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Bartlesville is an excellent place to raise your family. Not only is our community safe, welcoming, and friendly – we also have an abundance of high-class amenities and entertainment options. Those who enjoy the outdoors will appreciate our walking trails, parks, and lake. Those who prefer the beauty of the ballet or symphony will enjoy attending a performance at the Bartlesville Community Center’s concert hall - “…one of the finest concert halls in this country,” according to Ransom Wilson, Conductor of the Solisti New York Orchestra. And those who like history will enjoy spending time at the Santa Fe Depot or touring the Bartlesville Area History Museum. No matter what your idea of fun is – you will find it in Bartlesville.
Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Bartlesville has plenty of entertainment and recreation opportunities for both residents and visitors alike. The City’s Parks Department oversees 15 parks, ranging from a 12-mile paved walking/jogging/biking trail that extends throughout the city to small neighborhood parks with playgrounds and picnic tables. The Department also oversees numerous athletic fields, an 18-hole golf course, 14 lighted tennis courts, and two outdoor pools with splash pads.
- Lee Lake is a popular outdoor destination where residents enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming.
- Johnstone Park is home to Bartlesville’s Kiddie Park and Skate Park.
- Families can spend their summer splashing away at the public Sooner Pool or popular Frontier Pool.
Fishing
Fishing is one of the favorite activities in this area, and there are plenty of places to try your luck. Jo Allyn Lowe Park and M.J. Lee Lake are both located inside the city limits, while the city-owned Hudson Lake is only a 20-minute drive away. Copan Lake to the north and Hulah Lake to the west offer additional opportunities for fishing and other kinds of water activities.
Camping/Hiking
If you want to get away from it all, Osage Hills State Park is only 12 miles west of Bartlesville. Campgrounds, RV hook-ups, and cabins allow you to spend several days at a time in the great outdoors. The park has miles of hiking trails, as well as lakes and rivers to paddle on, and picnic tables with grills.
Golfing
With 230 days of sunshine per year, Bartlesville is an excellent place to enjoy a round of golf. The Hillcrest Country Club and Adams Golf Club are an ideal place to spend an afternoon.
Museums
Bartlesville is home to world-class museums featuring the history of the area and beautifully capturing the spirit of the West.
Bartlesville Area History Museum
Travel back in time to experience the growth and development of Bartlesville and surrounding areas by attending this popular museum.
La Quinta Mansion
Come explore the home of one of the wealthiest men west of the Mississippi. Steeped in history and full of period detail, a tour of this museum will take you back in time.
Prairie Song
The past is remembered, and vividly alive, at this recreated 1800s pioneer village museum.
Woolaroc
Woolaroc Ranch, Museum, and Wildlife Preserve, a world-class tourist destination, lies just outside Bartlesville’s city limits in the rugged Osage Hills. Visitors will view exotic and local wildlife on their drive through the preserve, en route to the Woolaroc Museum, the seasonal Mountain Man Camp, and the Frank Phillips Lodge.
A full list of Bartlesville museums can be found here.
Downtown
In the center of Bartlesville itself is another world-class destination - the Price Tower and Art Center. This architectural marvel is the only skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Visitors can continue their tour of architecture and history by following the Bartlesville Heritage Trail through the Downtown area, a nationally-designated Historic District. While there, they can stop in at the Bartlesville Area History Museum and the Phillips Petroleum Museum.
Cultural Activities
Cultural activities reign supreme in Bartlesville. The city boasts its own symphony orchestra, ballet troupe, and choral society. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired community center hosts performances throughout the year, by these groups as well as traveling Broadway productions and world-renowned musicians, comedians, and dancers.
During the first weekend in June, the city kicks off summer with a food-and-fun event called SunFest. The following week, visitors from all over the globe converge on Bartlesville for the internationally-known OK Mozart Festival, a 10-day event celebrating Mozart and the not-so-Mozart. Then, in September, the area celebrates its unique culture with Western Heritage Weekend and Indian Summer Festival.
