Catoosa

Back in the days when sailors would head out to sea in search of whales, they all longed to hear the cry of, “Thar she blows,” which meant that whales had been spotted. Today, while driving west on historic Route 66, the highway that John Steinbeck famously described as “the mother road,” you might hear a similar yell. But don’t worry. You haven’t somehow mysteriously diverted to somewhere hundreds of miles offshore into the Pacific Ocean. Instead, you’ve just entered Catoosa, home of the famous Blue Whale of Catoosa. The name of the town has nothing to do with whales, which might not be totally surprising, given that it’s almost equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic. Instead, the name translates roughly to “between two hills” in Cherokee, and the appropriateness of that name is readily apparent, as Catoosa is situated in a valley between Indian Hills and Round Mountain. “The hills have such a special significance to Catoosa,” says Realtor Betsy Swimmer. “The land around the area is so beautiful and Catoosa is just an amazing place.” But the valley in which it is situated is not indicative of the quality of life in Catoosa, where property values are steadily increasing and the quality of life is anything but low. With excellent schools, beautiful homes, fantastic amenities and easy highway access – not to mention a pretty cool whale – Catoosa hits the sweet spot between urban and suburban.

The median price of real estate in Catoosa is around $380,000, putting it towards the higher end of real estate prices in the state. However, there are still some bargains to be found in the area. A comfortable three-bedroom/one-bathroom ranch-style home lists for around $106,000, and a spacious three-bedroom/four-bathroom Craftsman-inspired house lists for $675,000.
Students in Catoosa can attend Verdigris Elementary, Verdigris Junior High and Verdigris High School, all of which are highly rated by Niche. Verdigris Elementary earns an A-, Verdigris Junior High earns a B+ and Verdigris High School earns a B.

When it comes to outdoor recreational opportunities, Catoosa delivers. Curtis Conley Memorial Park offers visitors a playground, a covered picnic area with seating and plenty of open space for play. In the summer months, you can cool off at the splash pad at Conley Memorial Park, too. Hathaway Park also offers a playground and covered picnic shelter, as well as a basketball court. Rogers Point Park in the northeastern quadrant of Catoosa has multiple walking trails throughout the area, as well as covered picnic shelters, a horseshoe court and access to the Verdigris River for fishing. In case you’re feeling lucky, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is situated in the southwest part of Catoosa, and the adjacent Cherokee Hills Golf Club invites you to take your best swing on 18 challenging holes. Swimmer says of the natural beauty of the area, “There are such beautiful hills and waterways all throughout Catoosa. It’s really a unique spot.”

Oh, and there’s also a whale. Completed in 1972, the beloved Blue Whale of Catoosa was originally built by zoologist Hugh Davis as a gift for his wife that he saw as a place where his grandchildren could play. Over the years, it has attracted quite a following, and today it is a destination for families from far and wide. The whale is 20 feet tall and 80 feet long, and explorers can enter through the whale’s mouth and, with a little persistence, discover the hidden room in the whale’s head. “The whale is an icon,” says Swimmer. “It’s really a love story.”

Multiple grocery stores in the area make food shopping easier. Both Reasor’s and Walmart Super Center can handle all of your food-related needs, and Walmart has the added benefit of being able to supply you with all of your home essentials, too. And because Catoosa offers such easy access to major thoroughfares, the shops of downtown Tulsa are less than 20 minutes away by car. When you feel like dining out, there are plenty of options to satisfy you in Catoosa. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino features multiple restaurants, and local establishments like The Lodge Eatery and Pub or Las Parillas Mexican Restaurant will fill you up with a wide variety of culinary options. “Catoosa is probably the most convenient location in Oklahoma,” says Swimmer. “People have no idea how convenient the location is until they move there.”

Whalers of old often had to travel thousands of miles over many years to find what they were looking for. Lucky for you, Catoosa is a whole lot closer and a whole lot easier to get to. If you’re looking for a home that is close to major urban conveniences with plenty of amenities nearby, not to mention superb homes and schools, Catoosa might just be the place to drop your anchor.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Nick Branston

Video By

Andrew Sutton