City Seeks Route 66 Commercial Development Proposal for Cry Baby Hill Site

5/3/2024

The City of Tulsa is calling on developers to submit proposals for a Route 66-themed commercial development on 2.7 acres of land at the iconic Cry Baby Hill site at 815 S. Riverside Dr.

The release of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is the second-of-four RFPs being issued for the area, which is popular among tourists and locals for its connection to Route 66 and the annual Tulsa Tough cycling event.

The City is encouraging developers to propose a variety of ideas, such as hotels, restaurants, or retail establishments. While all commercial proposals are welcome, the maximum capacity for the project is a 105-room hotel or motel. Additionally, the City is looking for proposals that enhance the connections between the hillside, Zink Lake waterfront, and Cyrus Avery Plaza. The chosen development will feature a large roadside attraction inspired by mid-century roadside kitsch, which is being commissioned separately through another RFP.

“It is great to see progress being made at this site, especially ahead of the opening of Zink Lake later this summer,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “There is so much opportunity at Cry Baby Hill and along Route 66, and I share in the desire that so many have to make this site a destination for years to come.”

The City of Tulsa will provide up to $4.5 million in public funds and a long-term land lease to complete the project, along with up to $2.9 million invested in the site. The investments may also cover recreational waterfront activation on Zink Lake, up to 30 on-street parking spaces, security, and/or graffiti removal in the area surrounding the site. Two additional RFPs will also curate and create an outdoor museum with up to 20 site-specific, technology-based installations along Route 66.

This is a unique opportunity for developers to showcase their creativity and contribute to the development of Tulsa's tourism industry. The City of Tulsa invites all qualified developers or developer teams to submit their proposals by July 24, 2024.

A link to this RFP, along with the first RFP for the site, can be found at https://www.cityoftulsa.org/bids. 

For more information about Route 66 in Tulsa and the City of Tulsa's efforts centered on The Mother Road, visit https://www.cityoftulsa.org/Route66.