoma, Colorado and New Mexico. The area is rich in ancient history as well: Dinosaur footprints can be found at the preserve, which is named for black lava rock.

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The Kenton Museum, 100 E. Main St., Boise City, is in Oklahoma’s only city that operates on the Mountain time zone.

The museum houses artifacts such as settlers’ kitchen furnishings, antiques and household tools as well as dinosaur fossils.

The Cimarron Heritage Center, 1301 N. Cimarron Ave., Boise City, is a nonprofit organization formed to interpret and preserve the history of the area. The Cox house, designed by architect Bruce Goff, is the main entrance to the center.

No Man’s Land Beef Jerky headquarters, 1016 Main St., Boise City.

This business that was started in a momand-pop grocery store carries flavorful, “old style” slow-dried beef jerky in flavors such as mild, hot and black pepper.

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ROBBERS CAVE Randy Krehbiel // Tulsa World Magazine

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obbers Cave State Park gets its name from a void among some boulders where bad guys may have once hidden out, but it is in fact much more than that.

Located about 120 miles southeast of Tulsa in the Sans Bois Mountains, the 8,246-acre enclave has just about everything an outdoor enthusiast could want. Among the miles of mountain trails is one to fit just about any hiker’s level of endurance, and the three lakes are available for fishing and boating.

Campsites for everything from pup tents to RVs are available, as are group camps, cabins and a 20room lodge. Other accommodations include equestrian campsites and yurts.

Now, about that name.

There is some reason to think a little marketing may have been involved. The park was originally called Latimer State Park, for the county in which it was located, and occupied 120 acres donated by Wilburton newspaper publisher Carlton Weaver.

A Texas native, Weaver had been a delegate to Oklahoma’s constitutional convention in 1907 and was elected to the Legislature in 1930. Somehow, he managed to get himself chosen speaker of the House of Representatives in his one and only term.

Weaver, who died in 1947, is buried in the park.

By 1935, Latimer State Park had become Robbers Cave State Park.

The origins of the name, and the legends surrounding the cave itself, are murky.

The general narrative is that outlaw bands used the cave as far back as the American Civil War. Situated atop a steep rock slope, it is easily defended and somewhat hidden from view below.

The most popular legends have 56 Tulsa World Magazine

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

Rock formations and trails are seen at Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton.

both Belle Starr and the James Gang hiding out there, though there is no definitive proof either were ever there. A painting on one wall of a pony and a six-pointed star are thought to refer to Samuel “Pony” Starr, a rancher and relative by marriage of Belle Starr. The names “Jack Pone” and “Pat Casey,” who apparently were known as outlaws in territorial days, are carved near the cave. As late as the 1930s, George

“Pretty Boy” Floyd and his associates were known to hide in the area, although not necessarily in the cave.

Perhaps the best evidence that the park was once an outlaw hideout was found in 1952, not at the cave but less than a mile away in a stream bed. There, a Boy Scout camp supervisor and his wife, while seining for minnows, discovered more than 180 gold wedding bands, presumably the loot from a long-forgotten robbery.

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Don’t miss 



COURTESY, DISCOVER OKLAHOMA

ABOVE: Simply Country Ranch has numerous activities planned for 2022.

RIGHT: Belle Starr, pictured with fellow outlaw Blue Duck, lived in a cabin not far from Robbers Cave.

COURTESY, OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BELOW: Rock formations and trails are found at Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton.

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Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen, 2300 Park Cabins Road, Wilburton. Swadley’s features southern comfort dishes and brought its Foggy Bottom Kitchen concept to several state parks, including Robbers Cave.

The concept behind the ranch Simply Country Ranch just north of McAlester is to educate people on what it is really like to work on a farm or ranch. There is also a petting zoo with sheep, goats, one alpaca and donkeys, and they hold birthday parties, too.

Lovera’s Famous Italian Market, 95 W. Sixth St., Krebs, is a small Italian-style market that has been around since 1946. It’s where you’ll find hand-made artisan cheeses and sausages.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

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STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

TULSA’S SKYLINE Michael Overall // Tulsa World Magazine

T

he Tulsa skyline dates more or less to the mid-1910s with the construction of three tall structures in three consecutive years.

First came the Gothic spires of Holy Family Cathedral, dedicated on April 1, 1914. Reaching 251 feet at Eighth Street and Boulder Avenue, it remained the tallest building in Tulsa until the Mayo Hotel opened nine years later.

Then came Exchange National Bank, a forerunner of today’s Bank of Oklahoma, which built Tulsa’s first “skyscraper” in 1917. Originally 13 stories, it underwent several expansions over the years before reaching a total height of 400 feet with a lighted cupola on the roof. Today it is known as the 320 South Boston Building.

Finally, Cosden Oil opened a 15-story corporate headquarters in 1918 at Fourth Street and Boston, where a major expansion increased it to 36 stories in 1984 and added one the skyline’s most recognizable

58 Tulsa World Magazine

Tulsa has more than two dozen buildings that stand more than 200 feet tall.

Don’t miss 

 COURTESY, TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Exchange Bank Building (the large, tall building on the right) was the tallest commercial building in Oklahoma until the Bank of Oklahoma Tower opened.

features — the green-copper roof of what is now called the Mid-Continent Tower.

Tulsa can boast of having one of the most picturesque skylines, with several unmistakable landmarks that make the city unique, from the red and green tiles on the Philtower roof to the “hypodermic needle” shape of the University Club condos.

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One particularly nice view comes while looking west on Sixth Street from Utica Avenue, where the road seems to head straight toward a pair of skyscrapers, the Mid-Continent and First Place Tower. It’s an angle more Tulsans have come to appreciate recently as Sixth and Utica has become a popular craft beer district.

From the south, Maple Park offers one of the most dramatic views of the skyline with Boston Avenue Methodist Church’s spectacular art deco bell tower in the foreground.

Standpipe Hill offers one of the best views from the north. Now part of Oklahoma State University’s Tulsa campus, the hill served as the location of the city’s first water tower and has been a popular place to photograph the downtown area since the late 1800s.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Tulsa’s

2022 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

economic windfall Major golf tournament expected to be a boon for city BILL HAISTEN Tulsa World Magazine

W

hen Tulsa hosts a weekend of NCAA Tournament basketball games, the result is an economic impact of about $15 million.

The Chili Bowl races have never been adequately celebrated as an

annual asset for the Tulsa economy.

The week-long Chili Bowl typically generates $30 million for local hotels, restaurants and pubs.

Chili Bowl founder Emmett Hahn is a Tulsa hero for having said no to huge-money offers to move his event to larger markets.

While March Madness basketball and the Chili Bowl are high-profile, lucrative events for Tulsa, majorchampionship golf is on an altogether different level of revenue generation.

For the eighth time since 1958,

Southern Hills Country Club soon will be the site of a professional golf major championship — the PGA Championship, scheduled for May 19-22.

When the 2001 U.S. Open was played in Tulsa, there was an impact of $65 million on the Tulsa economy.

When Tiger Woods prevailed in the 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, there was a $70 million impact.

Fifteen years later, the PGA Championship is a greater production in every sense. Nearly every inch of Southern Hills’ 320-acre property will be used somehow. For each of the championship rounds (Thursday through Sunday), a crowd of 45,000 is expected.

A spectacle of this magnitude becomes even more prestigious as the extremely popular Phil Mickelson comes in as the defending champion.

The PGA Championship field always includes a greater percentage of the

Southern Hills Country Club hosted the Senior PGA Championship last May. TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

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Tulsa World Magazine 59

2022 PGA Championship

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

The PGA trophies sit on a tee box after a tournament announcement at Southern Hills Country Club in 2017.

Where: Southern Hills Country Club.

Practice rounds: May 16-18.

Tickets available at pgachampionship.com.

Championship rounds: May 19-22. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday rounds are sold out. Opening-round Thursday tickets are available at pgachampionship.com.

Defending champion: At Kiawah Island, South Carolina, Phil Mickelson was the 2021 PGA Championship winner. At 50, he defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Brooks Koepka by two shots, becoming the oldest winner of a major championship.

