Courtesy Hammett House
Where is Claremore, Okla.?
Birthplace of the cowboy, humorist and writer Will Rogers, the town of 18,500 is 20 miles northeast of Tulsa on Route 66, two hours from Oklahoma City and 90 minutes from Joplin, Mo.
How do I get there?
Claremore is just off Interstate 44, which connects Tulsa to Oklahoma City and Joplin. Tulsa International is the nearest major airport.
What types of meetings suit Claremore?
The city can handle groups of up to 500. Its proximity to oil and gas companies makes it a fit for those industries. In the Bible Belt, Claremore is a natural for religious groups.
What’s new?
• The area’s newest attraction is the Robson Performing Arts Center, where there’s nearly always a performance on stage.
• A former Days Inn is now the 58-room Comfort Inn Claremore, and ground will be broken soon for an 80-room Hampton Inn and Suites with a 100-person conference room.
Tell me about some sites worth seeing.
• Three blocks of Claremore’s historic downtown are packed with more than 250 antique and collectibles dealers.
• Travelers go crazy for the Nut House’s fudge, homemade candies and other sweets. The Route 66 attraction is in a log cabin that sits in a pecan grove. Free fudge is handed out at the door of its Hot Mama’s Deli, open for lunch. The Nut House can handle banquets of up to 200.
Tell me about the main meeting venues.
• The 7,100-square-foot ballroom at Rogers State’s Centennial Center is among the area’s largest venues for banquets. The student center has 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including an outdoor terrace that overlooks Douglas Lake and the city.
• The Claremore Expo Center seats up to 2,500 theater-style.
• The Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs combines live horse racing and gaming with dinners and meetings for up to 500 people.
