Route 66 icon began as an anniversary gift to the builder’s wife
From Quapaw to Depew, eastern Oklahoma has many favorite Route 66 stops along the famed Mother Road. One of those stops is the Blue Whale in Catoosa, Okla.
Hugh Davis built the Blue Whale in the early 1970s as a surprise anniversary gift to his wife Zelta.
Zelta collected whale figurines, so it just made sense to Hugh to gift her a handmade 80-foot-long whale for their 34th wedding anniversary.
The materials cost less than $3,000 to build the 15-foot-tall whale. Originally, the pond surrounding the massive structure, was spring fed and intended only for family use. However, as many locals began to come to enjoy its waters, Davis brought in tons of sand, built picnic tables, hired life guards and opened it to the public.
The Blue Whale and its pond was a swimming hole for years, but recently there are signs prohibiting swimming, but picnics are encouraged and feeding the turtles is a bygone fun activity for the children – and sometimes grandparents.
The inside width of the Blue Whale measures 10-foot – just the right size for a group of children climbing to the top to look out the portals on the side of the Blue Whale’s face or slide down the slide coming from its gill.
Originally calling it Nature’s Acres, Davis continued to add to the roadside stop until it included The Fun and Swim Blue Whale and the A.K. (Animal Reptile Kingdom). The attraction also featured Hugh’s brother-in-law, Indian Chief Wolf-Robe Hunt, a full blooded Acoma Indian, who was famous in his own right for his Indian paintings and silversmith craftman ship. Chief Wolf-Robe Hunt once ran the Arrowood Trading post across the highway from the Blue Whale attraction.
The Blue Whale closed in 1988 due to the Hugh’s declining health. In 1995, five years after Hugh’s death, three local Chamber of Commerce presidents, Dean Miller, Dr. Bob Shoup and Lon Godwin worked to restore the Blue Whale.
In 2002, the Blue Whale had a major facelift, with renovations to the restrooms, fence and grounds.
Zelta Davis died in 2001 and their daughter, Dee Dee Belt and her husband, Dick, and their family managed the Blue Whale grounds.
On April 1, 2020, the Blue Whale was purchased by Catoosa city leaders.
The Blue Whale is a Trip Advisory favorite with four out of five stars and is located at 2680 State Highway 66. For more information call (918) 232-5098.
