Tulsa, Okahoma, like most cities, has many different sections. You got downtown where commerce and culture is concentrated, mid-Town where the yuppies, rich people, and cranks live and play, north Tulsa which faces many challenges and is the home of many hard working people. East Tulsa where most of the interesting asian and latin restaurants are, and the sprawling suburbs of south Tulsa, where I live. The most interesting part of Tulsa is west Tulsa. That is where the refineries, tank farms, and factories are and where the oilfields, moonshiners, and gangsters used to be.
It is also the home of the Tulsa Cave House. It was built in the 1920’s as a chicken restaurant. But the legend is that there was a speakeasy in the hill behind the house, accessible by a tunnel. Supposedly it was the hangout of the local gangstgers, including Tulsa’s own Pretty Boy Floyd. I just love stories like that. I do not care if they are true or not? Of course, the tunnels are now sealed and nobody can figure out just where the secret door to the tunnel used to be. Oh, there are ghosts also, you knew that right?
Check the link above. It leads to some links including photographs of the inside and information on the owner. You can get a tour for $5 each, by appointment. I have not toured it yet. Maybe son and I will do that one of these days.
The grounds of the house host a geocache named Yaba Daba Doo. Go check it out.
For other views of the world check out That’s My World.
What a fun and interesting post, Yogi! Intriguing house!! Love your photo! And, oh yes, I’m sure there are ghosts hiding there!
Enjoy your week!
Sylvia
That was funny little house. Makes me think of the hobbit 😉
AHHA! The secret life of Tulsa is revealed. Pretty Boy Floyd came from Tulsa? NO kidding! I did NOT know that.
What a cool place! Are you sure Fred and Wilma didn’t live there at one time? Ha-ha!
Sunny 🙂
A very unusual building. I think most large and many small cities have a quirkey place like this.
It reminds me of my father taking me for walks in West Hollywood and pointing out where all the speakeasies had been. How did he know?
Yogi: That is truly very cool.
Incredible! And, I love that you like these stories whether true or not! 🙂 Amazing photo of the cave house!
Yogi this is interesting. I hadn’t heard about the tunnels. I think I have seen this house. Is it on Charles Page BLVD?
It does look kind of Hobbitish. Definitely unique. I’ve heard tell of houses with tunnels around Utah. They were used to connect polygamous households. A ghostly speakeasy might be more fun…
That Cave House looks as though somebody had a little too much moonshine before construction! And Ghosts, too? Did you have snow this past weekend, Yogi?
It’s an interesting structure and story, true or not. Hope you’ll go on the tour soon and let us know more.
so do you eat in the restaurant a lot? Do they let you eat for free if you can get out of the tunnel?
that is indeed an interesting house. did i read it right that there are ghosts in there? yaikkz.
Oh the cave house is very unique and interesting. I wondered if Flintstones lived there…lol
That’s a very unusual house – sort of an early Frank Gehry – I like it. Is it still a restaurant?
Oh what a deliciously seedy past for the cave house.
I have seen the house many times BUT never knew all this history behind it…so cool I will hafta tell me husband they do tours
What a fun post and complete with links! Thanks!
that is a great description of tulsa, yogi. i had to go to flickr and enlarge the picture. it looked like it was deflating like a tent. then, i realized – it’s stucco and they meant to do those KKK looking hats. very interesting! great post.
Gosh I haven’t thought about that house in a long time! We used to drive by it really often.