We have become a tourist town

[Jesseda]

my ex brother in law and his wife came to oklahoma city to visit his daughter which moved here from cali about 2 years ago, well My ex-brother in law visited oklahoma 15 years ago when he was married to my sister, he hated oklahoma city saying there was really nothing to do and it was boring. Well he returned this past weekend for 5 days, he had to go to bricktown twice, he loved it, him and his wife was telling me that it is so spacious and beautiful, they did the boat ride and loved it, later that night they told me they where walking back to there car and there was a man selling hot dogs from the stand, they had to get one, my ex-brother in law told me it felt kinda like a new york city feel with all the cars and tall buildings and vendors and people walking around. The following day i joined them all at the oklahoma city zoo, they where really impressed, we stayed all day, they said it beats the oakland and the san fransico zoo by a long shot, they said our zoo is really pretty and organized, and they couldnt believe the price to get in for something that great they said. The following day they went to the omniplex and to remington casino, that night they went to the new warren theater, they just couldnt believe how much stuff we had, they loved it all. I talked to my ex brother in law, he said that he would definitly return to vacation in okc, he said it has done a 180 in the past 15 years since he last been here, he said its a totally different city... So I guess us okc people are looking pretty good right now, and this is all before the first okc nba game kicks off.. Now all we need is a major rehab to frontier city expand it, add a mega ride that competes the mega them parks rides. Adda large downtown shopping mall or complex.. either way those are my suggestions, but okc is doing great, I am proud of my city, and it made me feel great that my ex brother inlaw who use to make fun of my city actually loves it now.

[Karried]

What a cool review.. thanks for sharing that. I hope it only gets better and better in the years to come.

[Midtowner]

We recently hosted a family reunion at my folks' home. About 50 or so people were there. A large contingent came from Southern California. I think now, some might actually move here just because of the low cost of living and quality entertainment options -- this decision made after visiting once.

They haven't been around for a real Oklahoma summer though

Considering the money they'd be making by selling there and buying here, they could probably afford to summer somewhere else.

[metro]

become, but Jesseda great post and excellent news from your out of town friends as well as Mid's family. Tons of So. Cal expatriates are moving here regularly it seems now.

[Jesseda]

okay become sorry, im not as edgimakated as you metro

[Jesseda]

hi midtowner, I came from cali, i have been here 25 years, my oldest sister moved out here 5 years ago after her divorce, then my niece decided to go to college out here 2 years ago, she loves it, my nephew then moved out here and works at tinker, my other sister who is in san diego, is planning on moving out here next year with her husband and kids. It must be something in the water out here, because It was just me and my parents out in oklahoma for the longest, now we have a large growing family here in the okc area and they all love it out here, they only draw back is the weather.

[JWil]

hi midtowner, I came from cali, i have been here 25 years, my oldest sister moved out here 5 years ago after her divorce, then my niece decided to go to college out here 2 years ago, she loves it, my nephew then moved out here and works at tinker, my other sister who is in san diego, is planning on moving out here next year with her husband and kids. It must be something in the water out here, because It was just me and my parents out in oklahoma for the longest, now we have a large growing family here in the okc area and they all love it out here, they only draw back is the weather.

I've lived here since 1995, but didn't "love" living here until about 2002 or 03. Let me explain.

I too moved to OKC from Cali (LA, via a year in Colorado). I got here in August 1995, right after the bombing and before MAPs really started to take root. I was in high school then and there really wasn't anything here to do. From that point until just after college I didn't love living here, but it was okay enough. I didn't miss LA exactly because I was born in Texas and my family has Oklahoma roots, so it wasn't an "I hate this weird land" deal. I just didn't hook into OKC.

Well, around 2002 or so, I noticed a ton of changes. Of course, the Ford Center just opened and Bricktown was starting to grow, but it was more than that. I just noticed The City was different. It was getting better all around. From that moment, I've fallen in love with living in OKC and I hope I never have to move away from it. I'm 29 now and plan on raising my family here. I guess I'm part of that target demographic that OKC wants to keep around. Well, it's working. Not only am I staying, but many of my high school friends are staying as well.

I can't tell you guys how proud I am to have an OKC address. I absolutely love it here. I have no clue where my life will take me, but I consider OKC my hometown now and if I never left here I wouldn't complain. I love that when I got here OKC had the OKC Cavalry; now we have the OKC Thunder (or whatever)... All-Sports Stadium to the Brick... Myriad to Ford Center... so many changes in my 13-14 years here. It really is insane.

I don't have any personal history of what OKC was like before 1995. But since then, all I can say is that OKC has grown and become better every single day and I'm damn proud to be here for the amazing explosion.

[Pete]

I changed the title for you Jesseda, as it was just a typo.

And thanks for the great write-up.

I moved away almost 20 years ago and OKC is a completely different city just in that short period of time. I get to play tourist on my visits and never run out of things to do. In fact, I never get to half the things on my list.

It's fun to think about what the next 10-15 years will bring. Even bigger changes are on the horizon.

[jawgie]

I recently had out of town family from Alabama visit with the same type of reaction. First they had thought Oklahoma was all flat land and were surprised by the hilly country side.
They loved all the usual attractions with Bricktown being their favorite spot.
They were impressed by land run statues and art work downtown... buffaloes (which by the way was the first thing they ask to see "live buffalo".
After seeing the city through their eyes I was very proud of our city.
We had a great time showing them everything as well.

[HOT ROD]

I changed the title for you Jesseda, as it was just a typo.

And thanks for the great write-up.

I moved away almost 20 years ago and OKC is a completely different city just in that short period of time. I get to play tourist on my visits and never run out of things to do. In fact, I never get to half the things on my list.