History: The 2022 PGA Championship will be the eighth men’s professional major championship hosted by Southern Hills. Previous majors, with each winner in parentheses: 1958 U.S. Open (Tommy Bolt), 1970 PGA Championship (Dave Stockton), 1977 U.S. Open (Hubert Green), 1982 PGA Championship (Raymond Floyd), 1994 PGA Championship (Nick Price), 2001 U.S. Open (Retief Goosen), 2007 PGA Championship (Tiger Woods).

“We got tremendous help from the corporate community. I think that was important in the (PGA of America’s) decision-making,” Southern Hills Country Club General Manager Nick Sidorakis said.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

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Southern Hills PGA Championship timeline May 30, 2017: During a news conference at Southern Hills Country Club, PGA of America officials announce that the club would host the 2021 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship and a PGA Championship at some point no later than 2030.

June 6, 2019: During a dedication event, Southern Hills officials and members celebrate a 10-month, $11 million renovation of the club’s championship golf course.

CHRIS CARLSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

Phil Mickelson celebrates after winning the final round at the PGA Championship golf tournament on the Ocean Course on May 23 in Kiawah Island, S.C.

world’s top 100 players than any of the other major championships: the Masters, the U.S. Open and the British Open.

Tulsa Regional Tourism estimates the 2022 PGA Championship will pump $143.5 million into the city’s economy. Since the 2007 PGA Championship, the money component for Tulsa has more than doubled.

What an incredibly timely blessing for Tulsa hotels and restaurants still attempting to recover from the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown.

The BOK Center is the site of the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championship and, a Tulsa Regional Tourism spokesman said, should result in a $100 million impact for the local economy.

After so many sobering surprises in 2020, Tulsa is about to benefit from an amazing, $143.5 million surprise.

Southern Hills hadn’t been scheduled for another PGA Championship until 2030. The 2022 PGA Championship had been given to a Donald Trumpowned property in New Jersey.

On Jan. 6, 2021, supporters of thenPresident Trump stormed into the U.S. Capitol. Concerned that the focus of the 2022 PGA Championship might be as much on Trump politics as golf, the PGA of America decided to strip the tournament from the Trump club.

TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

May 12, 2020: Southern Hills officials hope that Tulsa is selected for hosting the 2025 PGA Championship, but a PGA of America news release makes it official. Tulsa is designated the host city for the 2030 PGA Championship.

Jan. 10, 2021: In response to the Jan. 6 incident involving then-President Donald Trump supporters at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the PGA of America announces that the 2022 PGA Championship had been stripped from the Trump National club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Phil Mickelson was only in his fourth year as a pro when he came to play in the Tour Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in 1996. Mickelson comes in as the defending champion in 2022.

The PGA of America examined replacement options from coast to coast, but Tulsa seemed to have an immediate advantage because PGA of America personnel already were at Southern Hills, preparing the course and the

Jan. 25, 2021: In part because PGA of America officials already were in Tulsa, preparing for the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship that would be played in May, the PGA of America awards the 2022 PGA Championship to Southern Hills. The deal replaces the contract for the 2030 tournament.

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TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Tiger Woods shot a final-round 69 on a blistering Sunday in 2007 at Southern Hills Country Club to win the PGA Championship.

club for the senior tournament.

Two weeks after the Capitol debacle, the PGA of America announced Tulsa as the 2022 host city. Instead of waiting nearly a decade for another major championship, Tulsa would have to wait only a few months.

“We felt we had a good chance, but, of course, it’s not our decision,” Southern Hills General Manager Nick Sidorakis said. “We did everything we could to make it difficult for the PGA not to select us.

“We got tremendous help from the corporate community. I think that was important in the (PGA of America’s) decision-making.”

The response to the 2022 Tulsa ticket campaign was beyond what the PGA of America has seen for other recent PGA Championships. Before Christmas, all of Southern Hills’ hospitality venues had been sold out and all Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets were gone.

For the first time, a Southern Hillshosted PGA Championship takes place in the month of May. Each of Tulsa’s previous four PGA Championships occurred in August, and the 2007 tournament – with afternoon temperatures of 101, 99, 99 and 102 degrees – was 62 Tulsa World Magazine

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For the first time, a Southern Hills-hosted PGA Championship takes place in the month of May, rather than during the scorching temperatures of August.

the hottest major championship of all time.

While the PGA Championship has switched to May in 2018, the 2020 championship was played in August because of the coronavirus effect on the PGA Tour schedule. When the Senior PGA Championship was played

here during the final week of May 2021, the conditions were unseasonably and beautifully cool.

“It’s better to be in 80 degrees than 105 degrees,” Sidorakis said. “More comfortable, for sure, and easier to walk the golf course in that type of temperature.”

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TULSA TRAILBLAZERS

Tulsa’s Southern Hills Country Club was built during the depths of the Depression on a dairy farm belonging to oilman Waite Phillips.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE

OIL MAGNATE HELPED START

SOUTHERN HILLS Michael Overall // Tulsa World Magazine

Around the very end of 1934 or the very beginning of 1935, William K. Warren Sr. sat down in Waite Phillips’ office to talk about plans for 300 acres of rolling hills south of Tulsa, where a group of Tulsa businessmen wanted to put a golf course.

Ever since that conversation, the two of them have gotten a lot of credit for starting Southern Hills Country Club — Warren as the visionary who championed the idea, Phillips as Canary the philanthropist who donated the land.

But there was a third person sitting in Phillips’ office that day.

Cecil Canary was also a Tulsa oil magnate, although not as fabulously rich or famous as the other two, who were among the most prominent business TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

tycoons in the Oil Capital of the World.

His family owned several ranches across southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma, where extensive oil leases added to the fortune they had already accumulated from cattle operations. Canary went into the oil business himself in 1915, just three years after graduating from high school.

Along with Warren and several other Tulsa businesses, Canary had promoted a plan to merge downtown’s ritzy Tulsa Club with the Tulsa Country Club to give members all the amenities of both clubs in one location.

When that scheme fell apart in late 1934, they hatched a plan to create a whole new club. And Warren took Canary with him to ask Phillips about the land, where there had already been talk of putting in a golf course.

Phillips, however, scoffed at the idea.

Perhaps thinking of the toll the Great

Depression had taken on Tulsa’s oil economy, he pointed to a stack of files on his desk.

“Every paper you see contains a request for money,” Phillips said, explaining that some were asking him to support very worthy causes. “Yours is ridiculous!”

Nonetheless, he agreed to provide the land if Warren and Canary could raise sufficient funds to build the country club. They had two weeks to secure $1,000 pledges from at least 150 Tulsans.

Ultimately, they fell short of the goal and found only 140 donors. But Phillips thought it was close enough and donated the land anyway.

The first 29 country club members teed off for the first time at Southern Hills on May 23, 1936.

They had Canary to thank for it as much as anybody.

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NEW TRAILS COME TO TURKEY MOUNTAIN

Molly Bixler and Ranger are reflected in a pond as they hike on a trail at Turkey Mountain.

64 Tulsa World Magazine

MIKE SIMONS PHOTOS, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

Bob Doucette // Tulsa World Magazine ‌

S

pring is going to bring new life to the woodlands at Turkey Mountain, but that’s not the only thing that will emerge as warmer months arrive.

The Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness trail system is undergoing an upgrade, and some of the new trails are already open.

The River Parks Authority, working with Progressive Trail Designs to implement the Turkey Mountain Master Plan, has already opened 2 miles of new trails.

That stretch of singletrack makes for excellent hiking and running, but also provides something long sought at the park: a welcoming stretch of trail for all levels of mountain bikers.

Turkey Mountain is a mountain biking favorite, but most of its trails aren’t exactly beginner-friendly. Many of the challenging trails will remain, but new stretches of trail will open the park to beginners while providing fun features — jumps, bumps and switchTULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

backs — that will give riders a whole new experience at Turkey Mountain.

More work is underway. By June, a total of 6 miles of new trails will be open and another 6 on top of that by the end of July.

There will be periodic trail closures as additional work is done (a major facelift of the trails leading from the lower parking lot to the top is expected to begin in July), but plenty of other routes will remain open to explore.

What the new trails won’t change is the basic nature of Turkey Mountain. Its trails wind through blackjack oak, cedar and a colorful array of undergrowth. Deer, armadillos, various reptiles and more can be seen on any given day on routes that pass through meadows, navigate around ponds and dive into woodlands. And you can still see some of Turkey Mountain’s more industrial past, as the remains of 1920s oil boom well sites dot the park.

