Tulsa is Pretty Cool

[carltonplace]

This Land Press Article:

Aric S. Queen, a travel writer for National Geographic, who just happens to hail from Tulsa, revisited his hometown recently and is sharing the good news with the rest of the country: Tulsa is pretty great.

So great, in fact, that Queen predicts Tulsa will be the next Austin. "Granted, I don't have all the fancy numbers to back this claim up, but fancy numbers are not what Okies are all about," he wrote in a blog post today.

He attributes his forecast to three factors: people ("Okies are hungry for entertainment"), location (smack-dab in the middle of the country), and vision. "We actually produce serious visionaries, something we don't get enough credit for," said Rob Vera, co-founder  of OKC-based Okie Dope Records, name-dropping the likes of Woody Guthrie, Leon Russell, The Flaming Lips, and Chainsaw Kittens as proof.

The only downside? "We just need to fix that whole weakest beer in the country problem."

Queen recently joined National Geographic as "The Good Traveler," and, according to his Twitter bio, he's "on a road trip across America with @NatGeoTraveler to uncover uncommon stories of people who are bringing change to their communities."

During his time in Tulsa, he also hailed the city as "an architecture fanatic's dream," pointing to places like the Skelly Mansion, the Spotlight Theater, Harwelden Mansion, and Westhope, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, as  prime examples. He also told the (tall?) tale of Catoosa's blue whale, and he "found the good" in grilled catfish at Wanda J's in Broken Arrow.




http://thislandpress.com/roundups/expert-opinion-tulsa-is-pretty-cool/

[heironymouspasparagus]

This Land Press Article:

Aric S. Queen, a travel writer for National Geographic, who just happens to hail from Tulsa, revisited his hometown recently and is sharing the good news with the rest of the country: Tulsa is pretty great.

So great, in fact, that Queen predicts Tulsa will be the next Austin. "Granted, I don't have all the fancy numbers to back this claim up, but fancy numbers are not what Okies are all about," he wrote in a blog post today.

He attributes his forecast to three factors: people ("Okies are hungry for entertainment"), location (smack-dab in the middle of the country), and vision. "We actually produce serious visionaries, something we don't get enough credit for," said Rob Vera, co-founder  of OKC-based Okie Dope Records, name-dropping the likes of Woody Guthrie, Leon Russell, The Flaming Lips, and Chainsaw Kittens as proof.

The only downside? "We just need to fix that whole weakest beer in the country problem."

Queen recently joined National Geographic as "The Good Traveler," and, according to his Twitter bio, he's "on a road trip across America with @NatGeoTraveler to uncover uncommon stories of people who are bringing change to their communities."

During his time in Tulsa, he also hailed the city as "an architecture fanatic's dream," pointing to places like the Skelly Mansion, the Spotlight Theater, Harwelden Mansion, and Westhope, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, as  prime examples. He also told the (tall?) tale of Catoosa's blue whale, and he "found the good" in grilled catfish at Wanda J's in Broken Arrow.

Lots of good stuff around here.  The turnpikes into the area will continue to be an aggravation.  When someone comes here with two axles it is a certain price (example $4.00 to OKC).  If you double the number of axles, like would happen if some vacationer was pulling a travel trailer, the price is WAY over double - $9.75.  Just another little discouragement to visit northeast Oklahoma.

I see and visit with a LOT of people moving through the OKC area - going north to south in the fall and south to north in the spring (Snowbirds).  A lot of them come through OKC and the vast majority (85 - 90%) go on north from OKC instead of coming to Tulsa.  Two turnpikes at almost $20 is never gonna be as friendly as the one in KS for about $4 to get through Wichita.

[guido911]

This Land Press Article:

Aric S. Queen, a travel writer for National Geographic, who just happens to hail from Tulsa, revisited his hometown recently and is sharing the good news with the rest of the country: Tulsa is pretty great.

So great, in fact, that Queen predicts Tulsa will be the next Austin. "Granted, I don't have all the fancy numbers to back this claim up, but fancy numbers are not what Okies are all about," he wrote in a blog post today.

