What are they doing to the OK 89 water tower by Lake Hefner?

[Joe Kimball]

I noticed some cranes and otherwise as I went by today.

[metro]

I believe they are repainting it.

[hipsterdoofus]

gee whiz, you mean we can't keep holding on to the good old days of '89?

[OKCTalker]

gee whiz, you mean we can't keep holding on to the good old days of '89?

Are you talking about 1889 or 1989?

[Kerry]

Are you talking about 1889 or 1989?

Both actually. Oklahoma City hosted the 1989 US Olympic Festival to help commemorate the 1889 land-run. We got the 1989 Festival as a make-up for the lost bid on the World's Fair.

[Larry OKC]

Both actually. Oklahoma City hosted the 1989 US Olympic Festival to help commemorate the 1889 land-run. We got the 1989 Festival as a make-up for the lost bid on the World's Fair.

Really? I didn't know we had a bid for the World's Fair. Live and learn. Is the World's Fair even operational any more or did it fall to the wayside (last I can recall was Knoxville in 82 and New Orleans in 84 or something like that).

Googled it and low and behold our friend Doug has all the details: Doug Dawgz Blog: OKC's 1st Canal & Its World's Fair

Seems we didn't lose out on the bid but due to financial calamities of the Knoxville and New Orleans World's Fairs, they were discontinued. Plus we had our own financial worries at the time but I remember the Olympic Festival fondly.

When I went by today (Tues) on the way to work I didn't see any cranes but did notice some very thick (as thick as the support rails) black tubing going all the way up along the outside support structure. Don't know if it is new or not or its purpose.

[Kerry]

Really? I didn't know we had a bid for the World's Fair. Live and learn. Is the World's Fair even operational any more or did it fall to the wayside (last I can recall was Knoxville in 82 and New Orleans in 84 or something like that).

Yep - we were close to having our own Sun Sphere. I have no idea if the World's Fair is even still around or where the last one was. I don't think they have Olympic Festivals anymore either.

[kevinpate]

Not sure, but I think the WF no longer takes place.
I enjoyed the WF at Knoxville, but never fit another WF
in the schedule either before or afterward. No real reason,
just dinna happen.

[Platemaker]

Sure do...

Shanghai 2010
Expo 2010 Shanghai China

Yeosu 2012
http://www.expo2012.or.kr/eng/

Milan 2015
Expo 2015 Milano - Sito Ufficiale di Expo 2015 Milano

[Kerry]

Sure do...

Shanghai 2010
Expo 2010 Shanghai China

Yeosu 2012
http://www.expo2012.or.kr/eng/

Milan 2015
Expo 2015 Milano - Sito Ufficiale di Expo 2015 Milano

Thanks. Maybe we should look into this. What kind of midway rides do they have?

[OKC@heart]

When I went by today (Tues) on the way to work I didn't see any cranes but did notice some very thick (as thick as the support rails) black tubing going all the way up along the outside support structure. Don't know if it is new or not or its purpose.

They may have been retro fitting the tower with telecommunication antennas. If that is the case that would explain the black tubing running up the support leg. It would be the black coaxial cable that runs from the base station unit to the transmitting antennas often located around the handrail on the tower top or on a new antenna tree installed on the top.

[Joe Kimball]

I believe they are repainting it.

Ha. Beautiful. That'd be about frightening to see from a distance.

[Larry OKC]

They may have been retro fitting the tower with telecommunication antennas. If that is the case that would explain the black tubing running up the support leg. It would be the black coaxial cable that runs from the base station unit to the transmitting antennas often located around the handrail on the tower top or on a new antenna tree installed on the top.

WOW, if that is what it is (not saying you are wrong), just that it seemed very thick (at least as thick as the main support columns). Also noticed a couple of other sets, one going up about 1/3rd and 2/3rds up the tower with the 1st one I mentioned all the way to the catwalk around the top...really dont know what it is for or how long it has been there

[Ward]

There was some discussion about Lake Hefner Water Tower at Lake Hefner Parkway/Portland Ave and Hefner Road. I'm not sure but I think it's been many years since it was painted. It's been looking pretty sad lately and in need of a makeover.

I think there was a thread just a few weeks ago about this same question, but I can't find it, and this older thread came up, so here we are.

Ahem, cough cough, the water tower has now been disguised as a giant suppository. Or a launch pad, maybe it will make Orbit. It's looks really silly in person while driving by.

I don't know but I assume the covering is to protect the workers while they sand blast the metal, and contain the sand blast media, in order to repair any rust, prime and repaint.