While you’re awaiting the upgrades at Turkey Mountain, there are a number of other places and events to watch this spring. A few: If you’re looking to find other places for mountain biking, check out the Claremore Lake bike trails. Closer to home, recent renovations at Lubell Park have turned it into the newest hotspot to ride.

If mountain biking is not your thing, you can hike and run at both places.

Interested in getting on the water?

Paddle sports are growing more popular, and there are plenty of places nearby to give it a try. Some favorite spots for kayakers: Greenleaf State Park near Braggs, or a number of spots on the Illinois River near Tahlequah: Peyton’s Place, Eagle Bluff, Diamondhead and Arrowhead resorts.

Races more of your thing? Ironman Tulsa was a big hit last year, and it returns May 22. Watch athletes swim, ride and run a marathon on courses that wind their way through Keystone Lake, traverse three counties and finally finish in downtown Tulsa. Think you have what it takes to become an Ironman? Check the registration site and sign up.

One of the city’s biggest sporting events returns June 10-12 when the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough cycling races come to town. See some of the sport’s elites ride through challenging tracks downtown, or join Tulsa’s biggest block party on the last day of the event at the Riverside Criterion, also known as Cry Baby Hill.

Come to watch, sign up to compete, or enjoy the more leisurely Townie Ride that weekend.

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TOP: Paddle sports are growing more popular, and there are plenty of places nearby to give it a try.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE ‌

MIDDLE: Triathletes swim in Keystone Lake while competing in the Ironman Tulsa North American Championship in 2021. The event returns in May. IAN MAULE, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

BOTTOM: Ironman Tulsa 2021 competitors took to the back roads around Sand Springs for the early miles of the event’s cycling portion.

SAND SPRINGS LEADER FILE‌

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THE MOMENT

Abandoned town MIKE SIMONS // Tulsa World Magazine

Oklahoma is filled with beautiful, wide open spaces. In Picher, the wide open space isn’t beautiful. As you drive into the abandoned town, the first things you see are the large piles of chat, made of zinc and lead mining waste. Neighborhood streets are still there, but almost all that remains are foundations. A few structures remain, mostly the homes of residents who refused to sell out and be relocated.

In some homes, clothes still hang in the closet. In others, baby dolls lie on the floor as if the residents just got up and walked out one day. Near the old downtown area is the skeleton of a baseball field. The dugouts are collapsing. Out the window, instead of seeing kids playing and parents cheering them on, weeds grow out of the pavement and climb the backstop.

A large chat pile looms in the distance. The federal government gave up after years of trying to save the town and clean it up.

It was torn down in 2011.

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Tulsa World Magazine 67

RENDERING BY BRIAN HAVENER/OLSON KUNDIG‌

The Archive Wall is a 75-foot-long “cabinet of curiosities” that houses a rotating, evolving display showcasing the depth and breadth of items in the Bob Dylan Archives collection.

Bob Dylan Center readies for opening James D. Watts Jr. // Tulsa World Magazine ‌ “And something is happening and you don’t know what it is/Do you, Mr. Jones?”

— “Ballad of a Thin Man,” Bob Dylan Even the enigmatic Mr. Jones would be aware that something is definitely happening near the corner of Reconciliation Way and Cincinnati Avenue, although exactly what it is won’t be revealed until May 10.

The Bob Dylan Center, located at 116 E. Reconciliation Way, will be the 68 Tulsa World Magazine

COURTESY, DANNY CLINCH‌

Bob Dylan is scheduled to return to Tulsa on April 13 to perform at the Tulsa Theatre.

permanent home to more than 100,000 objects — handwritten lyrics, paintings and drawings, rare audio recordings, never-before-seen footage of live performances, musical instruments, even items of clothing — that span the more than 60 years that the man born Robert Allen Zimmerman has been an undeniable force in American music and culture.

The center, designed by the architectural and exhibit design firm

Olson Kundig, led by design principal Alan Maskin, will feature cutting-edge, immersive technology in a multimedia environment that is designed to be as impressive and revealing to visitors new to Dylan’s work as it will be to longtime fans and aficionados.

Most of the items in the Bob Dylan Archives will be available to be perused only by qualified scholars. The purpose of the center is to provide the public with informative, entertaining and TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

ever-changing glimpses into the unique treasures the Bob Dylan Archives contains.

It was enough to prompt the Smithsonian Magazine to include the Bob Dylan Center in its list of “The Most Anticipated Museum Openings of 2022.”

Among the planned exhibits for the Bob Dylan Center are: Ongoing curated display of items that illuminate the depth and breadth of the Bob Dylan Archives collection.

A re-creation of the kind of recording studio environment where Dylan would lay down such classic albums as “Blonde on Blonde” and “Bringing it All Back Home.”

The Columbia Records Gallery, which will provide an in-depth look at the creation, performance and production of timeless Dylan songs such as “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Tangled Up in Blue” and “Chimes of Freedom.”

A screening room that will showcase Dylan-related scripted films, documentaries and concert performances, including never-before-seen material.

A multimedia timeline of Dylan’s life from his early years in Minnesota through the present day, written by award-winning historian Sean Wilentz.

“The focus of the Bob Dylan Center is on this idea of restless creativity in the creative process,” Steve Higgins, managing director of the American Song Archives, which oversees the center, told the Tulsa World. “It’s really encompassing of all genres and types of artists, with Bob Dylan the thread that runs through the whole thing.”

That was the idea behind the first public display of items from the Bob Dylan Archives — a collection

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RENDERING BY BRIAN HAVENER/OLSON KUNDIG‌

The center, designed by the award-winning firm of Olson Kundig, will feature thematic displays such as The Six Songs exhibit, housed in the Columbia Records Gallery.

of portraits Dylan had painted over the years, that were displayed at the Gilcrease Museum in May 2019, under the title “Bob Dylan: Face Value and Beyond.”

“It might seem like something of a curve ball to have an exhibit built around a series of paintings,” Michael Chaiken, curator of the Bob Dylan Archives and the “Face Value” exhibit, said in the Tulsa World interview. “But it’s really a kind of sneaky way to show what the archive truly is — something that showcases what a truly multifaceted artist Bob Dylan is.

“He’s best known for his music, but Dylan is also a writer of prose, a filmmaker, and someone who has been involved in the visual arts for decades,” Chaiken said. “This show is an opportunity to explore all those different avenues of Dylan’s creativity.”

American Song Archives is an entity of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which purchased the Bob Dylan Archive in partnership with the University of Tulsa in 2016. It also

oversees Tulsa’s Woody Guthrie Center.

When it was announced that the Kaiser Foundation and TU had purchased Dylan’s archives — a collection of which few people were aware at the time — one reason Dylan agreed to the deal was that his archive would share space in the same complex that houses the archives of Woody Guthrie, the Oklahoma-born songwriter and troubadour who was one of Dylan’s earliest influences.

In a statement released at the time, Dylan said: “I’m glad that my archives, which have been collected all these years, have finally found a home and are to be included with the works of Woody Guthrie and especially alongside all the valuable artifacts from the Native American Nations. To me, it makes a lot of sense, and it’s a great honor.”

The acquisition gained even greater importance when, later that year, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Since the announcement of Dylan’s archives finding a permanent home in Tulsa, Dylan has regularly included Tulsa in his tours. He’s scheduled to return to Tulsa on April 13, when his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour comes to the Tulsa Theatre.

As to whether Dylan himself will return to Tulsa for the opening of the Bob Dylan Center... well, that answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.

BELOW: The Bob Dylan Center’s twostory facade will feature a mural of a 1966 photograph of Dylan taken by renowned photographer Jerry Schatzberg.

COURTESY, RYAN BOTTS, OLSON KUNDIG‌

Tulsa World Magazine 69

Brookside’s building boom resulted in many local art deco-designed landmarks that are still standing today, including the Brook Theatre (now The Brook Restaurant and Bar).

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Restless

RIBBON Vibrant strip has flourished, evolved through the years

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T

Judy Allen // For Tulsa World Magazine‌

ulsa’s Brookside District — also known as “the restless ribbon” — has been bustling for several decades, but it has grown into a destination all in itself in the past few years.