He attributes his forecast to three factors: people ("Okies are hungry for entertainment"), location (smack-dab in the middle of the country), and vision. "We actually produce serious visionaries, something we don't get enough credit for," said Rob Vera, co-founder  of OKC-based Okie Dope Records, name-dropping the likes of Woody Guthrie, Leon Russell, Guido911, The Flaming Lips, and Chainsaw Kittens as proof.

The only downside? "We just need to fix that whole weakest beer in the country problem."

Queen recently joined National Geographic as "The Good Traveler," and, according to his Twitter bio, he's "on a road trip across America with @NatGeoTraveler to uncover uncommon stories of people who are bringing change to their communities."

During his time in Tulsa, he also hailed the city as "an architecture fanatic's dream," pointing to places like the Skelly Mansion, the Spotlight Theater, Harwelden Mansion, and Westhope, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, as  prime examples. He also told the (tall?) tale of Catoosa's blue whale, and he "found the good" in grilled catfish at Wanda J's in Broken Arrow.




http://thislandpress.com/roundups/expert-opinion-tulsa-is-pretty-cool/

Great story.

[Conan71]

Lots of good stuff around here.  The turnpikes into the area will continue to be an aggravation.  When someone comes here with two axles it is a certain price (example $4.00 to OKC).  If you double the number of axles, like would happen if some vacationer was pulling a travel trailer, the price is WAY over double - $9.75.  Just another little discouragement to visit northeast Oklahoma.

I see and visit with a LOT of people moving through the OKC area - going north to south in the fall and south to north in the spring (Snowbirds).  A lot of them come through OKC and the vast majority (85 - 90%) go on north from OKC instead of coming to Tulsa.  Two turnpikes at almost $20 is never gonna be as friendly as the one in KS for about $4 to get through Wichita.

But if they are continuing on the Kansas Turnpike toward KC, from the entry at MM-4 to the eastern terminus at MM-236, it's $20.75.

It's $19.50 for them to travel from OKC to Joplin via I-44 and is a more direct route to KC, if that's the direction they are heading.  If they are attempting to hook up with I-70, it's still cheaper to take the OK turnpikes and 44 to STL, rather than pay the $4.00 from MM-4 to MM-42 in ICT then 135 north to Salina when gas is figured in.

[heironymouspasparagus]

But if they are continuing on the Kansas Turnpike toward KC, from the entry at MM-4 to the eastern terminus at MM-236, it's $20.75.

It's $19.50 for them to travel from OKC to Joplin via I-44 and is a more direct route to KC, if that's the direction they are heading.  If they are attempting to hook up with I-70, it's still cheaper to take the OK turnpikes and 44 to STL, rather than pay the $4.00 from MM-4 to MM-42 in ICT then 135 north to Salina when gas is figured in.

The majority go through Wichita, to Salina, then east or west specifically to avoid the KS turnpikes, too.  The ones that come through there are headed for KS, Nebraska, Iowa, LOTS of them to Minnesota, Dakotas.  The central flyway...  Wichita to Salina to KS City isn't that much extra miles... some do it for the travel, some to avoid the tolls, some just to be contrary about not paying toll, even if they can afford it.  If going to Topeka, the over, it is only about an extra 50 miles.  Yeah, at 10 to 12 mpg, that could cost the same.  But then you would miss Salina!!!!!  To Olathe, about an extra 80 miles or maybe a little more...

The remainder are the ones going to St. Louis, Illinois and beyond take the turnpikes.  And complain about it a lot.  Most of the ones going from south TX to north and east, turn right at Dallas, then go to Little Rock (I-30), I-40 and points east - easier and faster to St. Louis that way.  And noticeably better roads.  We get the ones going to Joplin or Springfield or Bella Vista.

Have seen some of the same ones over and over for about 6 years - pretty amazing.  Quite a few them that I have met, then missed one year said they did an east route or west route that year.  These nomads are doing what I want to do - stay in a temperature range rather than a location.  There is a 'sub-culture' here that probably has 2 - 3 million people in a permanent migration around the country.  I had heard of snowbirds decades ago, but until you visit with some of these people, have no idea just how far they can, will, and do go.  Gypsies.  Yep...amazing is the word...

