Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

PACE 8B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2008 RELAXING, PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS Be sure to allow as much time as possible for Frank Phillips' country home, Woolaroc Lodge, Museum and Wildlife Preserve. It was named for the amazing woods, lakes and rocks that are located on the property. Presidents, celebrities, cowboys and Indians are among those who "Uncle Frank" hosted at his home. PRAIRIE VILLAGE IN OKLAHOMA At Prairie Song, you can experience the look and feel of an 1800s prairie village. It has more than 20 buildings, including a post office, trading post, doctor and dentist office, barber, sheet metal building, rock jail house, chapel, covered bridge and train depot. Exploring Bartlesville: Historic homes to skyscrapers to pioneer village CALLS IT A HOBBY One of the most amazing experiences we had during our visit was the morning we spent with Kenneth Tate at Prairie Song. At Prairie Song, you can experience the look and feel of an 1800s prairie village. The buildings are all filled with antiques. If you go into the general store, you will find it fully stocked. You can't help but want to go shopping as soon as you walk in the door. Photos by Angela Gary BY ANGELA GARY Architecture lovers will find a treasure in Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper hotel, while history buffs will delight in the grand homes and museums dedicat ed to Frank Phillips, one of the oil der ricks who came to Oklahoma in search of adventure in the wild west. Fans of the west and how it was settled by pioneers will enjoy taking a step back in time in a village created by the hard work of a local man. Add in shopping in unique one-of- a-kind stores, such as Red Dirt Soap Company and Keepsake Candles, where the stories of how the locals made a success is just as intriguing as the items to be found on the shelves, and trying a wide range of cuisine, from Italian to barbecue, and it makes for a perfect vacation. Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is a great place to explore and visitors will find enough to keep them busy for a week-long visit. The town is filled with one-of-a-kind attractions that make for a wonderful vacation. It’s a short two-hour flight from Atlanta, and for those who really want to explore, it’s a 13-hour drive. Divide that into two days and you will find plenty of interesting stops along the way. Bartlesville developed due to the suc cess of oil barons such as Frank Phillips and his presence is still very evident in the town today. A highlight of a trip to Bartlesville is a stop at the two homes owned by the oil baron — Phillip’s city home and his country estate. The two homes of Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company, provide a great look into the affluent lifestyle of the oil men who developed this area of Oklahoma. Phillips was a former barber and banker from Iowa who moved to the Wild West of Oklahoma for adventure. His success in the oil business led to Bartlesville being transformed from an outlaw town to a small, sophisticated town. Frank Phillip’s city home was com pleted in 1909 and occupied by Phillips and his wife until their death. This extravagant home has handcrafted mold ed ceilings, mahogany woodwork and beautiful furnishings. Be sure to allow as much time as possible for Phillips’ country home, Woolaroc Lodge, Museum and Wildlife Preserve. It was named for the amazing woods, lakes and rocks that are located on the property. Wildlife you see along the drive include water buffalo, ostrich, and albino deer. Presidents, celebrities, cowboys and Indians are among those who “Uncle Frank’’ hosted at his home. Will Rogers was a frequent guest, and he said, “Of all the places in the United States, Woolarac is the most unique.’’ Frank often said if he could get someone to Woolaroc to discuss business, he was sure to make the deal. As you drive along the winding two- acre country road leading to the home, you start to see some of the wildlife that make the preserve home. It is so peace ful on the 3,700 acre wildlife preserve that it makes a great place to relax for a few hours. Inside the home, you see many of the collectibles the Phillipses brought into the home, including an amazing animal head collection. Zebra, deer and elephants are among the animal heads you see on the walls of the home. The museum on the grounds has over 55,000 pieces, including western art and relics that tell the story of the American West. For more information, go to www. woolaroc.com. For more information on the oil baron, go to Phillips Petroleum Company Museum, which gives the history and development of a small company to a global energy empire. A fun stop is at the LDL screens that flash Phillips’ commercials from the early 50s, 60s and 70s. For more information, go to www. phillips66museum.com. PRAIRIE VILLAGE One of the most amazing experiences we had during our visit was the morning we spent with Kenneth Tate at