Wednesday, Jul. 28, 2010
The Blue Whale, Catoosa, Okla.
Drive along Route 66 through a pair of side-by-side bridges and you're bound to come across an even more bizarre sight: a famous beached whale. Built in the 1970s as an anniversary gift from one man to his wife, Oklahoma's grinning Blue Whale is 80 feet long, and rests in a pond that has since become a favorite watering hole for locals and passing travelers. Although the original park — which once featured an "animal reptile kingdom" — closed in 1988, the toothy whale has since been refurbished and tourists can stop and enjoy the picnic area before getting back on the road.