Brookside began as a part of Muscogee land just to the south of Tulsa. The land was granted to the Muscogee Nation in 1824, and the Perryman family was one of the first

families to settle in this area that was once cattle country. The first post office was erected in 1882 at the home of George Perryman near what is now 41st and Trenton — a marker stands at this site today.

The “Brookside” name is said to have been coined by Guy Scroggs, who named his store “Brookside Drug” when it opened back in 1940, almost a century later. The “brook” in the name was presumed to refer TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

Waffles with strawberries and bananas, French toast and the Eye Opener omelet are offerings at Brookside by Day. It has been in business since 1991.

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

to Crow Creek, which flows through the area.

Brookside flourished as an upand-coming residential area “out in the country.” Gorgeous homes were built in the 1920s as Tulsa expanded south from downtown during its oil boom when the city became known as the “Oil Capital of the World.” In the 1920s and 1930s, more homes were found along Peoria than businesses. In its heyday during the early 1940s, the area was known as one of Tulsa’s best districts to live and play, with great shops, many churches, and good schools. In the 1950s, businesses began popping up along the street.

Brookside’s building boom resulted in many local art deco-designed landmarks that are still standing today, including the Brook Theatre (now The Brook Restaurant and Bar), Van’s Hamburgers opened in the 1950s (now Claude’s Hamburgers), the Lewis Meyer Book Store (now incorporated into the corner area of The Brook Restaurant), and the Brookside Broadcast Center (now KJRH TV station).

During the 1950s, Brookside became the place for area high school students to gather with friends, cruising the most happening spot of the “Restless Ribbon,” around and through the old Pennington’s Drive-In at 42nd Street and Peoria.

Currently, Brookside is the closest Tulsa entertainment district to the Gathering Place, a nationally recognized, award-winning park and recreation area, where kids continue to cruise on scooters, bikes and skateboards. The historic shopping, dining and entertainment district is easy to navigate. Peoria Avenue TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Café Ole, which opened in 1987, became a favorite place in Brookside.

is still the main drag, running from 31st Street down to 51st Street and Interstate 44, but the Brookside area spreads west to Riverside Drive and east to Lewis Avenue. Park on Peoria Avenue and walk the street, taking in the abundance of restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and entertainment venues, in addition to the historic art deco landmarks.

One former business, Dunwell Cleaners, a family-run business for four generations, is now In The Raw sushi restaurant (the Dunwell roll pays homage to the former business).

Speaking of food, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, there is something delicious to be had in Brookside. From pancake breakfasts

to five-star dining, the options are many. Blue Moon Bakery is popular for house-made pastries and their famous chilaquiles. Brookside by Day has had customers flocking in for family-friendly offerings since 1991.

For grab-and-go breakfast, snag a bagel sandwich (and amazing cookies) at the newly rebranded New York Bagel Cafe or a donut at The Donut Hole.

Two newer possibilities include Mondo’s Italian Restaurant, which moved into a more prominent, brand new spot, and Justin Thompson Restaurant Group’s Freya: Nordic Kitchen in the space Mondo’s left behind. For a true taste of history, grab a patio table at Brookside’s longest-lived business, Weber’s Root Beer Stand, which has graced Peoria with cheeseburgers and frosty mugs of root beer since 1933.

Fans of Elmer’s Barbecue, which closed in the spring of 2021, are thrilled to hear that it moved up the street in the spot formerly home to Tors Country Pub. And no visit to Brookside would be complete without a stop at Lambrusco’z To Go. Nancy Bruce and company have been turning out fantastic deli sandwiches, prepared foods and baked goods since 1985 (she moved the popular deli to Brookside in 2000).

“We had always wanted to be on Brookside,” Bruce said. “We’ll be celebrating 37 years in business this May.” For dining options, Center 1 is home to several of the best restaurants in town.

Oren, Doc’s Food & Wine, Bin 35 Bistro, Café Ole, Ole’ Vine, KEO, Blue Moon, Pure Food & Juice and Foolish Things Bar & Biscuit, all packed into the two crisp and clean, white-painted blocks in the heart of the Brookside district.

Walk off the meals (or just spoil yourself) by visiting some of Brookside’s Tulsa World Magazine 71

Local boutiques such as Ribbons share the neighborhood with popular national chains.

STEPHEN PINGRY, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

unique shopping destinations. The Brookside District is one of Tulsa’s premier shopping areas and is home to dozens of stores, from locally owned boutiques to popular national chain stores. The few blocks on the north end of the Brookside Strip are home to some of the best shopping around.

Local boutiques such as Abersons, Ribbons, Stash, Ida Red, Knit Stars Flagship Yarn Store and Wildflower Market share the neighborhood with popular national chains, including Urban Outfitters, Lululemon and Warby Parker, just to TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE ‌PHOTOS name a few.

For a true taste of history, grab a patio table at Brookside’s longest-lived The mother of Ribbusiness, Weber’s Root Beer Stand, which has operated since 1933. bons’ current co-owner, Lisa Delametter, opened the clothing and gift off that lunch at Pure Barre, Something to keep in mind if you boutique with three of her barre3 or The Yoga Room.

Or plan to visit the Brookside area, Spaghetti girlfriends back in 1985. take a leisurely stroll down especially if coming from north of 31st and meatballs “We have watched our one of the westerly side Street: Both lanes of traffic on Peoria is a staple dish at area change and grow streets toward the River over Crow Creek at East 32nd Street Mondo’s Ristorante in unbelievable ways,” Parks trail or the Gathering will be closed to replace the bridge.

Italiano, which recently moved to a more Delametter remarked Place.

Bridge construction is expected to be prominent, brand about Brookside. “It still For those needing to run completed in the summer of 2022, new spot. has such a neighborhood grocery errands, Brookside so until then, use the recommended vibe — we know the other has you covered. It’s a grocery alternate routes: Riverside Drive and store owners, we know our store hotbed, home to neighboring Lewis Avenue. customers, and we all support each Reasor’s and Whole Foods, in addition For more information, visit the other.” to a Walmart Neighborhood Market Brookside Business Association’s If shopping isn’t in the cards, burn and Tulsa’s only Trader Joe’s outpost. website: brooksidetheplacetobe.com 72 Tulsa World Magazine

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ASK THE EXPERT

Tulsa Tech offers self-paced programs with FLEX Expert says more health class options coming soon

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ulsa Tech Adult Career Development offers continuing education classes to help employers and employees grow in their healthcare careers. Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen the need for healthcare workers nationwide and here in Tulsa.

One way Tulsa Tech is meeting the need is a program called FLEX. Through a robust offering of classes, working adults can refresh or develop skills to grow their career even further.

“Our FLEX lab is a great resource for working healthcare professionals to train in new skills and still work in the field,” said Ann Wheeler, Instructional Coordinator for Adult Career Development.

The lab inside the Health Sciences Center on the Lemley Memorial Campus offers students the opportunity to train in 16 different health courses.

Open weekly Tuesday through Thursday from 10am2pm and 3pm-7pm, as well as two Saturdays per month from 8am-12pm, the FLEX program is designed with working professionals in mind to be able to enroll when it fits their schedule.

“Our FLEX lab is a great resource for working healthcare professionals to train in new skills and still work in the field,” Wheeler said.

“When a student is ready or needs training, the FLEX lab course is open for them. They don’t have to wait for an entry point into a course that we’ve scheduled,” Wheeler said. “FLEX lab courses utilize a curriculum that is designed to support individual self-paced study.”

At least one qualified instructor, who is a registered nurse, is on campus in the classroom to support and answer questions from each of the students. In addition, Tulsa Tech offers hands-on lab skills sessions, which are scheduled by TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

ANN WHEELER Tulsa Tech

Email us your questions at expert@tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

the department and listed in the catalog.

“If they’re taking a FLEX course that has a skills lab component, they will select the date. We try to offer lots of different dates to be more convenient around student schedules,” Wheeler said.

Students schedule time in the FLEX lab prior to completing the computer-based portion of the curriculum.

Tulsa Tech is planning to add another FLEX classroom with additional computers to accommodate the anticipated need for healthcare workers across the region.

“We know that health care is always a need. Tulsa Tech also offers courses that are refresher skills, such as customer service and safety,” Wheeler said.

