Previous OKC Monorail Plans

[mkjeeves]

Part of it turns up:

https://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/bfs/5188172090.html

[Edgar]

Sad what the greedy hicks have done to the people's fairgrounds. It used to be a magical place. Avert my gaze when passing by now.

[Edgar]

btw, I remember ta the time of the sad deed, the razing of the historic SFS Cornett made a solemn pledge to fill the motorsports void quickly. haven't heard anything since. More smarmy bunk from Mick.

[Tritone]

The CL ad begs the question: Whose number is 5##-1### and who let him in on the secret sale, auction, abandonment, or falling off the truck?

[Urbanized]

The auction of the monorail was very public, covered in newspaper and on television - both before and after the event - maybe 10 years ago. Agree or disagree with its removal; that's fair. But there was certainly no deception or subterfuge involved in its sale.

[Urban Pioneer]

Actually, I would hazard a guess that this particular unit is not from the auction but from the recent demolition after the tree limbs landed on the remaining train.

Just a guess, I bet this is via whoever the wrecking company is that won the bid to dismantle the last train, support pylons, and girder.

[bradh]

Sad what the greedy hicks have done to the people's fairgrounds. It used to be a magical place. Avert my gaze when passing by now.

the fairgrounds a magical place? why don't you open up to the new magical places of OKC (the river, arena, etc)

[zookeeper]

the fairgrounds a magical place? why don't you open up to the new magical places of OKC (the river, arena, etc)

Brad, Were you around OKC in the '60s and '70s? The fairgrounds truly was a ~~ magical ~~ place. The fairgrounds was not only the home for the State Fair that was megatimes the size of the current fair, but there was also All-Sports Stadium (the old 89ers ballpark), the State Fair Speedway, the Kirkpatrick Planetarium was inside the Science and Arts Foundation building which also housed the science museum and many traveling shows, fine arts shows, and more. The State Fair Space Needle/Tower was in full operation taking passengers up and down as it spun slowly (great views!). The monorail wound its way around the fairgrounds. The State Fair Arena was the city's main arena until the Myriad opened. The arena had Blazers hockey, the All-College basketball tournament (oldest continuous major NCAA hoops tourney), circuses, ice shows. It was quite the entertainment spot, all in nicely landscaped grounds with fountains, lots of well-kept flower gardens. If you never knew it then, I can understand your skepticism. But it really was all that and more. Anybody here during that time remember the fairgrounds with a fondness that's hard to put into words. It was, well... magical.

[mkjeeves]

Actually, I would hazard a guess that this particular unit is not from the auction but from the recent demolition after the tree limbs landed on the remaining train.

Just a guess, I bet this is via whoever the wrecking company is that won the bid to dismantle the last train, support pylons, and girder.

That's my guess too.

[bradh]

Brad, Were you around OKC in the '60s and '70s? The fairgrounds truly was a ~~ magical ~~ place. The fairgrounds was not only the home for the State Fair that was megatimes the size of the current fair, but there was also All-Sports Stadium (the old 89ers ballpark), the State Fair Speedway, the Kirkpatrick Planetarium was inside the Science and Arts Foundation building which also housed the science museum and many traveling shows, fine arts shows, and more. The State Fair Space Needle/Tower was in full operation taking passengers up and down as it spun slowly (great views!). The monorail wound its way around the fairgrounds. The State Fair Arena was the city's main arena until the Myriad opened. The arena had Blazers hockey, the All-College basketball tournament (oldest continuous major NCAA hoops tourney), circuses, ice shows. It was quite the entertainment spot, all in nicely landscaped grounds with fountains, lots of well-kept flower gardens. If you never knew it then, I can understand your skepticism. But it really was all that and more. Anybody here during that time remember the fairgrounds with a fondness that's hard to put into words. It was, well... magical.

I never knew that fairgrounds.

[Bullbear]

Brad, Were you around OKC in the '60s and '70s? The fairgrounds truly was a ~~ magical ~~ place. The fairgrounds was not only the home for the State Fair that was megatimes the size of the current fair, but there was also All-Sports Stadium (the old 89ers ballpark), the State Fair Speedway, the Kirkpatrick Planetarium was inside the Science and Arts Foundation building which also housed the science museum and many traveling shows, fine arts shows, and more. The State Fair Space Needle/Tower was in full operation taking passengers up and down as it spun slowly (great views!). The monorail wound its way around the fairgrounds. The State Fair Arena was the city's main arena until the Myriad opened. The arena had Blazers hockey, the All-College basketball tournament (oldest continuous major NCAA hoops tourney), circuses, ice shows. It was quite the entertainment spot, all in nicely landscaped grounds with fountains, lots of well-kept flower gardens. If you never knew it then, I can understand your skepticism. But it really was all that and more. Anybody here during that time remember the fairgrounds with a fondness that's hard to put into words. It was, well... magical.

I remember these fairgrounds fondly. it is surely nothing like that today and hasn't been in a very long time

[Jim Kyle]

I doubt that anyone younger than 60 can possibly remember that place! And Zookeeper didn't mention the wonderful exhibits in the Transportation Building, or the airplanes mounted on pylons (including the first Aero Commander), or the first auto off the GM assembly line in OKC...

Fort Cottonwood...

The original Frontier City...

The NHRA drag strip where national competition occurred...

Yes, we've lost a lot.

[mkjeeves]

I don't remember the drag strip but I do remember the rest.

The first pro sport event I attended was the Blazers at the Fairgrounds Arena about '68. (Anyone remember the comedy bit Hockey Here Tonight by Archie Campbell? Popular during the same time frame as the Blazers then and the Central Professional Hockey League. ) Also around the same time, the *Mabee Garrer art collection was at the Science and Arts building (mummy on display!) and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art was on the circle by the space needle.

*Worth driving to Shawnee to see if you haven't. Or at least a side trip.
http://www.mgmoa.org/

[Achilleslastand]

I doubt that anyone younger than 60 can possibly remember that place! And Zookeeper didn't mention the wonderful exhibits in the Transportation Building, or the airplanes mounted on pylons (including the first Aero Commander), or the first auto off the GM assembly line in OKC...

Fort Cottonwood...

The original Frontier City...

The NHRA drag strip where national competition occurred...

Yes, we've lost a lot.

But...but..........but....
We have a renamed river and a relocated basketball team, and countless trendy food trucks for hipsters to eat at.
Life is good.

[trousers]

But...but..........but....
We have a renamed river and a relocated basketball team, and countless trendy food trucks for hipsters to eat at.
Life is good.

All of which lead to the downfall of the fairgrounds...got it.