# Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow is a city in the Green Country region of Oklahoma about 15 miles (35 km) southeast of Tulsa. It is the largest suburb of Tulsa County at a population of 110,000 (2018). Its nickname is "Tree City"

## Get in
### By car

A car is the preferred option for traveling BA. Tulsa Transit has one route that connects the city to Tulsa. Bus services run Monday through Friday.
* From Tulsa International Airport: Take State Highway 11 east onto I-244 East. Then take US-169 South. From there you can either take the BA Expressway (State Highway 51) East & turn off on the exit you need, or continue on US-169 South. Broken Arrow exits are at every mile South of State 51 on US-169 until 91st street. If you pass 91st street it will take you 2 miles to the end of US-169 at Memorial Drive in Bixby (See From Bixby). When exiting US-169 be sure to turn East off the freeway for BA.
* From Downtown Tulsa: Take State-51 (BA Expressway) East towards US-169. For North BA, continue on State-51 past US-169 & turn off on the exit you need. For South BA, get onto US-169 South from State-51. Broken Arrow exits are at every mile South of State-51 on US-169 until 91st street. When exiting US-169 be sure to turn East off the freeway for BA.
* From Bixby: Follow any street from 91st through 131st East from Memorial Drive until you hit Garnet Ave (approximately 2 miles).
* From Coweeta: Take BA Expressway (State-51) West and turn off at one of several exits until US-169. Heading to South Broken Arrow from Coweeta? Take State-51 to US-169 and head South on US-169 form there. Broken Arrow exits are at every mile South of State 51 on US-169 until 91st street. When exiting US-169 be sure to turn East off the freeway for BA.

## Get around
### By car

All roads in Broken Arrow are aligned to the four directions (north, south, east, west) grid system, with 1 mile being recognized as the next major road, so it should be fairly easy to navigate. East/West streets are numbered, main roads being identified by ending with "1" (E.G. 111th, 101st and 71st streets are main roads, however 115th, 103rd, and 79th are minor roads, mostly leading to houses). The larger the number of the east/west street, the farther south you are. The smaller the number of the east/west street, the farther north you are.

## See

* The Museum Broken Arrow, 400 S. Main St, ☏ +1 918 258-2616. Tu, W, F 10AM-4PM, Th 4PM-8PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. Traces Broken Arrow's history from a small Muscogee Creek outpost to modern city. Highlights include Ernest Childers Cabin, artifacts from various periods, a playing of the film Broken Arrow and genealogical resources. Free, $5 Second Floor.
* Centennial Clock (in front of the Farmer's Market). 1 of 100 installed across Oklahoma for the State Centennial in 2007.
* Centennial Park (across from Dooley's Angus Inn). This corner park on Main Street boasts a magnificent bronze of a pioneer family.
* Veterans Park. The local BA memorial garden. It boasts two bronzes, one of local World War II hero Ernest Childers in Native regalia. The second is of a modern-day US soldier. The stone plaque in the garden contains all the names of BA citizens who have died in combat since 9/11.

## Do

* 36.0041-95.79551 Broken Arrow Lanes, 4701 S. Elm Pl (northeast corner of the South Elm Pl. and West Florence St.), ☏ +1 918 455-4616, caroln@bowlandybs.com. Su noon-10PM; M 4-10PM; Tu noon-10PM; W 4-10PM; Th noon-10PM; F 4PM-midnight; Sa noon-midnight. Broken Arrow's premier bowling alley with 36 lanes, dining areas, and both youth and professional bowling leagues. M-Th $25 per hour (per lane), F-Su $35 per hour (per lane). (updated Oct 2022)
* 36.046-95.79082 Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, 701 South Main St (junction of 81st and Main), ☏ +1 918 259-5778. Built in 2008 for Broken Arrow Public Schools, this modern steel and glass structure puts on various theater performances throughout the year. Ticket prices vary. (updated Oct 2022)
* Central Park. Broken Arrow's main meeting ground for events such as Rooster Days. It hosts the municipal pool and BA Community Center, and the Korean and Vietnam War Memorials with lists of BA citizens who died in combat.
* 35.97804-95.785833 Ray Harral Nature Park (in a subdivision on the southern edge of town). Lots of nice trails. This park is also built on top of the site of a Depression-era Hooverville. Artifacts from that time still surface here periodically.
* Broken Arrow Roller Sports, 551 W. Oakland St, ☏ +1 918-251-6200.