“That will increase our ability to offer not only more health programming, but also increase that flexibility in scheduling options for our students,” Wheeler added. “We have some programs that are coursework that could be a new career for someone. They could work toward the educational requirements for a particular certification.”

Tulsa Tech also offers a variety of continuing education courses that will help people in careers to keep their position.

“We know that health care is always a need. Tulsa Tech also offers courses that are refresher skills, such as customer service and safety,” Wheeler said.

As far as out-of-pocket costs, Tulsa Tech is an affordable option. To find FLEX lab courses, check out the Tulsa Tech site, tulsatech.edu, and click on Adult Part-Time Classes.

“We’re excited to provide this opportunity to our community.”

For more information, visit tulsatech.edu or call 918-828-5000.

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ASK THE EXPERT

PENNY CARNINO Director of Operations Grigsby’s Carpet, Tile & Hardwood

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Grigsby’s keeps vinyl floor options in stock Expert offers ways to avoid backorder frustrations

enny Carnino, director of operations at Grigsby’s Carpet, Tile & Hardwood, recently returned from the floor covering market show in Las Vegas. She has brought back with her to Tulsa new introductions and more knowledge of what’s trending in the world of flooring.

Whether you’re going for a mid-century modern look or minimalist designs, Grigsby’s flooring will take care of you for your next home project.

“As far as carpet goes, color trends—I saw a lot more blues this year. Still neutrals, but all in the new lines that were coming out, they all had blues in them as far as options,” Carnino said. “We always keep carpet in stock and the colors that we keep are all in that same family, things that lend themselves to neutrals and/or grays.”

She says that hardwoods and luxury vinyls are still trending neutral and lighter instead of darker.

Grigsby’s keeps three or four luxury vinyl planks in stock: one that leans more gray, two that are more farmhouselooking neutral and one that is more of a brown tone for people who prefer the hardwood look.

“There for a while, especially in the luxury vinyl, things were going pretty gray. Those have softened out to neutrals instead of leaning so gray,” she said.

The innovation and style of the luxury vinyl plank category has just increased over the years due to popularity, she said.

“Meanwhile, in the last 5 to 7 years, the sheet vinyl category has become a lot less popular,” Carnino said. “So much so, it’s practically gone away.”

If you’re spring cleaning or remodeling, flooring might be one of the final thoughts on the list when it comes to updates because it pulls the space together, but Carnino says that it’s important to move up flooring on the priority list. Due to the supply issues, special orders take bit longer to ship.

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“It’s just advisable for anyone that’s thinking about a remodel to be sure to pick out their flooring early in that process so you don’t hang yourself up waiting. Go ahead, make your choice, decide, get it ordered.”

She says that it becomes a searching game when people can’t wait for a specific pattern or type and container freight has increased over the last year.

“It’s so frustrating to have to wait for product when you are ready. Most of it comes from overseas. Those products have been more difficult to get with all of the freight issues that the manufacturers have been having. Getting them through customs, getting them through the ports, we have so many back-order dates. When you find something in stock, it’s awesome,” she said. “I know it’s crazy for builders because for them, it’s not only for flooring but everything in the house.”

“It’s just advisable for anyone that’s thinking about a remodel to be sure to pick out their flooring early in that process so you don’t hang yourself up waiting. Go ahead, make your choice, decide, get it ordered,” Carnino said.

The carpet mills, which are in the region, have some backorders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mills have had trouble hiring employees, she says, but the supply situation is slowly on the up and up.

“The majority of the people that we get tile from have warehouses here locally. A lot of it we can get fairly quick.

There are more American-made luxury planks. They are converting some places and building more plants in the Georgia area. At least we won’t have to worry about the overseas freight component any longer,” she said.

Grigsby’s will install flooring to fit your lifestyle in every space of your home, inside or outside.

For more information, visit Grigsby’s showroom located at 4417 S. Sheridan Rd., go online at grigsbys.com or call 918-627-6996.

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Happy grills work hard for you all summer while you entertain!

Head Country expert gives tips from lessons learned

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othing puts a winter to bed quite like a meal hot off the backyard grill. We’re all eager to get outside, pull off the grill covers, and get cooking, but first things first. Let’s clean the grill, revisit some grilling and BBQ basics, and nix any intimidation and guesswork.

First, let’s get the right tools handy.

Every outdoor cook needs a good thermometer. We can’t do without our instant-read ones. We love our heat-proof gloves—they make pulling pork easy, even when it’s still steaming—and a chimney starter comes in handy for charcoal grilling.

Choose food flippers that you can handle easily. There’s no need for the oversized grill-kit versions. You’ll want to have plenty of aluminum foil, a large serrated knife, and a smaller paring-style knife for trimming meats. A cooler is the perfect place to rest a brisket or pork shoulder. And don’t forget a good pair of tongs. We’re sure you’ll want to give them a few practice clicks.

Remember, great ingredients equal better barbecue. Don’t under-season; experts say that most backyard cooks do. With chicken, keep the seasoning light; for beef and pork, layer on a good-quality seasoning, allowing the meat to rest between layers, according to CR Head.

Make sure you’re stocked up on your favorite seasonings, marinade, and sauces.

If you’re looking for recommendations, we have a few. Our marinade has been known to win steak cook-offs. Our sauces come from a heritage in competition BBQ, so they’re perfectly formulated for cooking and glazing. If you haven’t had our Apple Habanero sauce on ribs, this is the year to change that. Try our Original seasoning on, well, anything. Layer it with our High Plains Heat seasoning for a kick.

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A clean grill is a happy grill. Happy grills work hard summer after summer while you flip burgers, smoke briskets, and glaze racks of ribs. When your grill is completely cool, dispose of ash and wipe down the inside, the grill grates, and the outside with some dish soap and warm water and a non-scratch sponge.

For stubborn food burnt on, a piece of crumpled aluminum foil works wonders.

Choose cuts of meat with good color and marbling. Remember, great ingredients equal better barbecue. Don’t under-season; experts say that most backyard cooks do.

With chicken, keep the seasoning light; for beef and pork, layer on a good-quality seasoning, allowing the meat to rest between layers. This helps create that bark that all BBQers are after. For kebabs, soak wooden skewers in water to avoid burning.

Mastering heat control is what separates the good backyard grillers from the best. There’s hot and fast, at 300 or more degrees. Then there’s low and slow, or 300 or fewer degrees. Go hot and fast for burgers, steaks, and kebabs. Stick to low and slow for ribs, brisket, and pork butt, aiming for consistent temps.

Use a two-zone cooking system. Stack coals on one side of the grill for hot, direct heat (great for searing a steak or tri tip—if you’re cooking with gas, light just half the burners), then leave the other side of the grill for smoke bathing and low, low cooking. Skip the lighter fluid, use a chimney starter.

A few quick things we’ve all learned the hard way: Don’t overload the grill.

Airflow is key. Move food away from flare-ups to maintain good color and even cooking. Always have extra fuel on hand.

Let your grill preheat, just like you would an oven. Don’t sauce too early. And, our favorite: Always cook to temp, not to time.

ASK THE EXPERT CR HEAD, PRO BBQ SLINGER Head Country

Email us your questions at expert@ tulsaworld.com, and our expert will answer on our Tulsa World Scene Facebook page!

For more information and recipes, visit HeadCountry.com/recipes or call 580-762-1227.

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ASK THE EXPERT AVERY MIZE, BUDTENDER Mango Cannabis

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Reach fitness and recovery goals with medical cannabis Expert explains benefits of use for pre and post-workouts

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f you’ve been hitting the gym hard or upped your yoga practice since the start of the new year it’s likely you’ve met some muscle soreness on the road to your fitness goals.

Inflammation got you sidelined?

“That is going to be something that cannabis can do wonders in helping with,” said Avery Mize with Mango Cannabis.

Mango Cannabis medicinal treatments are abundant to help with post-workout recovery or boosting endurance to assist high-intensity sessions.

The flower experts will find the right dosages to counter what you want the most.

“Employees are there to help you decipher which products, administered in which forms, will be most beneficial for your needs.”

“Figuring out what’s best for you specifically is what we want to do,” Mize said.

Cannabis can accompany your postworkout routine to reduce tightness and increase ease.