Prairie Song. At Prairie Song, you can experi ence the look and feel of an 1800s prairie village. It has more than 20 buildings, including a post office, trading post, doctor and dentist office, barber, sheet metal building, rock jail house, chapel, covered bridge and train depot. What is even more amazing is that all of the buildings are filled with antiques. If you go into the general store, you will find it fully stocked. You can’t help but want to go shopping as soon as you walk in the door. For more information, go to www. prairiesong.net. Be sure to include some time for the Bartlesville Area History Museum, which is filled with history and memo rabilia from the town. It provides a great look at the history of how Bartlesville was developed. Photographer Frank Griggs chronicled the growth of the town for more than 70 years. His work is featured throughout the museum. Depending on when you visit Bartlesville, you might enjoy an eve ning feature world class musicians. OK Mozart is featured each June and is a real treat. We attended three performances of OK Mozart and found all three to be wonderful. My favorite was the casual concert on the grounds of Woolaroc. Visitors brought chairs, blankets and picnics and the evening ended with fire works. For more information, go to www.okmozart.com. SHOPPING Keepsake Candles has featured unique “antiques in wax’’ since 1970. In 1969, owners Ed and Alice Ririe made the first candles in their kitchen sink for a church Christmas bazaar. Candles were molded to look like antique glass. The couple made 60 candles and they were so popular that they began to get orders for more. The business continued to grow and the distinctive candles are now sold nationwide. The retail store is located two miles west of Bartlesville on Hwy. 60. For more information, go to www. keepsakecandles.com Red Dirt Soap Company, founded in 1966, is named for the red clay found in Oklahoma. In the early days, the soap was offered at craft shows and by mail order. Now, the soap is one of the largest herbal manufacturers of herbal soap in the country and it is sold by website, mail order and in the retail store. A tea room is located in the back of the retail store. Red Dirt Soap Company is located at 118 West 2nd Street. For more information, go to www.reddirtsoap.com. WHERE TO STAY Our first few nights were spent at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Inn at Price Tower, a 21-room suite boutique inn. This is one of only three Wright structures in the world that offer architectural fans the opportunity to stay over night. The rooms are like no other hotel you will find. The rooms are very unique with furnishings and decor. Spending a night in the 1956 skyscraper makes you feel as if you are in a museum. It’s a great experience. Wright completed the skyscraper in 1956 for the Price International Pipeline Company. Each floor had office space, as well as residential space. Be sure to tour the museum and spend some time exploring the hotel. For more information, go to www. pricetower.org. We ended our trip with a few nights at Hotel Phillips, which was originally the Phillips Apartment Hotel and housed the employees and families of the Phillips Petroleum Company. In 1980, it was converted to a boutique hotel. First class service and hospitality make this hotel stand out. Spacious rooms, convenient location and on-site restaurant are other special features. Another highlight for me was the soft, comfy beds and huge closet. A full hot breakfast is also served. For more information, call 1-800-331-0706 or go to www.hotelphil- lips66.com. WHERE TO EAT There are plenty of great dining choices in Bartlesville. A few I recom mend are: •Price Tower’s Copper Restaurant, which offers elegant dining and an eclectic menu. For hotel guests, a free continental breakfast is offered on the 16th floor of the hotel. •Aroma’s Italian Restaurant is locat ed in the historic downtown district of Bartlesville and offers a wide variety of pasta dishes. The tortellini is excellent. •Dink’s offers authentic barbecue cooked over a hickory-wood fire in a seasoned pit. The pulled pork plate with the sweet sauce made for a great meal. For more information on exploring Bartlesville, go to www.bartlesville. com. SKYCRAPER HOTEL Frank Lloyd Wright's Inn at Price Tower, a 21-room suite bou tique inn. This is one of only three Wright structures in the world that offer architectural fans the opportunity to stay over night. Wright completed the skyscraper in 1956 for the Price International Pipeline Company. Each floor had office space, as well as residential space. Small Maraarita UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT! RIGO TINOCO Riao is back in business! 15 years of experience. I am ready to serve all my former customers. Stop by and try our daily specials. 30553 Highway 441 South • Commerce, GA 30529 706-335-2787 Spice Up Your Day With Mexican Flavor 5 OFF $ purchase of *20 or more. Sunday - Thursday Food & Soft Drinks Only. Alcohol Is Not Included.