Nelson F. Carr moved along the Caney River in 1868, and he built a grist mill. In 1873, Jacob H. Bartles settled almost across the river from Carr and opened a trading post. When the first stagecoach line to Bartlesville from Coffeyville, Kansas was established, Bartles' trading post was chosen as the endpoint. Carr got upset and moved out of the area.
Life in Bartlesville remained quiet even though George B. Keeler noticed oil seeping out of the river’s shoreline. Eventually, Keeler, William Johnstone and Frank Overlees obtained a lease from the Cherokee people who owned the land and hired the Cudahy Oil Company to drill a well. On April 15, 1897, Keeler’s granddaughter dropped a torpedo designed to set off a nitroglycerin charge down the well. The result was that oil started pouring from the well. Workers quickly plugged the well until the Kansas, Oklahoma Central and Southwestern Railway could build a line to haul the oil to refinery plants. From 1897 to 1948, the well, called the Nellie Johnstone Number 1, produced more than 100,000 barrels of crude oil. This oil well became the first commercial oil well, and news spread across the United States. Frank and L.E. Phillips heard the news and decided to move to Bartlesville, where they founded the Phillips Oil Company.
While oil remains essential to the economy of this city of 36,000 people, it was not the only early industry. In 1904, the Vitrified Brick Plant opened. Workers at this plant made up to 50,000 bricks daily. Many of these bricks were verified bricks, which are harder than bricks used in building construction and were used to pave numerous streets.
Businesspeople started other highly successful endeavors in the area. They also worked hard to raise the standard of living in the community. The Oklah Theater opened in 1902. Today, you can find many cultural venues in this community, including the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, which is a beautiful place to explore. Before and after your visit, consider eating at some local restaurants, like Murphy’s Original Steak House, Painted Horse Bar & Grill, and Frank and Lola’s.
Sunfest – Shop with local artists, listen to live entertainment, and play games at this summer festival in Sooner Park.
Boofest – Go trunk or treating, play family games, and wear costumes at this October festival in Sooner Park.
Festival of the Nativity – View over 500 nativity scenes from around the globe at this three-day December event held at St. John Catholic Church.
OK Mozart Festival – Hear musicians from around the globe perform in different musical genres at this nine-day festival in June held at various venues around the city.
Christmas in the Ville – Go ice skating, watch movies, play lawn games and enjoy food at this month-long celebration near the historic train depot.
Hot Springs National Park is a beautiful 285-mile drive from Bartlesville. Long before Congress established the national park, Native Americans came here to quarry novaculite to make tools. Then the area became a popular tourist destination called Hot Springs Reservation because of its mineral-rich water. Victorian bathhouses were constructed in the 1880s to welcome guests. Workers replaced these bathhouses with the current Bathhouse Row between 1912 and 1923. Visit this park where you can shop, get a drink, view art and get a spa treatment.
Toronto Lake at Cross Timbers State Park near Toronto, Kansas is a favorite with many anglers. This park contains over 15 miles of trails with most of them running under tall oak and savanna trees. There are five camping sections at this park so that campers can choose between full-hookup and water/electric sites.
Grand Lake State Park contains six sections surrounding 46,000 surface acres Grand Lake. Consider camping in the Honey Creek area near Grove, Oklahoma, which has a nearby swimming pool. There is also a boat dock at Honey Creek State Park, making it easy to enjoy your favorite water activities on the lake. If you did not bring your boat, enjoy fishing from the lighted fishing pier. State officials keep this lake stocked with bass, catfish, bluegill, spoonbill, and crappie.
Osage Hills State Park at Bartlesville is a fantastic place to enjoy a fall camping trip when the leaves change colors and the temperatures drop. You can often see whitetail deer and wild turkeys when following this park’s hiking trails. Enjoy a game of tennis on the well-maintained courts, or swim in the pool. Lookout Lake and Sand Creek are excellent places to fish for bass.
As you walk or drive around Bartlesville, look for the buffalo statues. A Girl Scout senior project in 1998 sold the first buffalo statues to raise money to feed and clothe the needy. You can find over 30 of these statues around the community, including at Kiddie, 66, and Sooner parks. Each buffalo has a name, and organizations and businesses have painted them with unique designs.
There are many beautiful campgrounds in Tulsa about 45 miles from Bartlesville. Tulsa Warrior RV Park is in the city’s southwest corner and offers spacious sites with full hookups. Canyon Creek Campground is about nine minutes northwest of the downtown area. You will love the views of the Arkansas River when you camp at Eagle’s View RV Resort in Sand Springs.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Bartlesville, OK, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Bartlesville?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Bartlesville from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Bartlesville?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