It's fun to think about what the next 10-15 years will bring. Even bigger changes are on the horizon.

^^ Ditto that for me too.

OKC really IS wonderful now and getting better!

I just hate the heat, otherwise, ........ I'd love to come back!

[Pete]

I did want to point out that even as recently as the early 90's, there was no "there" to Oklahoma City. No place to take people to show them the town. All you could do is drive around in the car, but even then, where could you take someone?

Consider:

• The area around Lake Hefner was still weeds and mud -- no trails and only a seamy Stars & Stripes park. No restaurants, either.
  
• Bricktown didn't exist except for Spaghetti Warehouse as I recall. Certainly no canal or people walking around.
  
• The Skirvin was shuttered and looked terrible. The only downtown hotel was a shabby Sheraton Century Center.
  
• The Civic Center and Myriad were really looking rough around the edges and there were not many interesting events booked in them.
  
• Most of downtown was a ghost town. There were huge amounts of vacancy and it just seemed completely dead at most times.
  
• Midtown looked like a ghetto. Plaza Court was empty, Auto Alley was completely dilapidated and ugly, etc., etc.

It's really amazing if you think about it.

[Luke]

I really hope downtown can get a mall or shopping center. With all the rooftops down there, a unique shopping experience would be cool.

[Doug Loudenback]

I really hope downtown can get a mall or shopping center. With all the rooftops down there, a unique shopping experience would be cool.

Of course, that was the original Urban Renewal plan ... but the former space set aside for the shopping mall has just been taken!

[Patrick]

I really hope downtown can get a mall or shopping center. With all the rooftops down there, a unique shopping experience would be cool.

We need an upscale shopping village downtown. Something like The Grove in LA.

[Pete]

JWil, it's great to hear that perspective from a younger person that moved here from elsewhere -- especially places that most consider great areas in which to live.

You timed things just about right as all the big movement started not longer after you arrived.

Being older, I witnessed a similar period in the 70's and early 80's where there was lots of prosperity and optimism. But there was never the same amount of pride and civic involvement that you see now, and I truly believe the enthusiasm of the citizens -- and their willingness to support some big thinking -- is what will ultimately make OKC a truly special place.

That, and the continued guidance of strong civic and political leaders.

[Doug Loudenback]

This thread is enough to make a grown old man cry ... in a very good sort of way. My oh my, how things have changed!

[Pete]

But thankfully there is space along the new proposed boulevard that is earmarked for a more modern, lifestyle type of retail.

Who knew that when the old Galleria project crashed and burned in the 80's that it would end up being a blessing?

Not only do we get the spectacular Devon complex there but an enclosed mall in that location would have probably really struggled.

[Thunder]

Pete, is OKC enough for you to move back now?

[AFCM]

What's more impressive than Oklahoma City hosting Big XII basketball championships, Big XII baseball championships, NCAA Women's College World Series, International Rowing Competitions, US Olympic Rowing trials, and International Wakeboarding competitions?

...the fact that the visitors leave Oklahoma City impressed.

[okcustu]

cant wait for the thunder to get here perfect opportunity to show thousands of people a yaer our city

[Pete]

Pete, is OKC enough for you to move back now?

Thunder, I think about it all the time but I've got pretty deep roots where I live now in Southern Cal, as I've been here 18 years.

But more than anything, it's the summers that keep me away. I have a very low tolerance for heat and humidity.

I'd love to have homes both in Cali and OKC but for the time being can't justify that. But that's the goal I'm working towards.

[betts]

I think the Native American Cultural Center is going to be a HUGE draw. Now, if we could get the Bricktown-Adventure Center train going, that would make this a great place for people to visit.

[Pete]

The Oklahoma History Museum is also a really cool and large-scale attraction but it's location next to the Capitol makes it easy to miss/forget.

It would be really nice to have a train of some sort tying all these things together.

And given the workforces at the capitol complex and the HSC, a quick and easy way to move between them and the CBD and Midtown (still the place I think most people will end up living) would finally give OKC a real urban experience and help all those areas grow and prosper.

[BDP]

I'll add another recent anecdote for the thread:

There is a sales guy that calls on me about 5 times a year from Dallas. Our company has been one of his clients for years, but we had never really done anything when he visited. He usually stayed out by the airport and never explored the city.

Well, the last few times he came I took him out at night. We've eaten at the Paseo and Soliel and went out in bricktown. I showed him what's going on in Midtown and some of the housing developments north of bricktown. I made the comment that "Oklahoma City is really starting to change and downtown is becoming a place to be". And he said "starting? You guys have more to do downtown right now than Dallas does".

And I guess he's right, with the demise of the West End and Deep Ellum, Oklahoma City's downtown has actually gotten a little more active than even Dallas's downtown. Obviously, the Dallas Metroplex offers 10 times what Oklahoma City does, but really, we have developed a little niche and possibly even one of the better urban experiences in the region.

And this is all before any kind of critical mass of residents have moved into downtown. If we can keep growing that, then downtown Oklahoma City has the potential to be one of the best small/medium market urban destination in the country. This could easily snowball into being a great value for tourists, conventioneers, and start-ups, especially for the immediate region.

[jbrown84]

I don't think the Grove is the best model. It does have the kind of tenants that would be great down here, but I don't like the way it relates to the street. There are just big plain walls along the streets, and the activity and storefronts are on an inner open walkway. It's more like just a mall where they took the roof off the center courts. It also feels a little too Disney-fied to me. I prefer something like the C2S renderings depict, large, tall storefronts facing the boulevard and an inner court that connects the Myriad Gardens to Redbud Park (new central park).