There have been 3 or 4 I have met that have specifically planned a few weeks of their year to be in OKC so they can go to one particular place - Blumenthal's in OKC.  To get transmission (or engine) work done on their rigs.  If you ever need transmission work on just about anything and want it done right, they are the place.  Or Transmission Clinics in Broken Arrow - also very good - but you gotta pay a turnpike fee to get there.

http://www.blumenthalmfg.com/


Back to the point - Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma IS pretty cool!!  We should make it easier - more 'user friendly' to get here.

[Oil Capital]

But if they are continuing on the Kansas Turnpike toward KC, from the entry at MM-4 to the eastern terminus at MM-236, it's $20.75.

It's $19.50 for them to travel from OKC to Joplin via I-44 and is a more direct route to KC, if that's the direction they are heading. 

No.  I-44 and US 71 is not a more direct route from OKC to KC.  According to Google maps:

I-44/US-71 route is 377 miles
I-35 route is 360 miles

Plus, the I-35 route is much better highways.  (Full 4-lane freeway the entire trip.)

[Hoss]

No.  I-44 and US 71 is not a more direct route from OKC to KC.  According to Google maps:

I-44/US-71 route is 377 miles
I-35 route is 360 miles

Plus, the I-35 route is much better highways.  (Full 4-lane freeway the entire trip.)

I've driven I-44/US71 several times.  I'm guessing since Conan lived in KC at one point, he knows the trip.  US71 is damn near interstate quality and limited access for all of it that I can remember.  4 lane highway the whole way from Carthage to Peculiar and past.

Or do you need me to cite that?

[heironymouspasparagus]

US 71 is great now!  I have driven that and US 169 and US69  from Tulsa to KC dozens of times, starting in mid 60s'.  It used to be a nightmare to do those trips.  Now a pleasure.  Especially once you get off these sorry Oklahoma roads.

[Oil Capital]

I've driven I-44/US71 several times.  I'm guessing since Conan lived in KC at one point, he knows the trip.  US71 is damn near interstate quality and limited access for all of it that I can remember.  4 lane highway the whole way from Carthage to Peculiar and past.

Or do you need me to cite that?

Conan and you and Asparagus may know the trip.  So do I.  The facts are the facts.   While it has  been advancing for a number of years and continues to advance, it is still not currently a fully access-restricted interstate-quality highway all the way from Jopin to KC.  According to MODot, it will achieve that status by the end of 2012.  The final projects are currently under construction.

More to the point, even when it is completely interstate-standard (and in fact becomes part of I-49), it will STILL NOT be a more direct route from OKC to KC.  It is very nearly as direct,  but it is NOT more direct.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Conan and you and Asparagus may know the trip.  So do I.  The facts are the facts.   While it has  been advancing for a number of years and continues to advance, it is still not currently a fully access-restricted interstate-quality highway all the way from Jopin to KC.  According to MODot, it will achieve that status by the end of 2012.

More to the point, even when it is completely interstate-standard (and in fact becomes part of I-49), it will STILL NOT be a more direct route from OKC to KC.  It is very nearly as direct,  but it is NOT more direct.

I agree - it ain't exactly interstate - not bad at all, but not interstate.

Not more direct, either.  Especially when going from Donna, TX or Brownsville, or Rockport.  Especially if going to Minneapolis - no one who is wanting the best path is going through Tulsa to KC. 

Cannot imagine why anyone would ever want to go to Chicago, but the east TX through AR is the way to do that.  Only disadvantage is you go to Illinois....I think they are all communists there...

[Conan71]

Uh, how exactly did a thread about how Tulsa is cool devolve into an argument over turnpikes, mileage, and road conditions?

Oh yeah, I forget HPA and his untreated ADHD.

Someone get a noose and reel him in

OC- it may well be 17 miles less to go from OKC to KC via 35 but the drive completely sucks from ICT to the eastern terminus.  It's like driving the damn Pennsylvania pike from west to east. 

Back on topic- Tulsa is pretty cool especially after a weekend like the one just past with everything we had going on... from Art Deco to Crybaby Hill, the Drillers, concerts, etc.  Tulsa rocks!  Well... most of the time

[heironymouspasparagus]

Uh, how exactly did a thread about how Tulsa is cool devolve into an argument over turnpikes, mileage, and road conditions?

