Despite being saved from demolition in the spring of 2022, is the Tulsa Skyride being set up to be taken out, regardless of public opinion or the enormity of the historic loss to Tulsa and Oklahoma? Why destroy more priceless Tulsa history and make Tulsa less special and unique? Preserving the Tulsa Skyride and returning […]
Friends of the Tulsa Skyride earlier today submitted the following outline for skyride solutions to the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority and Expo Square. A pressing concern is Expo Square’s stated intention to put the skyride for sale on auction in mid-October. Putting the skyride up for auction could lead to outcomes that result in […]
What can Tulsa learn from this terrible loss? A request for a demolition permit was filed on Friday, the 23rd of September 2022. Without legal power to deny the request, the City of Oklahoma City approved the permit first thing on Monday morning, the 26th of September. Apparently just minutes later, the destruction began. People […]
If all options are being considered for “moving forward” with the skyride, why is the skyride announced to be put up for sale via surplus auction planned for mid-October? Wouldn’t a winning bid represent a commitment to complete the sales transaction? Expo Square’s May 2022 statement indicated, “Any sale will be subject to defined removal […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Tulsa Skyride Completes First Step Toward a Future on the National Register of Historic Places A family favorite and Tulsa tradition since 1965, the Tulsa State Fair Skyride has been deemed to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the Oklahoma Historical Society State Historic Preservation Office. This […]
Lingering pandemic challenges, rapidly rising prices, shortages, and more: nearly all of us are struggling with most or all of these issues and others. How can you even think about trying to save the Tulsa Skyride when you’re being stressed and strained just to keep your head above water each day? Under circumstances like these, […]
Map of all Von Roll skyrides still in the USA Tulsa’s classic Von Roll skyride stands alone in a vast central region of the United States. This map clearly highlights what a unique feature the Tulsa Skyride is for Tulsa and Oklahoma. The nearest neighboring Von Roll skyride is to the north at the Minnesota […]
To run again anywhere in the United States, the Tulsa Skyride has to run right where it is. Relocation is not an option, except to another country. Relocating a ropeway is considered to be a new installation. All new installations must comply with the current codes and standards that regulate ropeways in the United States. […]
Scott Martin is working with the Bell family to make a documentary on the Bell’s Amusement Park story. The upcoming documentary is named Paving Paradise. As part of his work on the documentary, Scott has put together this video about the history of the Tulsa Skyride. The video includes historic footage, including skyride construction scenes, […]
The heavy lifting is now done. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on a major five-year overhaul of the entire skyride system. This comprehensive skyride renovation was completed in 2019, the last year that the skyride operated. $450,000 were spent from 2015 through 2019 for the renovation which included a major overhaul of the […]