“One major thing is anti-inflammation.

It helps with the muscle recovery side but also the pain side of it all.”

“I personally do use cannabis to help with my yoga,” she said.

“Specific strains will help with relaxation. So if you’re doing more of a nighttime yoga, you could find a nighttime strain.”

Linalool is an ingredient to calm the body.

“If you are doing a morning routine, you can find something that contains limonene, more of a citrus lineage to it.

That is going to refresh and give you a head-focused experience during your yoga practice,” Mize said. “With body builders or pro-athletes or runners or anything like that, you’re putting your body through a lot of endurance, and it can be hard to bring yourself down from that high.

“With cannabis, it can help you come down to a recovery space vs. you’re still in that amped up, muscles pumping state.”

Make sure to tell staff about any certain

dietary restrictions or dietary preferences.

“We can help you find things that are vegan, sugar-free or gluten-free.”

Need a boost? For pre-workout, Durban Poison takes your mind off the discomfort of exercise and gives you a kick of power.

“You’re not as focused on your body’s pain because you are more in your head.

You get more of a stimulated high,” Mize said.

Mango Cannabis has gummies that are more morning-oriented and some that are more for nighttime and sleep and recovery.

Mize said edibles are slower to kick in and longer-lasting, and beverages can take effect a little bit quicker because they hit the bloodstream as opposed to going through the liver system.

Grab an infused soda, pineapple juice, lemonade or fruit punch containing either caffeine or melatonin.

“They don’t taste like cannabis at all,” Mize said.“It’s really easy to dose them out and you can easily be medicated and it’s super inconspicuous.”

Topical applications with THC and CBD are also available in lotions and creams.

“I like to pair the CBD with the THC because it helps give you a more synergetic experience for pain relief,” she said.

Stop by the 71st and Mingo location to browse their selection as you seek ways to reduce inflammation.

“We have plenty of people that come in on a regular basis because we’re the only store in all of Oklahoma that we have their product at the price that we have it.”

“We have people that will drive for two hours, three hours across the state to come see us specifically to shop for our deals and our products. We’ve got a lot of people out here that are willing to help to find products that work for you,” Mize said.

Photo credit: Shevaun Williams and Associates For more information visit mangocannabis.com or call 918-940.3525.

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COME IN TODAY! 7141 S. MINGO RD TULSA OKLAHOMA

918-940-3525 MANGOCANNABIS.COM

ASK THE EXPERT

LINDA CURTIS CEO of Pearl District Credit Union

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Relationship is key to servicing clients Pearl District Federal Credit Union knows well

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igger isn’t always better in the world of credit unions, according to Linda Curtis, CEO of Pearl District Federal Credit Union.

“When you call the credit union, you’re going to speak to somebody. You don’t have all those prompts, wondering which one you’re going to get. Hit the wrong prompt and you never talk to a person,” Curtis said.

She says that members of the Pearl District Federal Credit Union aren’t just members—they are like family.

“We always talk to our members, and we know our members,” she said.

“We always talk to our members, and we know our members,” she said.

Curtis says that generations of families join.

“Now their children have children,” she added.

She says it is that relationship with the members that makes it possible for the credit union to help with financial needs.

“It’s really difficult to tell people when you have a problem if you don’t know them and have that good relationship with them,” Curtis said.

They help low-income residents to get their credit score up so that they can help their families.

“It’s really difficult to tell people when you have a problem if you don’t know them and have that good relationship with them,” Curtis said.

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“Some of them struggle a little bit more than others,” she said.

Located at 11th and Utica, Pearl District FCU is also involved in helping the community.

“We adopted the Kendall-Whittier school and asked our members to bring gifts for Christmas. We filled our lobby up with toys,” she said.

Membership is open to businesses and people in the Pearl District, and it’s only $5 to join.

Businesses can also set up the benefits of PDFCU for

“We adopted the Kendall-Whittier school and asked our members to bring gifts for Christmas. We filled our lobby up with toys,” she said. their employees.

Pearl District FCU offers checking, direct deposit, a drive thru and debit cards, personal loans and auto loans.

If you’re in the market to purchase a vehicle, Pearl District FCU will provide members with a pre-approved letter for the dealerships.

“We want to make sure that we can serve them the best we can and provide the best interest rates that we can, both on loans and savings,” she said.

For your one-on-one service experience at Pearl District FCU stop by 1635 E. 11th St. Ask for Linda.

“We’ve all worked here for a long time,” she said. “The philosophy of our credit union—is to serve our members.

That’s our goal.”

For more information, visit pearldistrictfcu.com or call 918-731-3728.

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ASK THE EXPERT

JENNIFER WHITE Head of the Middle School Holland Hall

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Adults can ‘calm the storm’ to help students through massive changes How to turn the middle school years into the best years

he best middle school teachers love the awkward, quirky years of adolescence.

“If you don’t love the quirkiness of this age, it’s not an age where you can fake it,” said Jennifer White, Holland Hall Head of Middle School. “Students know if you like them. They need teachers who are happy spending their days engulfed in middle school. You have to see laughter, faculty really listening and talking to students.”

White often gets asked how she can love the middle school years, because few people remember that age fondly.

“But we’ve all been there. We know how it feels. It’s so intense. The joy is more intense. The anger is more intense. The sadness is more intense. Feeling left out is more intense. Their brains aren’t ready to deal with the intensity of emotion.”

And when you realize that, you can deal with it and smooth their way.

“What adults can do is understand it’s not within their control. Our job is to normalize the range of emotions. Model and teach proper responses and coping mechanisms. Always remember to give them the benefit of the doubt.

“They know when they’ve made mistakes. Their fear is you will judge them. Don’t give in to the emotion. You’re calm.

You’re not emotional.”

And you have to be ready to enjoy the sweet moments.

“Middle school kids start pulling away. We can’t forget to recognize the moments when they want to lean back in,” she says. “They will give you hints that they are ready to talk, but you have to be listening.”

It’s her advice for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles … and teachers.

The latest brain research tells us that learning is tied to emotions, she said. If there is too much stress or negativity for children, they simply can’t learn at their best. That’s why relationship building is so important, and why being intentional about creating safe, happy and comfortable schools is critical.

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“Calm the storm,” she says. “They are experiencing such massive changes in every part of their life. We, as the adults, have to be the constant, supportive, loving part of their lives.”

Things to look for in a middle school If you’re anxious about upcoming middle school years, or your child is already there, there are some questions you can ask to see if you’re in the right school.

Look for a sense of joy.

• Do teachers seem happy?

• Do students seem engaged?

• Are students active and involved?

• Are classrooms lively and busy?

Look for positive relationships.

• What is the class size? How many are in the grade?

How many adults are interacting with each kid? Those three questions are leading up to this one: • “How likely will your child really be known?” The answer to that question is crucial to your child’s happiness and ultimate success at school, White says. “What kids remember is ‘That teacher liked me. That class was fun.”

Look for opportunities for students to explore activities and interests • Is there daily recess? Or PE? Every middle school child still needs that outlet.

• What opportunities are there for them to get involved and pursue their interests or find new interests?

Look for a school that will partner with families • Is there good communication from the school?

• Are there opportunities for parents to volunteer?

• Are there planned parent events?

For more information visit hollandhall.org or call 918-879-4755.

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Test your

How many iconic local dishes have you tried?

Tulsa C FOOD CHOPS

NICOLE MARSHALL MIDDLETON Tulsa World Magazine ‌

an you call yourself a Tulsa food expert?

Our city is home to many excellent restaurants serving up craveworthy dishes deserving of your culinary to-do list.

But that’s not what this test is about.

Certain eateries have stood the test of time and crossed over into legend. If you live in Tulsa, these are the must-try dishes to seek out to truly become “one of us.”

That’s what we’re talking about.

How many of these iconic Tulsa dishes have you tried?

Coney Island Weiner Shop coneys 107 N. Boulder Ave.

Café Ole Original Queso 3509 S. Peoria Ave.

Weber’s root beer 3817 S. Peoria Ave. Ike’s chili 1503 E. 11th St.

Bros. Houligan chicken fry 2508 E. 15th St.; 4848 S. Yale Ave.

Fassler Hall’s sausage 304 S. Elgin Ave.

