From the beginning, Oklahoma has not only pulled themselves up by their own bootstraps, but used those boots to kick some cowboy charm into the world. The state is a mix of history and progress, Western and Native American, urban sophistication and family farmland.
From the arts scene in Tulsa and Norman to the museums and history in Oklahoma City and Shawnee, Oklahoma presents planners with down-home charm and irresistible venues.
Tulsa
Tulsa enjoys a rich mix of Western and Native American heritage, but lately it’s the town’s future that has planners doing a double take, according to Paula Sanders, vice president of Visit Tulsa.
“Our downtown is undergoing a fabulous renaissance,” she says. “There’s a number of investments happening, including new hotels and retail space.”
Included in that progress is the new Fairfield Inn and Suites, which opened late last year, and a new hotel under construction adjacent to the Tulsa Convention Center. The property, as yet unflagged, is emerging out of the historic 11-story City Hall building as a mix of new and old. The Tulsa World reports that steel recovered from the area’s former General Motors plant is being used by developers to construct a separate fitness center and lounge for the property.
Also on the horizon for downtown Tulsa is One Place, a new 18-story tower featuring a mix of retail and residential space. Both the renovated City Hall property and One Place are slated to open in 2013.
Tulsa’s reputation as an arts destination continues to grow. Guthrie Green, an urban park and pavilion, opened last year in downtown Tulsa’s Brady Arts District, providing a place for concerts, festivals or just a few quiet minutes of reflection along the tree-lined paths. Formerly a truck-loading space, the $8 million, block-long park features gardens, water features, performance space and a cafe. The pavilion, lawn and stage are available for events.
Two new cultural facilities come to Tulsa in 2013. The Woody Guthrie Archives will relocate from New York to a renovated warehouse in the arts district, marking the celebrated return of the hometown hero’s work. The Woody Guthrie Center will offer space for events as well as a chance to explore the life of Guthrie through exhibits. This spring, the Philbrook Museum of Art will open Philbrook Downtown. The 30,000-square-foot location will focus on modern and contemporary art, with a special look at 20th century Native American works. The main Philbrook campus remains a top draw for groups, from the elegant Italian Renaissance mansion housing one of the top art collections in the South to the manicured beauty of the surrounding 23 acres. Planners can select a number of venues, including the 250-person auditorium, the museum itself for an after-hours reception or the grounds for an outdoor event. PageBreak
When it comes to culture and heritage, Sanders says there are some standouts.
“Two things are unique to the area: our tremendous Art Deco architecture and the importance of Route 66,” she says.
Tulsa’s oil wealth in the early 20th century sparked the beginning of the town’s art scene, including the city’s prized collection of Art Deco buildings. Fifty structures can be viewed via a self-guided walking tour, or planners can arrange for guided tours.
“We’ve done a better job (of preservation) than some cities,” Sanders says. “We’re ranked as No. 3 in the nation for Art Deco, just behind New York City and Miami.”
In 1926, Cyrus Avery made his case in front of Congress for a national highway, which resulted in the famous Route 66. This year, the city dedicated a new bronze sculpture at Cyrus Avery Plaza, near the spot where the road crossed the Arkansas River. Plans are under way for a future Route 66 museum at the site as well.
In addition to the Tulsa Convention Center, which offers more than 300,000 square feet of space, planners can also utilize the 18,500-seat BOK Center or Expo Square, which offers more than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space. Meetings properties in the area include the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Conference Center, Doubletree Hotel Tulsa Downtown and the Ambassador Hotel Downtown.
Oklahoma City
How was the West truly won? Courage, a quality abundantly on display in Oklahoma City, from the classic National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to the deeply moving Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. Both the good times and bad are woven into this city’s heritage, and groups can experience the whole story at the Oklahoma History Center. But residents here have never been content to just reflect on the past; the cowboy spirit is behind a massive progress drive throughout the town.
“Oklahoma City is making major improvements to increase the walkability of our downtown area through Project 180,” says Robin O’Connor, director of sales and services for the Oklahoma City CVB.
The project focuses on improving 180 acres of the downtown area, including new street construction, sidewalks, landscaping, crosswalks and more, making it easier for attendees walking from the Cox Convention Center to any of downtown Oklahoma City’s seven convention hotels.
There are also several new hotels coming to Oklahoma City this year, including the 134-room Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown, which will offer around 5,000 square feet of event space, and a Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites together in one tower in the Bricktown entertainment district, which will offer 255 rooms and 6,000 square feet of event space. In Midtown, the historic Osler building will be renovated into the Ambassador Oklahoma City. The new properties will boost the city’s inventory to more than 2,000 rooms.
Meanwhile, plans are under way for the new Oklahoma City Convention Center, which will be built south of the Myriad Botanical Gardens near the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The convention center is slated to open in 2018 with 200,000 square feet of event space.
While Oklahoma City has a solid selection of famed museums, O’Connor also has a suggestion for planners looking for something a bit different: the Boathouse District, located at the southern edge of downtown on the Oklahoma River. PageBreak
“The Chesapeake Boathouse offers an event room for meetings as well as team-building activities such as dragon boating and kayaking,” she says.
New venues also include the Devon Boathouse and the Chesapeake Finish Line tower, where attendees can enjoy amazing river and city skyline views.
In addition to the Cox Convention Center, which offers 100,000 square feet of event space, planners can also take advantage of the Sheraton Hotel Oklahoma City Downtown, with more than 28,000 square feet of event space, the Magnuson Hotel and Meridian Convention Center, and the Renaissance Oklahoma City Convention Center Hotel, with 66,000 square feet of meeting space.
Norman
Just south of Oklahoma City is the college town of Norman, featuring a rich blend of art, heritage and entertainment.
The University of Oklahoma even has its own art district, featuring classic works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Ansel Adams and more at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, and an outdoor sculpture garden. The city itself offers a host of galleries, plus performing arts by the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company, Norman Ballet Company and Norman Philharmonic, as well as live music venues like the Brewhouse and The Deli, which welcome groups.
Off-site venues include the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, where up to 425 guests can enjoy a reception by a full-size bronze mammoth or receive a special after-hours tour, and the MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery, where events are surrounded by local art. Planners can also contact the National Weather Center in Norman for a truly unique group tour of the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and Weather Service office.
Meeting facilities in Norman include the Embassy Suites Norman Conference Center, with more than 50,000 square feet of space; Holiday Inn Norman, with more than 7,000 square feet of event space; and a variety of spaces at the University of Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma Memorial Union and OU Forum, which features 22 meeting rooms.
Shawnee
East of Oklahoma City off Interstate 40 is the town of Shawnee, home to the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center. Shawnee is filled with delightful surprises, from the Country Cottage Primitives Lavender Farm to the Ritz Theater. Built in 1897, the theater is the oldest in the state featuring live productions and is available for events.
Meeting facilities include the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, a 72-acre fairground campus with a 7,500-seat outdoor arena, a 19,200-square-foot indoor arena and 152,000 square feet of exhibit space; the 104-room America’s Best Value Inn; and the 99-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites.
Freelance writer Beth Bartlett sneaks over the Arkansas state line to Tulsa’s art museums as often as she can.
