Entrepreneur Mary Beth Babcock was named one of the Tulsa World‘s Tulsans of the Year for her advocacy of local tourism, especially along Route 66.
Babcock opened the Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 in a former gas station in 2018, then added a specially commissioned, 21-foot-tall fiberglass giant named Buck Atom at the store a year later to help draw tourists’ eyes.
This summer, Babcock opened Meadow Gold Mack’s Route 66 Outpost down the street, then added a new Muffler Man there and another at her Buck Atom’s shop.
Babcock said she brought as many local artists and builders into the process as possible. She said she loves her role as a cheerleader for Tulsa and all its glory.
“It fills my heart to be able to be creative like this and it have an impact on a much, much bigger scale,” Babcock said. “I don’t think many people realize how many international people are coming through Tulsa. All of the time, I hear them say, ‘I had no idea Tulsa was this cool.’”
She encourages tourists to shop and eat at local businesses to get the full Tulsa flavor.
“Because many of them are traveling all along Route 66 and they have it all mapped out, I tell them, if you don’t have time now, come back and spend a whole weekend and try these things,” Babcock said. “The small shops and restaurants are the character of Tulsa.”
She said she has more things planned for 2025, but didn’t elaborate.
The newspaper also produced this video about Babcock in the wake of her award:
As a former Tulsan, I can attest to Babcock championing local creators and local shopping — back when she opened Dwelling Spaces in downtown Tulsa nearly 20 years ago.
In 2011, Babcock was named Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Today magazine.
(Screen-capture image from Oklahoma State Department of Education video of Mary Beth Babcock at Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 in Tulsa)
What a Gal, Ms.MJB!!!