Oh yeah, I forget HPA and his untreated ADHD.

Someone get a noose and reel him in

OC- it may well be 17 miles less to go from OKC to KC via 35 but the drive completely sucks from ICT to the eastern terminus.  It's like driving the damn Pennsylvania pike from west to east.  

Back on topic- Tulsa is pretty cool especially after a weekend like the one just past with everything we had going on... from Art Deco to Crybaby Hill, the Drillers, concerts, etc.  Tulsa rocks!  Well... most of the time

Hey!  I have said many times - not just on this thread that Tulsa is pretty cool.  Ok, so here I paraphrased and said there is lots of good stuff.  Extend that to northeast Oklahoma!  Very few places in this country are better - VERY few - and most don't even come close.

Now, what can be done to make it better without just saying something to the effect of "Oh, look what <fill in the blank city> is doing.  Why don't we do that?"


Which leads to the question of what does that topic actually mean?  Is this thread supposed to be only one of those pat-ourselves-and-each-other-on-the-back, self congratulatory things?

Queen rehashes all the stuff known for a long time, and publicized for same.  What we don't seem to be able to do well is make that image of good stuff "stick" in the minds of people outside the area who might be interested in visiting for vacation or 'other' travel.  

I know that I have done my fair share to interest people outside the area.  I have 3 people from a northern state right now who are going to come visit as part of a work/vacation program.  They are going to be here for 3 days of work (Tues thru Thurs), but have convinced them to stay Friday - Sunday for short vacation visit.  Was gonna happen in May but was postponed - I had hoped to take them out and chase a storm!  Looks like late July now.

We have good stuff.  How to make the rest of the country know it?

I don't see a lot of Oklahoma Tourism ads when I am outside the state - don't know if we even do that (I suspect we do somewhere).  But I did find this one from Colorado.  Needs sound...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1yXdOufzKE

[TheArtist]

  We have a lot of great stuff.... scattered here and there and not "enhanced/utilized" to their full potential.  

Often when I go to another city I stay in or near the downtown core and use that as my branching off point from which to see other things.  Our downtown is definitely improving, but not quite there yet.  Lots of neat things to see, like the churches (but you can rarely get in them) neat deco buildings (but not the accompanying tourism stuff to really enhance and flesh out the experience "I, hopefully am working on some of that lol"), neat Route 66 things, (but again really lacking those tourism spots (interpretive center/museums/gift shops/ art galleries/ signage and brochures in hotels, the airport, restaurants,etc/ and all the gifty trinkets and such, Route 66 festivals, etc.) which again can be said about all of the above potential tourism things we have.

You go to other cities and whatever it is they are known for or have they promote the dickens out of it and there is an industry promoting it and making money off of it.  In none of the above examples do we really do that.  We could take a lesson from a lot of those little Hamlets and Villages in the UK.  All they may have is a single rock out in a field that purportedly was placed there by a Druid lol.  And they will have a "Druid Rock Festival Day", they will have maps on how to find it, they will have made up stories and myths around it and mysterious things that have happened along with cards, pamphlets and books on that, they will have Druid costumes, along with bronze age trinkets for sale and so on, a Druid interpretive center, the town museum, replicas of the rock for sale lol, Druid Rock pie in the local restaurants and pubs, Druid Rock soup, Druid Rock Ale, Druid Rock you name it lol, Druid Rock plays, Druid Rock songs sung for the tourists at the local pub, the Druid Rock dance, and on and on.  They will WOOOORK IT! lol   They may not have much, but still manage to create a whole, fun, silly, interesting, engaging experience around what little they do have.

We have so many things that kind of just sit there outside of any fully realized tourism context, we have so much but yet somehow we havent "worked it" to the point that there a fun, engaging, memorable, well rounded and complete experience along with "it".  Part of that is up to us as individuals and the relevant stakeholders, but part of that is up to the city and it deciding it's worthwhile and then putting in the effort.

[sauerkraut]

Yep, "T" Towne is Kewl- The cost of living is much lower than many other cities, The city has nice jogging trails for it's residents, the streets are easy to get around in layed out in a grid pattern- and now the Admiral Twin is back, Tulsa is one of the few cities that still have a drive-in movie place. Tulsa is doing good.