Can anyone tell me what it's like arriving in Oklahoma City on the Heartland Flyer when it gets in, around 9:30-10 PM? I gather it's an unmanned station, but are there often a fair amount of people getting off? If I took a taxi, would I need to call one in advance, and would it be safe waiting for one? Is the train often late? Where is the train station in relation to Downtown/Bricktown? It's not the same as Union Station, or is it?
Also, I assume I should stay in Downtown/Bricktown without a car, but there seem to be very few hotels there, most kinda pricey. Is the Marriott Courtyard OK? Any other ideas? Any hotels with accommodating shuttles?
Most importantly, does anyone know how to get to Guthrie OK but public transit? I don't want to visit OK City without seeing Guthrie. If worst comes to worst, I suppose I could take a taxi, it doesn't seem to be that far--but if there is some kind of bus, or better yet an occasional steam train (I know there was talk about this at one time) or some other train on that old main line, I'd be very interested.
Thanks!
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
Ms. Sojourner -- The OKC station currently being used is the original Santa Fe station, in downtown Oklahoma City.
I sure wish AMTRAK would bring back the "Lone Star" from Chicago-Newton-Wichita-Oklahoma City-Fort Worth. (fomerly known as the "Texas Chief")
Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :
sojourner, your wish to visit Guthrie will require 1. rent a car; 2. have a friend take you; 3. take a taxi which will be very expensive as Guthrtie is about 35 miles from the AMTRAK station. And there may not be a taxi company in Guthrie to drive you back to OKC after your visit.
That said, I recommend that you go as Guthrie has a unique history and many historic buildings.
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Oklahoma City's Bricktown reminds me of the Pearl District in Portland.
As Rich says, Amtrak uses the original Santa Fe Station in OKC. The station is at the entrance to Bricktown (like the Pearl, an old industrial area revived into great restaurants, interesting shops, and what I consider the best minor league baseball park in the country).
This June, my wife and I stayed at the Sheraton. Across the street is the Courtyard by Marriott. Both are very easy walks (a block or so) from the Amtrak station. A half block further is the historic Skirvin Hilton. There are other hotels in the area. Check out this link for more details:
We walked all around Bricktown at various times and felt very safe. It's a happening place in the evenings (reminding me of hanging out in a small college town in a prior life).
There's a faux trolley (i.e. no rails) that will take you from the Amtrak station area to other downtown locations (Murrah Federal Building memorial/museum, etc). The fare might set you back two bits.
As far as getting to Guthrie, you might try contacting the OKC and/or Guthrie visitor bureaus for ideas. We found the OKC visitor center extremely helpful.
Have fun. But let's keep Oklahoma City our secret. We don't want a bunch of riff-raff from Zip 5 discovering it.
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
A comment from the riff-raff: Now I know why they won't bring back the Twin Star Rocket.
Posted by zephyr (Member # 1651) on :
Don't tase me, bro. But, yes, that's the reason.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Hey Sojourner,
I visited Oklahoma City in 2002. The train from Ft. Worth was on time and two or three taxis were waiting for the train to arrive. You will not need a taxi though if you stay at one of the two or three downtown hotels which are all within a couple of blocks of the train station. Note that these are hotels of sufficient class that they may even send their shuttle van over to pick a guest with luggage up from the train.
Downtown OKC is clean, the people are pleasant, and I did not feel a bit uneasy there.....so long as I was in the Bricktown and other peopled areas. The Federal Building site is very moving and worth the visit.
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Thank you all for the info. It sounds like an interesting trip, and one of the state capitols well worth visiting. But I am not going to go all the way there and NOT go to Guthrie. From further investigating it looks like it would cost around $100 to get there nd back, but I guess I'd just have to budget that. After all, those bus tours are pricey too, and renting a car isn't all that cheap, is it?
David, when you say "so long as I was in Bricktown and other peopled areas," are you implying there are areas where you did feel uneasy, that were unpeopled? Just wondering FMI . . .
Hey, what about Norman and the U of OK? Is that worth a stop? I see it's on the Heartland Flyer route, but would likely require an overnight; however, there does seem also to be a bus; maybe one could go round trip from OK City for the day. Worth doing?
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Hey Sojourner,
No......there were not areas that I felt uneasy in. But I did just stay in the Bricktown area, the convention center area, and the several block area from the hotels up to where the Federal Building once stood.
I called those peopled areas because there were people moving about with purpose engaged in their everyday business. In areas such as these you don't see people languishing around looking for an easy opportunity to take advantage of you.
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
I guess OKC is in a renaissance downtown.
The Skirvin Plaza has reopened. It was on its last legs when I last stayed there in 1987.