Route 66 Cry Baby Hill Statue Design Finalized

The City of Tulsa released the final design for its' Route 66 Cry Baby Hill statue on Monday.

Designs have gone through several iterations after some Tulsans were outspoken about disliking the initial design released in August.

The city said it picked this design after several meetings with stakeholders like Tulsa Tough reps and Cry Baby Hill founders.

The city said it is aware that projects like this rarely get unanimous support but believes that it has settled on something that represents the event.

The statue will debut sometime ahead of Route 66's centennial in 2026.

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The artist of the Cry Baby Hill statue has made some changes after lots of Tulsans said they didn’t like the first design.

Many people who live in the neighborhood say the changes are a step in the right direction.

The artist, Ken Kelleher, says he is just designing a statue the city wanted him to design.

But people who live there say they don’t want a statue at all, but if they had to have one, they don’t want it to be kitschy or goofy.

The changes show a shirt and a hat added, and some options are standing and others are riding a bicycle.

Earlinda Hope lives near the hill and says she’s still not happy about it. However, she thinks the new design is better.

“It's not anything that I would have wanted sitting up there,” said Hope. “So I still have to come out of my house and see the ugly figurine. But, I will say it looks a little better.”

The Riverview Neighborhood Association doesn’t like the idea of a statue, the last design, or this design.

They say it boils down to disagreements between the artist, the city, and neighbors about how the statue should look.

“The main thing that we were always thinking was something more like Chicago, more classy artwork,” said Lauren Branum, the Vice President of the Riverview Neighborhood Association. “It's really been pushed that that was not the goal that was set by the city with this project, that it was supposed to be kitschy, goofy.”

Kelleher was the sculptor chosen by the city, and he says he’s just designing a statue that fits the request sent out by the city.

That request was for the statue to have a Route 66 theme.

“The aim of that sculpture is to fit in more with the Oil Driller, the Blue Whale, just the genre, feel, heritage of Route 66,” said Kelleher.

Hope says she’s come to terms with the idea of a statue being there and she’s done all she can to fight it.

“I'm still not impressed,” said Hope. “But I have accepted it. When I was told whatever I said or did, they were still putting the same thing up there. But it does look a little better. I like the tennis shoes and the flipped-up cap.”

The City of Tulsa sent News On 6 a statement saying in full:

“As the artwork for the Route 66 Roadside Attraction is finalized, the City is continuing to facilitate conversations between the artist and stakeholders to ensure the end product is reflective of Route 66, Cry Baby Hill, and Tulsa. As these conversations have evolved, the artist has released additional concepts on his own that represent his willingness to shape the final product in response to suggestions and community ideas. The City will continue to engage with the artist to develop the final outcome in collaboration with stakeholders.”

Related: 'Not Going To Work:' People Express Frustration Over Proposed Design For Cry Baby Hill Statue