### Events

* Broken Arrow Farmer's Market. Follow Main Street until you come to a pavilion on the north side of the railroad tracks. Hours are Friday and Saturday 4-6PM. Specialty goods fresh from local farmers and craftsmen. (April to October)
* Rooster Days (in Central Park on Main Street). Admission is free to the event and craft fair, however you have to pay for the rides. Price of ride tickets vary, also available are various "Mega Ride Passes" (similar to those of the Tulsa State Fair). It was started as the market days when people in town would sell their excess livestock (prior to the Great Depression), hence the name, Rooster Days. This county fair is the high point of BA's calendar, and is the largest County Fair in the state. (First weekend of May; rides Th-Su, craft fair F-Su.)
* The Rhema Lights, 1025 W Kenosha St. November 24 to January 1. Free to attend and walk around, this is one of the biggest Christmas light displays in the Great Plains. The entire Church park (and then some) is covered with Christmas light displays, includes a synchronized light bridge with music displays. Helicopter rides, and horse & buggy rides (prices vary) are available. Also available for sale by the church, are hot and cold drinks and small snacks. Donations are accepted and 100% of proceeds go to replacing the old light with new, energy efficient LED lights. The "Lights On" event is one of the biggest media covered event annually, and is covered by KOTV-The News On 6 live.

## Buy

* Just Another Hole, 1320 W Kenosha St, ☏ +1 918 451-6824. BA's first and foremost body piercing and tattoo parlor.
* S&S Sports Cards, 91st and Aspen (next to C.J. Moloney's). Vintage bubblegum cards.
* Star Jewelers, 120 S. Main St, ☏ +1 918 251-9236. Star Jewelers also repairs jewelry and buys gold and diamonds.
* Bass Pro Shop, 101 Bass Pro Dr.

## Eat
### Budget

* Memories of Japan, 2409 W Kenosha St (next to Vintage Stock), ☏ +1 918 259-8686. Best traditional Japanese food in BA. $6 and up.
* Uncle Vinny's New York Pizza, 322 W Kenosha St, ☏ +1 918 251-6666. New York styled brick-oven pizza pies and slices for on the go
* Tandoori Guys, 2039 W Houston St. Indian buffet and things. +1 918-893-2450

### Mid-range

* Ted's Cafe Escondido, 3202 W Kenosha St, ☏ +1 918 254-8337. Very crowded and very loud unless you get there early, but the food and service is superb.
* Nātv, 1611 S Main St., ☏ +1 (918) 940-7296. Traditional Native American/Indigenous food for a decent price in a casual sit-down restaurant ~$15 for a decent meal.. (updated Feb 2024)

### Splurge

* Los Cabos, 151 Bass Pro Dr, ☏ +1 918 355-8877. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Local award-winning Mexican cantina several years in a row.

## Drink

* C.J. Moloney's, 1849 S. Aspen Ave., ☏ +1 918 251-1973. The only Irish pub in town. There is live music nightly and the pub throws a big fling on St. Patrick's Day.

## Sleep

* Tarp Gardens Chapel and Tivoli Inn, 1401 West Washington St. A wedding chapel with a 7-room bed and breakfast.

## Stay safe

Tornado Season lasts from February to July, but Broken Arrow and Tulsa (excluding North Tulsa) are rarely affected somehow. Aside from that, always be on guard in the event of a major storm. Check the Tornado safety page for more details.

## Connect

Tulsa County has more Wi-Fi spots than anywhere else in Oklahoma (as well as most of the Great Plains), making it a major tech hub in the region. If you need a Wi-Fi link, check into any number of restaurants and cafes, you'll be sure to find one.

## Go next

* Blue Bell Creameries, on the edge of town along County Road 51B. In the summer, they give tours of the plant (along with free samples at the end of the tour).
* Safari's Sanctuary is also on the edge of town, if you've ever wanted to get up close with lemurs or other animals, this is the place for you.
* Hard Rock Casino and Resort is in Catoosa, Billed as the Largest Casino in Oklahoma (formerly The Cherokee Casino).
* Tulsa is close to BA and the source of all the action in Northeast Oklahoma.
* Take County Road 51B east from the edge of town and you should wind up in Coweta.