Sand Springs breaks ground on new Keystone Ancient Forest Visitor Center
/Just 11 minutes west of downtown Sand Springs and 20 minutes west of downtown Tulsa sits one of Oklahoma’s most unique and beautiful nature preserves. The Keystone Ancient Forest spans 1,360 acres featuring 300-year-old post oaks and 500-year-old cedars, with wildlife, gorgeous scenery, and a fascinating history.
The City of Sand Springs recently broke ground on a new $927,000 visitor center at the preserve. The 2,000 sq. ft. facility will be funded through a 2017 general obligation bond election with philanthropic contribution from the Sharna and Irvin Frank Family Foundation.
The two-story building is designed by Studio 45 Architects of Tulsa and will feature a glassed-in multi-function observation floor and restroom facilities along with storage space for park maintenance equipment. Construction is expected to be complete by 2021 and will be contracted to Bravo Builders.
The City of Sand Springs first began acquiring the KAF land in 2001 and it opened to visitors in 2007. It has steadily grown over the years in both overall size and trail length. There are approximately eight miles of varying trail difficulties, including a 0.6 mile ADA accessible paved trail.
The park is different from hiking trails like Turkey Mountain because it is only open on specific Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with park staff present in order to ensure the integrity of the grounds. It is vandalism free and virtually devoid of trash. In addition to regular hikes, there are also Hike With Your Dog Days and an annual Ancient 5K run.
One of the most unique features of the park is its history. The forest is described in the journals of famed American author and explorer Washington Irving, who traveled through it in 1832 on a month-long military expedition into Indian Territory.
Also in the works for the forest is a 100-foot fire lookout tower that the City recently purchased. The disused tower was acquired at a cost of $108,000 from Cookson, Oklahoma. It is listed on the National Historic Lookout Register and will give visitors the opportunity to see from above the forest canopy. That project will go out to bid this summer.
Keystone Ancient Forest is located at 160 Ancient Forest Drive in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Dogs are only permitted on specific days. Trail guides are on-hand to provide trail directions.
The forest is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Because of 2 recent back to back record attendance weekend hikes with more than 300-400 in attendance, and because we operate the preserve as a scheduled hiking facility, we were advised against promoting hiking as that could be considered invitation of public gatherings during this time of social distancing,” reads a statement from Parks Director Jeff Edwards. The rest of Sand Springs’s public trail system remains open.
