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A Walk in the Wilderness: Ancient Forest Preserve Opens

Posted on: Thursday, 4 October 2007, 09:00 CDT

By Manny Gamallo, Tulsa World, Okla.

SAND SPRINGS -- Ten years of hard work in developing the Keystone Ancient Forest seemed to pay off Wednesday with one look into the faces of about 50 wide-eyed, excited fourth-graders -- the first "tourists" to the 1,300-acre preserve.

No sooner had local and state officials cut a ribbon across the preserve's entrance than a busload of Garfield Elementary School students rolled into the park.

The kids excitedly clambered off the bus and in no time were off on one of the nature trails, happily led by a guide and their teachers, Kellie Shockley and Joyce Smith.

Shockley said the students had been excited for days about the trip. The preserve will be a wonderful place to take youngsters trying to learn about nature and history, she added.

However, the preserve will be more than just an outlet for students studying nature outside the classroom.

It will offer a retreat for families wanting to explore an untouched wilderness, for nature enthusiasts and for hikers.

The preserve is touted

as having one of the most pristine, virgin cross-timbers stands in the region, and coupled with the nearby Keystone State Park, it is expected to become a focal point for tourism.

Hardy Watkins, the executive director of the state Department of Tourism and Recreation, made that point clear in his dedication remarks Wednesday.

He said tourism is Oklahoma's third-largest industry, with a total economic impact of $5.3 billion across the state.

Watkins called the preserve an overwhelming sight. He credited forward-thinking community leaders for putting it all together.

The Tourism Department helped the preserve's development with a $200,000 grant last year.

The state also bought most of the acreage from Irv Frank for $1.2 million and then gave the land to Sand Springs to develop the preserve.

Frank put up $40,000 to pay for a paved access road and parking lot at the preserve, and Osage County road crews provided the labor.

Officials noted that the development of the preserve was a cooperative effort involving not just Osage County, but also the Osage American Indian tribe, the Army Corps of Engineers, the state transportation and tourism departments, the Nature Conservancy, and state and local leaders.

Former City Councilor Sam Childers was the driving force behind the project. Childers also owned some land at the preserve, which he sold to the state.

Childers said he received a letter 10 years ago from David Stahle, a noted tree-ring specialist at the University of Arkansas.

Stahle, he said, praised the virgin trees at the site and encouraged its development into a nature preserve.

From then on, Childers worked to bring all the interests needed to ultimately develop the preserve.

Grant Gerondale, Sand Springs' parks and recreation director, said, "Good things come to those who wait."

With the ancient forest as his backdrop, Gerondale said the preserve knew the author Washington Irving and "it knew of Native Americans, of fires, of droughts and storms."

Mayor Bob Walker said the preserve is no longer a dream but a reality. He urged people to take advantage of its beauty and serenity.

More trails are planned at the preserve during the next two years, including some leading to the park's 2-1/2 miles of shoreline on Keystone Lake.

The preserve is open by reservation only.

For more information or to arrange a tour, go online to www.tulsaworld.com/keyforest.

Source: Tulsa World

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