About Blue Whale of Catoosa
Beside Route 66 in Catoosa, an enormous blue whale appears to have surfaced in a small Oklahoma pond and decided to stay. The concrete creature measures about 80 feet long and 20 feet tall, with a broad smiling mouth, round openings in its head, and platforms that once turned the whale into an elaborate swimming attraction.
Hugh S. Davis built the whale as a place for his grandchildren to play. Working with friend Harold Thomas, Davis spent about two years welding the framework and covering it with hand-mixed cement. What began as a family project grew into a roadside landmark large enough to attract travelers from far beyond Catoosa.
During its swimming-hole years, visitors climbed onto the whale, jumped from platforms, and used slides extending toward the water. Swimming is no longer allowed, but people can still walk into and around the structure, explore its unusual anatomy, fish in the pond, and photograph one of Route 66’s most recognizable roadside animals.
The Blue Whale is normally open during daylight hours and admission is free. Seasonal facilities and site conditions can change, so visitors should check current information before traveling. Few roadside attractions make as strong a first impression as an eighty-foot whale waiting beside a highway in a landlocked state.