A Brief History
Turkey Mountain, a landmark on Tulsa’s riverfront, describes an area north of 71st Street and west of the Arkansas River within Tulsa’s city limits. Turkey Mountain is a public park encompassing hundreds of rugged, wooded acres located between I-44 and 71st Street and the Arkansas River and U.S. 75. The park is owned and managed by River Parks Authority, a public trust authority cr
eated by the City of Tulsa and Tulsa County to oversee Tulsa’s riverfront development. The highest point on the mountain rises approximately 300 feet above the river channel and is located within the park’s boundaries. Land acquisition for a public park on Turkey Mountain began in 1978 with 147 acres purchased with funds from Tulsa County, a federal grant, and a contribution from the landowner, J.L. Jatras donated an additional 80 acres of land at the corner of 71st and Elwood. In subsequent years, additional tracts were acquired with City of Tulsa 3rd Penny Sales Tax funds. Those parcels and others owned by the City of Tulsa were leased to the Authority and included in the Wilderness boundaries. The extension of the VisionTulsa program in 2016 includes $7.6MM for Turkey Mountain: $5.6MM for the acquisition of additional land for the park and $2MM for amenities. A loan to River Parks Authority from the George Kaiser Family Foundation and QuikTrip Corporation allowed the Vision land purchases to begin soon after the vote so that acquisition opportunities would not be lost. Bynum announced that the City of Tulsa had agreed to transfer title to River Parks Authority for its leased Turkey Mountain properties, assuring that it will remain public park property in perpetuity. In support of this action by the City, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which has been land banking properties on Turkey Mountain for over a decade, announced that it will deed its properties to the River Parks Authority for inclusion in Turkey Mountain. It is expected that a master plan encompassing the entire Wilderness will be undertaken in the next year or two. Turkey Mountain’s forest is an example of a cross timber area that represents the transition between the Great Plains and the Ozark Plateau. Native species common to this part of the River Parks system include Post and Blackjack Oak, Hickory, Redbud and many others. The park’s ecosystem also supports a variety of wildlife, with occasional sightings of deer, coyotes and bobcats. The origin of the name Turkey Mountain remains an unsolved mystery, as does local lore of Viking visits. But the land figured into Tulsa’s early history as the site of oil well drilling and is still traversed by a section of the 1904 Midland Valley Railroad line now owned by the Union Pacific Railroad and operated by the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union Railway. It is believed that the name Turkey Mountain stems from the likelihood that the area was once a popular spot for hunting wild turkeys. The Wilderness Area features two large ponds and miles of winding dirt trails. A 2015 Turkey Mountain User Survey conducted by the Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition found that most recreational usage is hiking/walking/running, with additional usage for mountain biking. The survey also showed that Turkey Mountain is both a regional and national attraction, with documented evidence of numerous out-of-state visitors to the park. Turkey Mountain is intentionally maintained in a wilderness state to offer a challenging recreational experience in contrast to the miles of mostly flat trails and manicured park areas elsewhere along the riverfront. Improvements at the main entrance to the Wilderness Area were completed in 2009 with a grant from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. That gift financed expanded parking, a restroom building, climbing boulders and improved trailhead access. The entrance is further enhanced by two bronze wildlife sculptures donated to the citizens of Tulsa by NatureWorks, Inc., “Rio Grande Turkeys” and “Rocky Mountain Bighorn.” Three pavilions located near the entrance were financed by proceeds from “Wild Turkey,” a biennial fund-raising event that benefits River Parks’ projects and programs. Supporters of River Parks Friends also contributed to the pavilions. In response to demand, a second parking lot to serve park visitors was opened and later expanded on 61st Street, west of Elwood Avenue. About River Parks
Spread along miles of the Arkansas River as it flows through Tulsa, River Parks provides some of the metropolitan area's finest outdoor recreation. More than 26 miles of asphalt-surfaced recreation trails weave past picnic areas, playgrounds, fountains and sculptures. The park's landscape ranges from manicured lawns to the rugged terrain of the Turkey Mountain with its miles of dirt trails. Recreation in River Parks includes fishing, rowing, rollerblading, kayaking, disc golf, hiking, running, cycling. River Parks Authority is a City-County public trust authority which oversees the management and operation of the River Parks system. Since the Authority’s founding in 1974, approximately $100MM has been invested in Tulsa’s riverfront, almost half of it from private philanthropic gifts and grants. For more information visit www.riverparks.org.
