The Blue Whale of Catoosa is located along Route 66 east of Catoosa, Okla., a suburb of Tulsa. Built in the early 1970s by local resident Hugh Davis as a gift to his wife, Zelda, who was a fan of whale figurines.
Originally just intended for family use, the Davis family welcomed the visitors to the area as picnics and barbecues were held. And people enjoyed swimming in the pond.
Unfortunately, the Davises were no longer able to keep managing it and the nearby reptile attraction A.R.K. (Animal Reptile Kingdom) was closed to the public in 1988. Hugh died in 1990 and Zelda passed in 2001. By this time, the facilities had fallen into disrepair.
But throughout the 2000s, community efforts by the local residents through fund-raising and volunteer work helped restore the Whale. When I stopped by on a Saturday evening at dusk, families were enjoying a nice late spring evening.
The Whale has also been featured in the TV shows American Pickers and An Idiot Abroad. It was also featured in Rob Zombie’s horror movie 31.
Zane Says 