The Spudder’s steak 6536 E. 50th St.

Savoy Restaurant cinnamon roll 6033 S. Sheridan Road

80 Tulsa World Magazine

Jamil’s Steakhouse smoked ribs and bologna 3823 E. 51st St.

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Daylight Donuts Multiple locations

Evelyn’s Soul Food or Wanda’s J’s fried chicken 3014 N. 74th East Ave.; 111 N. Greenwood Ave.

El Rancho Grande Night Hawk platter 1629 E. 11th St.

GET YOUR GRADE

20-16:

White River Fish Market fried fish 1708 N. Sheridan Road; 1105 E. Kenosha Ave. in Broken Arrow

Elmer’s BBQ Badwich 3316 S. Peoria Ave.

Antoinette Baking Co.’s pies 207 N. Main St.

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Excellent, you get it

15-11: Keep eating 10-6: Meh 6 and below: Fail

Andolini’s pizza 1552 E. 15th St.; 114 S. Detroit Ave.; 500 Riverwalk Terrace, Jenks; 222 S. Main Street, Broken Arrow; 12140 E. 96th St., Owasso

Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili sausage cheeseburger Multiple locations

Topeca coffee Philcade, 507 S. Boston Ave.; Hyatt, 100 E. Second St.; Vast Bank, 110 N. Elgin Ave, Suite 500

El Rio Verde Super Wet Burrito 38 N. Trenton Ave.

Marshall Brewing Company beer Taproom, 1742 E. Sixth St.

Tulsa World Magazine 81

Silver Dollar City Nestled deep in the Ozark Mountains lies a gem—a place that brings the 1880s to life, but with a 21st-century twist.

Silver Dollar City, a theme park that is internationally awarded for presentation and creativity, sits on top of Marvel Cave, the deepest cave in Missouri and a National Natural Landmark. The City offers 10 world-class festivals, 40 rides and attractions—including record-setting rollercoasters—a 100-member demonstrating crafts colony and a variety of music, other entertainment and creative food specialties. The United States Congress designated Silver Dollar City “The Home of American Craftsmanship.” A season pass lets you attend every festival.

The City opens in mid-March with Spring Ride Days, kicking off 2022 “The Biggest Entertainment Year Ever!”

Street Fest | April 14–May 1 INSIDER TIP Arrive early to start your day with an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet.

Taking it to the streets, Silver Dollar City’s Street Fest features colorful performers, stilt-walkers, live musical performances and a unique menu of “walk-away” foods from around the world. Street performers line the City, showcasing acrobatic, juggling and comedy skills. Stages present musical groups and live bands. The new Living Garden comes alive with aerialists, living statues and giant moving topiaries.

Bluegrass & BBQ | May 4–May 30

One of the nation’s most reputable bluegrass gatherings, Bluegrass & BBQ offers Ozark hospitality at its best, by combining downhome BBQ and bluegrass music. Today, the musical genre spans from the traditional tunes of the mountains to a progressive INSIDER sound. Groups include GrammyTIP awarded artists such as Missouri’s Sample a variety of BBQ sauces perfected by own Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, pitmasters to serve with family bands and newly recognized their meats, which are performers breaking into the smoked from industry. The International Bluegrass 10-16 hours.

Association has awarded Silver Dollar City “Distinguished Achievement” in festival presentation.

National Kids Fest | June 11–July 24

Kids Fest showcases family entertainment, world-class rollercoasters, a demonstrating INSIDER crafts colony, music and a variety of fun TIP foods. Along with Kids Fest, families can Multi-park/multiday tickets visit other Silver Dollar City Attractions allow you to come and go such as White Water, the Silver Dollar as you please during your City Campground and Showboat stay in the Branson area.

Branson Belle.

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Campground to use the free guest shuttle right to the front gate!

Presented by

Best of 2022 Moonlight Madness | July 23–August 7

Silver Dollar City is home to several rollercoasters that claim both Guinness World Records and international recognition. Moonlight Madness is a rollercoaster enthusiast’s playground, with rides soaring into the night skies, punctuated by nightly fireworks. Visualize plummeting 10 stories into the darkness on Time Traveler, or find yourself upside down underneath the twinkling Ozark stars on Outlaw Run. For the not-so-daring riders, join the nightly dance party, explore The Grand Exposition with 10 family rides, or enjoy Fireman’s Landing, designed for the little ones.

Southern Gospel Picnic | August 25– September 5; and Country Music Days | September 8–11, 15–18

There’s more music in the City in late August into September, including nightly performances, ranging from the joyful harmonies of Southern Gospel to the roots of America’s folk music, at Echo Hollow Amphitheater. The stages are the focus for music lovers who travel to America’s Heartland to sing along, toe-tap and enjoy food favorites like the City’s famous fried chicken, cinnamon breads and homemade ice cream.

Harvest Festival | September 21–October 29

Fall comes alive with glowing pumpkins, hundreds of crafters, cowboy lore and music throughout the streets and stages.

Culinary experts create specialty foods that embody the INSIDER season with pumpkin flavors and hearty soups. At TIP sunset, thousands of pumpkins—carved, sculpted, lifeThe Harvest Festival size and themed—take on an immense glow, Tasting Passport is a accentuated with a nightly, lively, blacklight dance party. great way to try the many sweet and savory pumpkin-infused foods created for this festival.

An Old Time Christmas | November 5– December 30:

In an unprecedented five-time title streak, Silver Dollar City’s “An Old Time Christmas” is America’s Best Theme Park Holiday Event, having claimed the designation from USA Today’s “10 Best” Reader’s Choice awards, after being nominated by travel experts. The City’s “citizens” create a dazzling wonderland with 6.5 million lights, A Holly Jolly Light Parade, an 8-story animated Christmas Tree, Christmas in Midtown spectacular, Joy on Town Square light show, Broadway-style stage shows, rollercoasters at night and gourmet holiday foods. “An Old Time Christmas” embraces, showcases and celebrates the true meaning of Christmas, and the memories created during this “don’t-miss” event last a lifetime.

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www.SilverDollarCity.com

INSIDER TIP

For all events, the Silver Dollar City app is the best way to plan your day.

LET’S GO.

> 4/5, 311 Rock band 311 brings its Spring Tour to Tulsa.

WHERE: Tulsa Theater, 105 Reconciliation Way FOR MORE: tulsatheater.com > 4/8-9, SPRINGFEST The Tulsa Garden Center will host SpringFest at Woodward Park.

WHERE: Woodward Park, 2435 S. Peoria Ave. FOR MORE: tulsagardencenter.org > 4/8, STREET PARTY 2022 Street Party 2022 is presented by Street School, a long-running dropout prevention and intervention program. There will be live and silent auctions, live entertainment and raffles for whiskey, wine and a trip.

WHERE: Cox Business Convention Center Ballroom, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: coxcentertulsa.com > 4/9, KOE WETZEL The Texas-born singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer brings his tour to Tulsa.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com > 4/10, BILL MAHER The comedian and political commentator will perform a Sunday night show.

WHERE: Tulsa Theater, 105 Reconciliation Way FOR MORE: tulsatheater.com > 4/13, BOB DYLAN The songwriting legend brings his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour to Tulsa ahead of the opening of the Bob Dylan Center in May. WHERE: Tulsa Theater, 105 Reconciliation Way FOR MORE: tulsatheater.com

COURTESY, CASTLE OF MUSKOGEE‌

The Castle of Muskogee holds its Renaissance Festival over six weekends this spring.

Editor’s note: All dates and events are subject to change. Check event websites for up-to-date information.

APRIL > THROUGH 5/8, THE BIG SHOW: WORK BY YOUNG ARTISTS This exhibition at Philbrook Museum features the creativity of Oklahoma artists ages 4-18.

WHERE: Philbrook Museum of Art FOR MORE: philbrook.org > 4/1-6/20, LIVING ARTS OF TULSA EXHIBITS “Grief and the Full Cup of Joy,” an exhibition curated by Mery McNett, and “Cult Canyon,” curated by Cult Love Collective, will be on display from April 1-22. From May 6 through June 20, “Chiefs, Clans, and Kin” will celebrate the histories, cultures and lifeways of Indigenous tribes of the Southeast and their transnational histories with Celtic peoples.

