The City of Catoosa, Oklahoma, announced that construction has begun on the transformation of the Blue Whale site, a Route 66 landmark.
The city stated in a Facebook post that the dilapidated Ark structure near the whale would be disassembled and stored for future relocation.
The gigantic mushrooms behind the Ark were moved off-site so they could be refurbished.
The city received a $1.8 million grant from the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission to transform the site, especially the tiny visitors center, with neon lighting and other attractions.
The city also posted architectural drawings by Studio 45 Architects of nearby Tulsa of the forthcoming changes to the Blue Whale site. Here are a few of them:
Hugh Davis hand-made the Blue Whale out of concrete and shaped rebar about 1970 as an anniversary gift to his wife.
The Blue Whale and its spring-fed pond became a popular swimming hole for locals and travelers along Route 66 alike.
It closed about 1988 and fell into disrepair until it was restored in the early 2000s. Hugh Davis’ son, Blaine, was the caretaker at the property for many years until the city purchased the property in 2021.
(Studio 45 Architects conceptual drawings of the Blue Whale site via the City of Catoosa)