Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA.
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member veritas vita
N 36° 11.600 W 095° 43.967
15S E 254274 N 4008854
The Blue Whale Roadside Attraction, part of the former Natures Acres Amusement Park. The Blue Whale is one of the most recognizable icons on Historic Route 66. Located in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
Waymark Code: WMRAJ6
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 06/01/2016
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member the federation
Views: 14

Nature's Acres, which also featured Animal Reptile Kingdom (A.R.K. -- housed in a replica of Noah's Ark) and a Trading Post, & an eighty feet long Blue Whale, water park, built in 1972 out of pipe and concrete in a local swimming hole. It has a diving platform on its tail and a slide coming out of its side.

"Hugh Davis had a job as a director of a Tulsa zoo, and he and his wife Zelta ran an alligator farm just off of Route 66. In the early 1970s Hugh surprised Zelta on their anniversary by unveiling an 80-foot-long sperm whale that he had built out of pipe and concrete in a little pond on their property. He originally built it for the use of just the Davis kids, with a diving platform on its tail and a slide coming out of its head.

By the mid-1970s, however, the happy whale with the toothy smile had become the centerpiece of Hugh and Zelta's new attraction, Nature's Acres, which also featured Animal Reptile Kingdom (A.R.K. -- housed in a replica of Noah's Ark) and a Trading Post run by Hugh's Indian brother-in-law. The spring-fed pond had been enlarged by Hugh into a commercial swimming hole, and the Blue Whale became a Route 66 icon." Text Source: (visit link)

"Built in 1972 as an anniversary gift, the Blue Whale quickly evolved into a local summer hot spot and family travel destination. Almost immediately the whale began attracting people who wanted to fling themselves off his tail, slide down his water-coated fins and poke their heads out the holes in the whale’s head. Travellers stopped by to picnic, swim, or fish. So began what became one of the best loved icons on Route 66." Text Source: (visit link) (visit link)
Date Park Opened: 01/01/1972

Date Park Closed: 01/01/1988

Address:
Oklahoma 66, (Former US-66) Catoosa, OK


Current Use or Function:
Route 66 Roadside Attraction


Is the park still there?: Yes

If not, what is in its place now?: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
You must post at least one original picture at the posted coords to post a visit log for this waymark. Extra points if you are in the spirit of the park (i.e., in costume, etc.).
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Recent Visits/Logs:
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FLMathfreak visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 12/08/2023 FLMathfreak visited it
Shelle518 visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 05/25/2022 Shelle518 visited it
22Bongo visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 12/05/2021 22Bongo visited it
hamquilter visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 04/13/2019 hamquilter visited it
The Snowdog visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 02/16/2019 The Snowdog visited it
Crazy4horses visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 12/09/2016 Crazy4horses visited it
gramakitty visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 12/06/2016 gramakitty visited it
veritas vita visited Natures Acres - Defunct Amusement Park - Catoosa, Oklahoma, USA. 06/07/2016 veritas vita visited it

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