Oklahoma’s Blue Whale of Catoosa was originally built as a surprise gift for Zelta Davis.
Local zoologist and artist Hugh Davis and his friend Harold Thomas constructed the enormous blue structure from iron and concrete in the early 1970s. Davis gave it to his wife, Zelta, who collected whale figurines. The gift was revealed on September 7, 1972, for their 34th wedding anniversary.
The whale stood in a pond beside old Route 66 east of Catoosa, Oklahoma. What began as a private family attraction became popular with local residents and travelers. Davis added sand, picnic tables, and lifeguards before opening the swimming area to the public.
The attraction closed in 1988 and later deteriorated, but local volunteers and businesses helped restore it in 1997. The whale remains one of the best-known roadside structures on Oklahoma’s Route 66. It is a landmark rather than a natural feature, and its history is tied to one family’s personal gift.