Catoosa Blue Whale on Route 66

The Catoosa Blue Whale is one of Route 66’s most iconic, lovable and recognizable icons along the old highway. You’ll find the blue whale of Catoosa mentioned and photographed in every article or book ever written about Route 66, so if you don’t stop here, you’re going to feel like you’re missing out on something!

So what makes this giant blue whale so famous? Let’s dig into it!

Catoosa Blue Whale – Overview

• Hours: 8am – 8pm
• Cost: Free
• Time Needed: 15 minutes
• Amenities: Small gift shop, restrooms and some picnic tables if you want to enjoy a lunch. You cannot swim in the pond, but catch-and-release fishing is allowed.

Where is the Catoosa Blue Whale:

The Catoosa Blue Whale is located right off of Route 66, only 20 minutes north of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

History of the Catoosa Blue Whale:

The Catoosa Blue Whale’s history is more of a love story and surprisingly, wasn’t built as a Route 66 roadside attraction – it just-so-happens that it’s on Route 66.

Once upon a time, back in the early 1970s, the land on which the blue whale sits was once the personal property of Hugh Davis, a former zookeeper. Hugh’s wife, Zelta, absolutely loved whale figurines and as a gift to her, he decided to construct a giant concrete whale on their property.

Hugh got to work and over the span of a year, built the concrete whale next to the small pond on their property. The concrete whale wasn’t just a sculpture – it also served as a slide and a diving platform, so friends and family could use the whale while enjoying their swimming hole. Not only did his wife, family and friends adore this whale, it caught the attention of local residents as well as tourists passing through Route 66.

Mr. Davis decided to open the whale to the public and it quickly became a popular tourist attraction along the Mother Road. The whale was called the “Fun and Swim Blue Whale.” Soon after opening to the public, he opened the Animal Reptile Kingdom (also called The Ark) next to the whale, a small reptiles farm that held reptiles from around the world. Across the street, Hugh’s brother-in-law (a Native American Chief), operated the Arrowood Trading Post (originally was the Chief Wolf Robe Hunt Trading Post). This entire tourist attraction complex remained extremely popular until the late 1980s.

In 1988, Mr. Davis’ health began to fail, and Zelta, wanting to focus on caring for her husband, shut down the attractions. Two years later, Hugh Davis passed away.

The family never re-opened the tourist attractions, though the trading post remained open but ownership changed hands a few times. Over the years, nature and overall neglect took its toll on the whale. Its bright blue paint faded and eventually started peeling off, weeds and vegetation chocked the once well-manicured grounds, and the swimming pond turned into a swamp.

Catoosa residents longed for their once-famous whale and in 1995, took up a donation campaign to save the whale. They were very successful in their efforts and restored the whale to its former glory as remains a well-maintained Route 66 tourist attraction to this day. However, the pond is no longer open for swimming, so today, the whale is just for looks.

Catoosa Blue Whale on Route 66 – Final Thoughts

While obviously not as popular as it was in its ’70s and ’80s heyday, it’s still a worthwhile stop if you’re in the area. It’ll take at most 10 minute, it’ll give you a chance to use the restroom and stretch your legs. Plus, you can enjoy a picnic on the whale-themed picnic tables and benches on the ground.

Additional information on Route 66:

• Route 66 Travel Tips: Route 66 Road Trip Travel Tips

Have you visited the Catoosa Blue Whale lately? Or did you visit it when you could swim in the pond? Let me know in the comments!