WHERE: Living Arts of Tulsa, 307 E. Reconciliation Way FOR MORE: livingarts.org > 4/1, BILL ENGVALL The comedian brings his Farewell Tour to Tulsa.

WHERE: Tulsa Theater, 105 Reconciliation Way FOR MORE: tulsatheater.com 84 Tulsa World Magazine

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE‌

Esteemed conductor James Bagwell leads the TSO in a performance April 2. > 4/2, “TITAN,” TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Esteemed conductor James Bagwell leads the TSO in this performance featuring Beethoven’s Leonore Overture, Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 and Mahler’s magnificent Symphony No. 1 “The Titan.”

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St. FOR MORE: tulsasymphony.org > 4/2, JON LOVITZ The comedian and actor will perform two Saturday night shows at Cain’s Ballroom.

WHERE: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St. FOR MORE: cainsballroom.com

> 4/14, JOE NICHOLS The multi-platinum country singer from Rogers, Arkansas, will play at Hard Rock Live.

WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.com > 4/15-16, PBR EXPRESS RANCHES CLASSIC For the 18th straight season, elite bull riders will descend on Tulsa at the PBR Express Ranches Classic, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com > 4/16, ODDITIES & CURIOSITIES EXPO The Oddities & Curiosities Expo will bring the strange, unusual and bizarre to the SageNet Center at Expo Square.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com > 4/17, SAND SPRINGS HERBAL AFFAIR Shop herbs, perennials, heirloom plants and more at the Sand Springs Herbal Affair in downtown Sand Springs. Attendees will also find arts and crafts, gardening supplies and decor.

WHERE: Downtown Sand Springs FOR MORE: sandspringsok.org > 4/22, ANJELAH JOHNSON-REYES The MADtv alum brings her Who Do I Think I am Tour to Tulsa.

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

> 4/29, MARCO ANTONIO SOLÍS Five-time Latin Grammy Award winner Marco Antonio Solís brings his Que Ganas De Verte World Tour 2022 to the BOK Center.

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

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Thousands of people gather to shop, browse and eat at the Sand Springs Herbal Affair and Festival in downtown Sand Springs.

> 4/29, 5/1, “SALOME” Tulsa native Thaddeus Strassberger makes his Tulsa Opera debut, directing this unique immersive production of Richard Strauss’ opera, about the young woman whose performance for King Herod spells doom for John the Baptist.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St. FOR MORE: tulsaopera.com > 4/30, CASTLE OF MUSKOGEE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL The Castle invites one and all to join the festivities of the 26th Annual Oklahoma Renaissance Festival. Open Saturdays and Sundays: April 30- June 5, plus Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.

WHERE: 3400 Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee FOR MORE: okcastle.com > 4/30, MEGADETH AND LAMB OF GOD The metal bands co-headline this concert at the BOK Center.

WHERE: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. FOR MORE: bokcenter.com > 4/30, GARDEN PARTY 2022 Garden Party 2022 benefits The Little Lighthouse, a program that helps children with special needs and their families.

WHERE: Cox Business Convention Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: coxcentertulsa.com

MAY > 5/6-8, TULSA MAYFEST Tulsa Mayfest 2022 will be held in the downtown Arts District and historic Greenwood with local and juried artists, live music, food vendors and more.

WHERE: Tulsa Arts District, Greenwood FOR MORE: tulsamayfest.org

TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

The Tulsa Arts District is home to Mayfest. > 4/22-24, SPRING HOME & OUTDOOR LIVING EXPO Check out Tiny Home Town, the Shopper’s Market, Garden Train display and more at the SageNet Center at Expo Square.

WHERE: Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. FOR MORE: exposquare.com > 4/23, JENKS HERB & PLANT FESTIVAL Shop an array of herbs and plants from local vendors during the Jenks Herb & Plant Festival in downtown Jenks.

WHERE: Downtown Jenks FOR MORE: jenksgardenclub.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

> 4/23, “LOVE & OBSESSION: THE BEATLES TO BERLIOZ” Scott Seaton, a candidate for the Signature Symphony’s music director position, will lead the orchestra in a program that ranges from Berlioz’s epic “Symphonie Fantastique” to some of the songs about love from the Fab Four.

WHERE: Vantrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st St. FOR MORE: signaturesymphony.org > 4/23, SMOKE AND GUNS Oklahoma firefighters and police officers square off in the seventh annual charity MMA and boxing event presented by QuikTrip.

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

> 5/7, “MERCURIAL,” TULSA SYMPHONY The Tulsa Symphony brings its season to a close with acclaimed conductor and audience favorite Gerhardt Zimmermann leading the orchestra in Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody, Copland’s Appalachian Spring and Tchaikovsky’s masterful Symphony No. 4.

WHERE: Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St. FOR MORE: tulsasymphony.org. > 5/7, ICONS & IDOLS 2022 Tulsa Ballet’s 11th annual Icons & Idols Gala features a one-night-only performance by the company’s dancers.

WHERE: Cox Business Convention Center, 100 Civic Center FOR MORE: coxcentertulsa.com > 5/10, BOB DYLAN CENTER The grand opening for the Bob Dylan Center arrives on this date. See a story in this issue of Tulsa World Magazine.

WHERE: 116 Reconciliation Way FOR MORE: bobdylancenter.com Tulsa World Magazine 85

COURTESY, MATT MURPHY‌

Celebrity Attractions presents the Tony Award-winning revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! this June.

TOM GILBERT, TULSA WORLD MAGAZINE FILE‌

Easton Corbin brings his traditional country sound for a show at Hard Rock Live May 12.

> 5/12, EASTON CORBIN Easton Corbin brings his traditional country sound for a show at Hard Rock Live.

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

> 5/16, EAGLES The band will feature “Hotel California,” accompanied by an orchestra and choir, and will perform a set of their greatest hits.

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

> 5/12-15, “SIGNATURE SERIES” Tulsa Ballet will close its season with the highly anticipated return of “Remember Our Song” by “Hamilton” choreographer and three-time Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler, along with Itzik Galili’s “O Balcão de Amor” and a world premiere work from superstar choreographer Andrew McNicol.

WHERE: Lorton Performance Center, 550 S. Gary Ave. FOR MORE: tulsaballet.org

> 5/16-22, PGA CHAMPIONSHIP The 2022 PGA Championship will bring the 72hole, four-day tournament, plus two preceding practice rounds, to Tulsa’s Southern Hills Country Club. Last year, Phil Mickelson became the oldest major winner in history when he won the event at age 50 at Kiawah Island in South Carolina.

WHERE: Southern Hills Country Club, 2623 E. 61st St. FOR MORE: pgachampionship.com

> 5/14-28, BREEDERS INVITATIONAL This is a major event in the Cutting Horse industry, with lots of action and a large purse at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex.

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

Lots of Bikes In-Stock Now! Talk to us about an e-bike.

www.tomsbicycles.com 86 Tulsa World Magazine

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> 5/19, DAVID FEHERTY The retired pro golfer and noted golf personality will appear at Hard Rock Live.

WHERE: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa FOR MORE: hardrockcasinotulsa.com > 5/24, JACK WHITE The singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer brings The Supply Chain Issues Tour to Tulsa.

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

JUNE > 6/14-19, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S OKLAHOMA! Celebrity Attractions presents the classic musical, which has been reimagined for the 21st century.

“Oklahoma!” won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. A diverse cast costumed in modern attire performs the original script on a set designed to evoke a sense of togetherness. Tickets are on sale now.

WHERE: Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 101 E. Third St. FOR MORE: celebrityattractions.com TULSAWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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WARREN CLINIC 24/7 VIRTUAL URGENT CARE No matter what time it is or where you are in Oklahoma, you can conveniently connect to a locally-based Saint Francis provider through Warren Clinic 24/7 Virtual Urgent Care.

Through a simple video visit, adult and pediatric patients with minor illnesses or non-emergency conditions can be evaluated and provided with a treatment plan.

To access Warren Clinic 24/7 Virtual Urgent Care through your smartphone or computer, visit saintfrancis.com/urgentcare or sign in to your Saint Francis MyChart account to start your visit.

*If you are experiencing severe illness, a major injury, symptoms of a heart attack, stroke or shortness of breath, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

saintfrancis.com/urgentcare