Oak Cliff

On May 20, 1927, American aviator Charles Lindbergh took off from New York City in his plane named “The Spirt of St. Louis,” bound for Paris, France. His goal was to become the first pilot to fly non-stop between the two cities and win a $25,000 prize offered by hotelier Raymond Orteig for accomplishing the feat. Lindbergh landed in Paris the following night on May 21. It was a remarkable feat for the time, as Lindbergh was the first person to complete a solo transatlantic flight, an accomplishment made all the more remarkable by the fact that he did so without the aid of modern-day technology. In fact, at the time, cities across the country would create signs visible from the air to let pilots know where they were. One such sign still exists today. Installed the same year as Lindbergh’s history-making flight, the Aviator’s Arrow that sits atop Reservoir Hill in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Tulsa points to the original site of the Tulsa airport. It was originally installed to help guide Lindbergh when he came to the area to celebrate his achievement, and today serves to remind residents of Tulsa’s burgeoning aerospace and aviation industries. It is the perfect metaphor for the neighborhood, which celebrates the past history of the area while simultaneously remaining laser-focused on the future. Offering potential buyers a wide range of architectural styles and easy access to all of the amenities that make Tulsa such a cosmopolitan city, this desirable neighborhood seamlessly blends convenience and comfort in a welcoming and vibrant community.

The median price of real estate in the Oak Cliff area is $176,000, and buyers should expect to pay around $112 per square foot. A cozy two-bedroom/one-bathroom ranch-style home can list for about $71,000, and prices can go up to $426,000 for a spacious four-bedroom/three-bathroom Mediterranean-inspired house. “The variety of styles in the area is great,” says Realtor Melanie Hughes-Morris. “My family moved to the Oak Cliff area when I was 6 years old, and I thought it was like ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ It’s such a wonderful neighborhood.”

Students in the neighborhood can attend Burroughs Elementary, Central Junior High and Central High School, and all three schools have very active Parent-Teacher Associations, so parents have the opportunity to be involved in their children’s education. Students at Central High School also have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities ranging from the Academic Bowl team to the anime club to theater and student government.

Oak Cliff is what Hughes-Morris describes as “a very walkable neighborhood,” and hiking up and down Reservoir Hill is a superb way to get your daily steps in. Alternatively, you can make your way along the Tisdale Expressway Trail that winds its way south for about a mile along the Tisdale Expressway. The paved path is ideal for walkers or bikers, though there are no rest stops along the way. A few minutes south of Oak Cliff is John Starks Park, named for the legendary NBA player and Tulsa native. The park features two picnic shelters, a playground, tennis courts, a basketball court and a paved walking path that encircles a large open field perfect for play or relaxation on a summer day.

For groceries and other shopping, head to Seminole Hills Shopping Center, where you’ll find Oasis Fresh Market for all of your food-related needs. When you’re looking to dine out, you can hit Waffle That for some amazing waffles topped with just about every possible addition you can imagine, and Cajunboil Catering Food Truck for a little bit of Cajun spice in the form of gumbo, jambalaya or etouffee. And with easy access to the L. L. Tisdale Parkway, anywhere in downtown Tulsa is just a 10-minute drive south.

With such a wide variety of home styles – paired with a wide range of price points – and easy access to amazing amenities, you don’t need a beacon to point you to this great neighborhood. But just in case, Oak Cliff has got a fifty-foot-tall marble arrow to let you know right where it is.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Nick Branston

Video By

Antoine Allen