CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA - A crowd of about 50 people gathered under a tent on Friday afternoon to celebrate the beginning of improvements to the park around the famous Blue Whale roadside attraction. In addition to city staff and local citizens, attendees included representatives from state and national offices as well as members of the Davis family.

The Blue Whale was completed in 1972 by zoologist and nature-lover Hugh Davis as an anniversary present for his wife, Zelta. For years prior to the Whale’s emergence, the property was home to Nature’s Acres where Hugh, Zelta, and their children introduced Route 66 travelers and local schoolchildren to the wonders of the natural world. Anchored by a giant wooden A.R.K. (which playfully stood for Animal Reptile Kingdom), the land around the Davis home contained a snake pit, an alligator farm, and wildlife trails. After the passing of Hugh and Zelta, the site fell into disrepair. In the early 2000s, son Blaine Davis and a crew of dedicated volunteers restored the Whale and the grounds one bucket of paint at a time.

The Blue Whale became one of Route 66’s most beloved roadside attractions once again with thousands of people from dozens of countries signing the visitor book every year. In 2021, the City of Catoosa purchased the Whale and the surrounding property; last year, the city received a sizeable grant from Oklahoma’s Route 66 Revitalization Commission to build a new gift shop and improve the grounds. But fear not, roadies: the Whale will remain untouched aside from regular maintenance.

Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell addresses the crowd at the Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma.

“You can argue the most iconic monument on the most famous road in the world is right here,” said Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell. “And it’s Catoosa’s own Blue Whale.” Pinnell thanked the State Legislature for creating the Revitalization fund and the Route 66 Commission for getting the funds out to communities across Oklahoma’s more than 400 miles of the Mother Road.

Blaine Davis, son of Hugh and Zelta and long-time member of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association Board, also spoke positively about the work the city has done and their plans for the future. “We took care of the Blue Whale the best we could. We did not have the ‘Three M’s’ like the city has,” Blaine said. “We did not have the money … the manpower … and we did not have the machinery to do the job that has been done here.” Blaine paused for a moment and looked out at the Whale and the pond, moved by the sight. “This just looks so nice … it’s a sight for sore eyes.”

Blaine Davis speaking to the crowd about his family’s legacy at the Whale.

Oklahoma Route 66 Association President Rhys Martin was also present. “I’m sad the old ARK is not standing where it was for decades,” he said, “But the city has said they’d like it integrated into the new site plan in some way. We’ve also talked to the city and the developers and expressed our willingness to be involved with the historic interpretation aspect of the project so that the overall Davis story is represented. Everyone knows about ol’ Blue, but not everyone knows about Hugh’s other work. I’m excited for the Whale to be the hook that continues his legacy of education.”

The new Visitor’s Center is expected to be completed in the Summer of 2026.

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