Route 66 in the News
Rose Bowl Making a Comeback
2008-07-28 17:18:07
TULSA, Okla. - The historic Rose Bowl on Route 66 is set to open this week after two years of renovations to transform the old bowling alley into an events center.
"Our ultimate goal is to create the experience of being in a retro dining hall with food, alcohol and entertainment," said co-owner Sam Baker.
The pink, round building at 7419 E. 11th St. will feature a punk rock concert on Thursday with the headlining act Guttermouth.
Not all of the renovations are complete, so the center will be opened only for smaller events until Baker can get the building up to code requirements for larger gatherings.
Bringing the 48-year-old concrete building up to code has been challenging, he said.
"If it were not for City Councilor David Patrick bringing all the city players together, I don't know how long it would have taken to get us open. David was the catalyst to get us off high center," he said.
Patrick said he was glad to help because the Rose Bowl is such an important Tulsa icon.
"I really want to see this open. It has a history of its own and it would be a huge shame to lose it like we've lost so many other buildings," Patrick said. The Rose Bowl closed as a bowling facility in March 2005, after a fire and later vandalism.
"This is going to be the pride of District 3 and Route 66 on this side of Tulsa," Patrick said. "I think it is going to be an economic generator for this area."
Baker, who grew up in District 3, said his goal for the interior has been to keep some of the bowling alley character while integrating Route 66 wall murals and signs.
"When you're in here, I want it to give you the impression that you are literally partying right on Route 66," he said.
Baker used some of the wooden bowling alley lanes for flooring in a table-seating area. The rest of the lanes and much of the old bowling equipment was auctioned off, he said.
The plan is to have a restaurant in the building, but for now, catered food can be brought in, Baker said.
The main issue he has faced in getting the center open is obtaining an occupancy certificate.
Patrick said that with some minor modifications, Baker will get temporary occupancy approval, allowing him to open for smaller events with a long-range plan of modifying the building in phases to bring it up to full occupancy.
The building is a little more than 30,000 square feet. The temporary certificate will allow between 500 and 800 people inside.
Baker anticipates that full capacity will eventually be between 2,500 and 3,000 people, but he said that will be determined by the amount of fire suppression, rest rooms and parking required.
Another hurdle has been the installation of a costly sprinkler system, he said.
"We have a concrete bunker here, but the code book says anything this size needs to have a sprinkler system," he said.
Patrick said the possibilities for the event center are endless, from hosting reunion events to car shows.
Baker said he looks forward to building a relationship with the city "where we could help accent both McClure Park and Route 66."
McClure Park is located just north of the Rose Bowl and is one of Tulsa's larger parks, with a large swimming pool, disc golf course, recreation center and baseball fields.
"We've had a lot of interest from a lot of different people who want to use it," Baker said of the Rose Bowl. "We think when we get up and running, we can be a venue that draws a lot of people into Tulsa."
Baker and his partner purchased the Rose Bowl in 2006 for $295,000.
~P.J. Lassek, TulsaWorld.com
See also:
Comments about this article? Tell us.
Need to Know More?
SEARCH Route 66 University.
Home : Our Campus : Maps : Businesses : Events
Study 66 : COMMUNITY : Photo Tour : Campus Rag : Catalog
