I love the Oil Derrick at 6Flags! The elevator scares the crap out of me on the way up, but the view is beautiful. I also like the needle at the state fair. Bet no one remembered we had that one. Lets just go cheap and install the worlds tallest flag mast and flag... Kansas sucks and Texas blows, so we'll always have enough wind.

What's it say about this concept when we're comparing something intended to be an international symbol of OKC to a 40 year old eyesore at Six Flags? Who cares if the observation deck gives you a great view of the city, when the structure the deck sits on ruins every other vantage point.

I'd rather have a giant wind farm (grove) downtown than an overgrown amusement park ride.

The giant wind turbines are far more pleasing to the eye, aesthetically speaking. As far as I know, we would be the first downtown area to be associated with the turbines and it's definitely representative of our states historical contributions as producers of energy and being at the cutting edge of our field.

I'm n8ison and this is my first post.

It says we desperately, achingly want to be as relentlessly tacky as Dallas. Then everyone will know we're a Big League City®.

Most people don't realize the citizens of Paris HATED the Eifel tower when proposed and built. They thought it ugly and crude. Now, it is a great source of pride and considered one of the world's great sights. I have been to Paris some 30-40 times and am always touched by the sight of it, especially at night. It is iconic (a much overused and misunderstood word) and is the most identified landmark of Paris and France, which has MANY iconic structures. The fact that many think this derrick might be ugly is not surprising. But IF it come to pass and is executed correctly .... WOW.

With the bad rep of the oil industry these days, I'm not sure we'd be able to generate that much tourist interest in an "energy" tower.

But the Eifel tower was not a replica of anything that related to french culture at the time. It was unlike anyone had seen before and therefore, was the subject of much controversy.

An oil derrick...not so much.

Not the mention the comparison of Paris to Oklahoma City is just plain silly.

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Exactly. Oklahoma has some backbone.

Eh... i just say build the damn thing and let everyone else make up there mind of how they feel about it. Lets just build a giant statue of Clay or Audrey.

Exactly. That was my point way early in this thread. I think you're right.

Are you kidding me? We need 'Big Gush"! Folks will come from far and near to see it and to ride to the top for observation and dining. I would love to have an observation tower to see what our fine city looks like from up high. The only glimpse you can have now is if you are coming in on a flight, and that doesn't last very long. I don't understand why so many are against this tower. Tacky? You could label every high rise in OKC tacky if you wanted to. C'mon guys. We need all the tourist dollars we can get, and this tower will haul it in. Think about how the national exposure will draw the curious traveler here. They won't be able to resist it, especially if it actually gushes! Way cool and very unique. Imagine Big Gush lit up at night, awesome! What a landmark this could be. When do we vote?

Oklahoma City Buildings, Real Estate, Architecture, Skyscrapers and Construction Database / Emporis.com

HAHA, remember the State Fair Space Needle I referenced? Check out the header image on the page... remember this soonerfeaver?

Big Gush sounds like the title of a porn movie.

I was amused by your comment regarding the word "Iconic". I was having those exact same thoughts myself earlier today. It has definently became the most widely used, and trendy word of the day. Couldn't we simply say something like, "I sure hope that new Devon Energy Tower is going to be really, really tall, and purddy as all get out"? Or would that sound to hickish?

I think it sounds kinda cool. Maybe a scaled down version would make everyone happy?

It's at the capitol.

That was a good one CM. No doubt you would get a wonderful view of the City. The only problem is, once you've climb to the top, there's no where to stand.

What do Clay Aiken and Audrey Hepburn have to do with OKC??

Bennet, Mclendon

Whooooosh !!!!!!!

This thread has more turns than an Arkansas highway!

Some random thoughts. The Eiffel Tower was originally an advertising gimmick, like those inflatable people thingies which grace a car wash on North Penn. Parisians hated it for many years. I guess time does heal all wounds. And what does a cast iron tower have to do with the “City of Lights”?

Lets try this. You are making a movie and you want to identify OKC, and your budget only allows one brief shot to do so. What would be iconic for OKC? Something that would be instantly recognizable to the viewers.

Here’s some examples:

London Big Ben
Paris Eiffel Tower
Rome Coliseum
Cairo Pyramids
Tokyo Mt Fujiama
Sydney Opera house
San Francisco Golden Gate
New York Times Square
DC The Capitol
Rio Christ of the Andes
LA Hollywood sign
OKC ???


My suggestion is a ten thousand foot column of natural gas. Its colorless, odorless, abundant in Oklahoma, and nobody could prove it wasn’t there…

Bennett, McClendon

You forgot about Audrey. JBrown84 tried.

I'm not really opposed to the idea and I have enjoyed many tall structures such as the the Space Needle, the Stratosphere, and the Eiffel Tower. Oklahoma City is so flat and it might be nice to have a place to take visitors to get the lay of the land. I like the idea of the geyser as well as the idea of the base of the structure expanding across the canal. We don't really have any type of tall land mark and I think that Oklahomans would grow to be proud to have the giant derrick, but I don't think the funds should come from our tax dollars, but instead, private donations.

My concern is that it will be located in the flight path of Will Rogers World Airport. What are FAA's legal requirements when it comes to extremely tall structures in close proximity to a World Airport?

I would be embarrassed by it.