Community Working To Revitalize Tulsa's Historic "Redfork" Area

Just a block or two of buildings, in a bend in the road on Route 66, make up the heart of Redfork.

On Thursday, the final work on the Christmas lights wrapped up, and businesses owners like painter and sculptor Josh Stout are hopeful about holiday shopping.

"So right now there's a lot of energy, there are new businesses coming in," said Stout.

A big part of one of the more prominent buildings is for sale, and other older businesses are turning over into new ventures. Redfork has long-established businesses likes Ollies Restaurant, and down the road, the once nearly abandoned Crystal City shopping center is just about full and busy with customers.

Another artist Mary Jo Luster has been here 15 years and sees the beginnings of an arts district.

"There is a lot of things going on because more people are interested in the area and the history is fantastic if people just knew," said Luster.

Redfork was the site of Tulsa County's first oil well which made it a hub of the railroad, and that hasn't changed. The effort now for business leaders is to build on that history.

We've made a big push to revitalize this area, the historic buildings," said Stout.

For a spot that many people still consider as a destination inside Tulsa, the history is the way to a better future.