Growing up in Tulsa there were a few local landmarks that I will always remember as special, even magical: Bells, the Williams Center forum, Casa Bonita, Crystals and the Camelot Hotel. The giant pink castle-shaped hotel was closed for most of my childhood but each time we drove past 49th and Peoria I wished I could peek inside. After being abandoned in 1996 the Camelot was condemned by the Tulsa Health Department and was demolished in 2007.
The eight-story, 330-room Camelot opened in September 1965, and had a turret, massive iron gates, moat, drawbridge and a swimming pool shaped like the top of a medieval spear. It was the height of luxury and class when it opened and welcomed many prominent celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. The Camelot was also featured in both the book and film "Tex." The location where the Camelot stood is now a QuikTrip.
This video of the Camelot has some good interior shots:
The eight-story, 330-room Camelot opened in September 1965, and had a turret, massive iron gates, moat, drawbridge and a swimming pool shaped like the top of a medieval spear. It was the height of luxury and class when it opened and welcomed many prominent celebrities such as Elvis Presley and Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. The Camelot was also featured in both the book and film "Tex." The location where the Camelot stood is now a QuikTrip.
This video of the Camelot has some good interior shots: