Blue Whale of Catoosa | Historic Landmark on Route 66
The Blue Whale of Catoosa is an 80-foot concrete whale grinning out of a spring-fed pond on Route 66, and it’s been there since the early 1970s. Hugh Davis built it as a family swimming spot, and for decades that’s exactly what it was — families splashed in the pond, picnicked on the shore, and climbed all over the whale’s back.
By the 1980s and 90s the whale had fallen into rough shape. The city council once floated the idea of chopping it up, keeping only the tail, and building a new park around that. Locals petitioned, rallied, and fought to save the whole whale — and won.
One important note: we visited before the big 2026 renovation, so our photos — and everything below about our visit — show the classic whale-and-pond version.
📍 At a Glance: Blue Whale of Catoosa
Location: Catoosa, Oklahoma — right on Route 66
Address: 2600 N Highway 66, Catoosa, OK 74015
Admission: Free (donations appreciated)
Welcome Center: Open daily 9 AM–5 PM — gift shop, restrooms, exhibits.
Park Grounds: Open daily, dawn to dusk.
Big-Rig Friendly: Yes — on-site lot, expanded in 2026. We had no trouble parking our bus.
Pets: Dogs welcome on leash.
Website: City of Catoosa — Blue Whale
The Blue Whale of Catoosa
Bright blue paint and a cheerful red smile make it impossible to miss from the road. The whale sits half in the pond, and it’s hollow inside — you can walk in through the mouth and all the way back to the tail, where a ladder leads up to the tip (tight squeeze, but worth it!).
Other Quirky Structures on the Property
The property doesn’t stop with the whale. When we visited, other whimsical concrete sculptures — mushrooms, a lighthouse-style building, and various animals — dotted the grounds. The big ark was away being restored at the time.
New Since Our Visit: The 2026 Welcome Center
After our visit, the site closed in fall 2025 for a $1.8 million renovation funded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission, timed for the Route 66 centennial. It reopened May 30, 2026 with a 5K run, live music, vendors, and fireworks.
The centerpiece is a brand-new 4,000-square-foot Welcome Center — gift shop, historical exhibits and photos, a concession area, restrooms, event space, and the whale’s first neon sign. The whale itself got a fresh coat of paint, and the grounds got better lighting, landscaping, and an expanded parking lot. The paths to the whale were improved too.
The ark and the giant mushrooms were taken off-site for restoration during the project. The city’s plan was to reassemble the ark on the north side of the pond and restore the mushroom patch, but I haven’t been able to confirm whether they’re back in place yet — so our photos still show the pre-renovation grounds.
If you go now: pack a picnic, bring a fishing rod, or feed the turtles. Swimming in the pond isn’t allowed anymore.
The Blue Whale of Catoosa is more than a roadside oddity — it’s the kind of place that only exists because regular people refused to let it disappear. If you’re on Route 66, don’t just drive by — stop, walk right up to the whale, and check out the new Welcome Center.
Check out more Route 66 oddities on our Things To Do in Oklahoma page or explore more travel tips and quirky stops on our Homepage.
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