Skylines and Cigar Smoke: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Tulsa’s Most Storied Club

There was a time when being a member of the Tulsa Club meant you had truly arrived. Not just financially, but socially, civically, and stylistically. The Tulsa Club represented the pinnacle of Tulsa society during the oil boom era. It was where oil barons networked under chandeliers, where the echo of polished shoes on terrazzo floors signaled major business deals, and where the barbershop quartet movement began on a rooftop overlooking downtown Tulsa. The Tulsa Club was more than a private club, it was a symbol of Tulsa’s prosperity, a masterpiece of Art Deco architecture, and a fixture in Oklahoma history.

The story begins in the 1920s, when Tulsa was rapidly becoming the “Oil Capital of the World.” Wealth flowed into the city, and the local Chamber of Commerce buzzed with ambitious businessmen. In 1923, several of these civic leaders, including William K. Warren and R. Otis McClintock, envisioned a new institution. The concept combined a private social club with business facilities, a new kind of space for networking, leisure, and civic influence. The Tulsa Club was born.

To bring the vision to life, the Tulsa Club partnered with the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce to construct a state-of-the-art building in downtown Tulsa. The partnership led to the creation of an 11-story high-rise designed by 23-year-old architect Bruce Goff. Goff was a rising star known for his innovative and modernist tendencies. His design for the Tulsa Club Building reflected the height of 1920s Art Deco architecture and positioned Tulsa as a leader in design and culture.

Tulsa Club Building Art Deco Entrance – Historic Tulsa Architecture

This mid-century photograph captures the original Art Deco entryway of the Tulsa Club Building, designed in 1927 by architect Bruce Goff. The vertical motif, stylized eagle, and geometric symmetry highlight the Zigzag Moderne style that made Tulsa a national hub for Art Deco design.

Completed in 1927, the Tulsa Club Building became an iconic landmark in downtown Tulsa. The structure featured Zigzag Moderne styling, pale limestone cladding, and strong vertical lines. The lower floors were occupied by the Chamber of Commerce, while the upper levels were dedicated to the Tulsa Club’s social and athletic facilities, including a rooftop Sky Terrace that offered sweeping views of the Tulsa skyline.

Inside, the Tulsa Club Building offered every modern convenience of its era. The grand ballroom was a showpiece, hosting galas, civic events, and performances. Other features included a scalloped echoing hallway, custom peacock-motif elevator doors, racquetball courts, a boxing ring, saunas, a barbershop, and overnight suites. It was designed to serve as both a high-society hub and a complete leisure and fitness center for the city’s elite.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the Tulsa Club thrived as a cornerstone of Tulsa high society. It hosted major business negotiations, formal dinners, and community fundraisers. The rooftop terrace even served as the birthplace of the Barbershop Harmony Society in 1938, marking the building’s significance in American cultural history. To be a member of the Tulsa Club was to hold influence in the city’s most powerful circles.

However, by the mid-twentieth century, tastes and times began to change. In the 1950s, the Tulsa Club purchased the Chamber’s portion of the building and embarked on a modernization effort. Unfortunately, many of the building’s original Art Deco features were concealed or removed during this period. Black marble panels and vitrolite glass were installed over the limestone façade, and the open lobby spaces were enclosed or subdivided. While the intent was to stay current with mid-century design trends, the changes masked much of the building’s historic character.

As Tulsa expanded outward into the suburbs, the club’s central downtown location became less convenient for members. Combined with economic shifts in the oil industry during the 1980s, the Tulsa Club faced declining membership and rising maintenance costs. In 1994, after 67 years in operation, the Tulsa Club officially closed its doors. The building, once the pride of downtown, stood vacant and neglected.

What followed was a long period of decline. The Tulsa Club Building sat abandoned for more than 20 years. Vandals and squatters stripped valuable materials, fires damaged upper floors, and graffiti covered the walls. The building became one of downtown Tulsa’s most visible symbols of blight. Despite accumulating fines and public pressure, the absentee owner failed to maintain or redevelop the property.

In 2010, the City of Tulsa reclaimed the structure through foreclosure. For many preservationists and local historians, this was a critical turning point. In 2015, the Ross Group, a Tulsa-based development firm, acquired the building and announced plans to restore it. With support from the National Register of Historic Places and state and federal historic preservation tax credits, the team began a comprehensive rehabilitation project.

The restoration process was meticulous. Historical photographs and architectural documents were used to recreate key elements of the original 1927 design. The two-story ballroom was reconstructed with its original scale and elegance. Surviving terrazzo floors and mosaic fireplaces were carefully restored. New infrastructure, such as elevators, HVAC, and plumbing, was added while preserving the building’s character.

In 2019, the Tulsa Club reopened as the Tulsa Club Hotel, a 96-room boutique hotel affiliated with Hilton’s Curio Collection. This adaptive reuse project gave the historic building a new life. The hotel’s restaurant, named “Chamber,” honors the building’s dual heritage. While the black marble façade added in the 1950s remains due to preservation constraints, much of the original grandeur has been revived. Though the original Art Deco lanterns were not restored, the building’s legacy is once again visible in the architectural details and interior spaces.

Restored Lobby of the Tulsa Club Hotel – Downtown Tulsa Landmark

This elegantly restored lobby at the Tulsa Club Hotel blends contemporary design with historic detail, featuring marble surfaces, Art Deco-inspired lighting, and curated artwork. The hotel occupies the former Tulsa Club Building, a 1927 architectural landmark originally designed by Bruce Goff.

The Tulsa Club Hotel today serves as a vibrant example of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. It plays a key role in downtown Tulsa’s revitalization and in promoting heritage tourism in Oklahoma. Its story is frequently cited in architectural circles as a successful case study in restoring early twentieth-century Art Deco landmarks.

The legacy of the Tulsa Club Building is multifaceted. It represents Tulsa’s oil-driven rise to national prominence, the city’s evolving architectural tastes, and the enduring value of preservation. For nearly a century, this Art Deco icon has shaped—and been shaped by—the city around it.

Whether you are a historian, architect, preservation advocate, or simply a visitor drawn to Tulsa’s historic buildings, the Tulsa Club offers an unforgettable experience. It is a monument to vision, decline, and revival—and it continues to shape the narrative of Tulsa’s downtown for future generations.