Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve
4.8(1.8K)google
4.7(37)yelp
WildlifeOld WestNature
Overview
Woolaroc is a museum and wildlife preserve located in the Osage Hills of Northeastern Oklahoma on Oklahoma State Highway 123 about 12 mi (19 km) southwest of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and 45 mi (72 km) north of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Woolaroc was established in 1925 as the ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips. The ranch is a 3,700-acre (1,500 ha) wildlife preserve, home to over 30 different species of native and exotic wildlife, such as bison, elk and longhorn cattle.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration3-5 hours
Best TimeThis historic 3,700-acre mountain-ridge private wildlife preserve peaks beautifully from May to October. Pass the security gates at the 10:00 AM opening to drive the 2-mile interior forest road; wild bison and longhorns graze near the path before the midday heat hits the historic arms gallery.
Getting ThereTucked deep inside the Osage Hills southwest of Bartlesville at 12 Woolaroc W Rd. No public transit serves this outer ring; driving is mandatory. Take US-75 North from Tulsa for 40 miles, turn left onto OK Highway 123 North near Ramona, and follow the highway for 8 miles to the preserve gates.
Travel Tips
- After crossing the main gate, keep vehicle windows fully rolled up along the multi-mile drive. Do not exit vehicles, feed, or agitate free-roaming bison or longhorn cattle.
- The 3,700-acre backcountry bans all recreational drones and lacks cellular coverage. Pre-download the comprehensive preserve layout map at the front welcome center.
- The museum galleries house pristine vintage firearms and headdresses. Backpacks and selfie sticks are banned; front security gates lock precisely at 16:00 daily.
Reviews
Positive
- Driving through the expansive wildlife preserve to see herds of American bison, longhorns, and zebras close-up is visually stunning and lives up to its name.
- The historic museum hidden deep in the woods is massive, housing world-class native crafts, vintage firearms, and fine Western art.
- The trails, restrooms, trash bins, and shaded pavilions are kept perfectly organized, and the multilingual route signs are highly accurate.
- The admission price is very fair, bundling both the drive-through safari and the top-tier history museum, offering high value and unparalleled tranquility.
Heads up
- Since animals roam completely free, they mostly retreat into deep forest shade during hot summer afternoons, making them hard to spot on unlucky days.
- The paved drive-through loop is relatively narrow; on busy weekends, when front cars stop to take photos, it causes major traffic bottlenecks.
- The single on-site snack bar offers limited burger choices with messy lines at lunchtime, and the dining prices are a bit expensive.
- Located a one-hour drive from Tulsa, it is highly isolated, and cellular signal inside is extremely weak, causing communication inconveniences.