Visiting the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve in Oklahoma

June 27, 2019

We stopped in a little town called Bartlesville, OK and setup shop at Riverside RV Resort & Campground for two nights. Neat little campground with a pool, and a great laundry room made out of a remodeled travel trailer that was cheap and air conditioned, plus they have $.50 cent sodas which was great since I was out and wanting a cocktail. It was blowing cottonwood seed all over the place when we arrived. It was nice out so we did a little bbqing both nights.

Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve

Next day we went to Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve which was about 12 miles outside town in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Woolaroc was established in 1925 as the ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips. About an hour in, I had a lightbulb moment when I finally realized this was the same Phillips as in Phillips 66 or Conoco fuel which explains why the place was so well maintained. The ranch is a 3,700 acre wildlife preserve, home to many species of native and exotic wildlife, such as buffalo, elk and longhorn cattle. Woolaroc is also a museum with an outstanding collection of western art and artifacts, Native American material, one of the finest collections of Colt firearms in the world, and so much more.

We packed a lunch and spent about 4-5 hours there doing the walking trails, visiting the petting zoo, touring the absolutely massive museum full of priceless artifacts and the family lodge. Bus loads of kids were visiting in the morning, but just about leaving by the time we got there so it was not busy at all and super laid back.

Money Saving Tip

Jeri found a coupon for $2 off adult admission to Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve on the the Oklahoma Green County website. Print out this coupon and save some money! Adults are regularly $12 but children 11 and younger are FREE.

Route

For our comments about driving on the Cherokee Turnpike see New Orleans to Kansas route.

Riverside RV Resort & Campground

Location: Bartlesville, OK
Cost: $19.50/day with Passport America. Cash or check.
Site: 31, table only
Entry/Exit: Take US-60 W/SE Adams Blvd to S Quapaw Ave instead of the Google Maps directions
Pros: Pool
Cons: None
Comments: Great laundry room, 20 minute drive to Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve

Looking for things to do in Oklahoma? Take a look at our Oklahoma articles.

Our spot at Riverside RV Resort & Campground in Bartlesville, OK

It was laundry day and the duvet cover and pillowcases were air drying

Phillips 66 gas station replica on the grounds of Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve

First thing we saw when we drove onto the preserve… a deer. Video can be found here

Driving through the preserve. Pretty little waterfall

Water Buffalo. This was a highlight for Jeri. She was very excited to see the Water Buffalo in the water

This ostrich was very interested in us. Video can be found here

First thing we did was the Warrior Loop followed by the Outlaw Loop

We kept seeing these beautiful dragonflies. These pictures do not do them justice

Elk Lake. This was one of Frank Phillips’ favorite spots at Woolaroc

Jeri was fascinated with these amazing bird houses all around the property

This beautiful stained glass was part of the Heritage Center. The Heritage Center had AC, restrooms, table and chairs and played movies about Woolaroc. It was the perfect spot to have our picnic lunch and get a break from the heat

Portrait by Robert Lindneux. The second floor of the Heritage Center was full of portraits by Robert Lindneux. The detail in each of the painting was amazing.

There were a few animals to pet outside and even more inside the Animal Barn

Hello Mr. Goat! This goat went crazy for some treats

Six people at a time could climb up to that outlook

Jesse James might have sat in this chair as "it was a favorite seat at the poker table of a man many claimed to be the famous outlaw"

This picture is for Jeff Millet. The detail on this saddle was something else. Buffalo hide saddle used by Col. Zack Miller on the 101 Ranch

This is the 101 Ranch Show Saddle. "It was billed as “The World's Finest Saddle” when it made its appearance in the 101 Ranch Wild West Show... When new, the saddle contained one hundred and sixty-six diamonds, one hundred and twenty sapphires, seve

"This six horse Concord Express Stage Coach saw 43 years service in what is now Montana. From 1869 until 1912, it traveled over 625,000 miles"

The Type 5000 was the first monoplane built by Travel Air, Inc. Less than thirty were made. This plane is number 10 and the only complete 5000 still in existence. This plane was built for Art Goebel who had entered the Dole Flight, a 2437 mile race

Inside of the Lodge, which you can rent for events

Jeri had to get a few more pictures of these bird houses