Challenge

How do you make the state’s number-one attraction even better? That was our charge when commissioned to assist with the Oklahoma Trails Exhibit. We were tasked with helping the zoo advance its mission of understanding and preserving Oklahoma’s native fauna and flora.

Insight

Working with the zoo and architectural team, we built the entire experience around the earliest settlers and Native American design vocabulary. It literally felt like you were stepping back in time to Grandpa’s farm or to an era when there was a respect for nature, life and all who persevered.

Solution

Greteman Group provided environmental design, research and writing, and interpretive graphics throughout this immersive exhibit. It covers eight acres of natural habitat and includes almost 50 native animal species. Spanning 13 distinctive ecosystems found in Oklahoma, the exhibit leads you through amazingly different landscapes where you meet a variety of species. The project started with an immersion tour through Oklahoma including landmarks and geographical highlights. The clients and design team - armed with sketchbooks, cameras, journals and loads of curiosity – documented the incredible typography that makes Oklahoma one of the most ecologically diverse states in the nation. A bus ride through the back roads led us to discover the richness of the Black Mesa in the northwest corner panhandle, the majesty of the Ouachita mountains and the vastness of the tallgrass prairie where bison were only recently returned to the land. The Native American heritage with its profound respect for nature and amazing color palettes informed the design vocabulary.

An oversized entry monument sets the tone for the Native American theme emblazoned with a black bear crest. It and the 13 ecosystem medallions are constructed in steel by a regional metal sculptor a stately native. As you explore the exhibit, you are surprised by each distinctive area where you are greeted by a large vertical stone marker designating the specific ecozone and the animal that is the dominant species for the area. Ravines and rock formations create natural barriers that allow grizzly and black bears, bison and elk to live in environments similar to their native habitats. River otter play in streams while native birds perch on branches overhead. Pioneer and Native American history is woven in as well. Rusty wagon wheels and farm utensils sit in a field where coyote lay in the sun while Indian artifacts and authentic housing add interest and diversity to other areas.

The interpretive graphics are designed to be fun and interactive. In addition to learning important facts about the animals, kids can stick their hands into the den of a sleeping bear to hear it growl or touch a stump marked by actual bear claw marks. They can feel a real bison skull complete with authentic Indian painting, or walk through a darkened barn and see nocturnal critters: owls, bats, opossums. They can compare the length of their outstretched arms against a full-grown eagle’s six-foot wingspan. Signage educates, stimulates and provides a connection to the animals so future generations will care about conservation of lands and species. Interpretive signage was manufactured from porcelain for longevity and durability. The exhibits are ADA friendly and allow optimum access for easy viewing and interactivity. The original illustrations personify the personalities of the animals and fun facts make you want to take one of those critters home with you. Or maybe not if you’re talking about the American alligator.

Results

The grand opening of Oklahoma Trails in March 2007 enjoyed a record-breaking monthly attendance of 139,500. The exhibit helped the zoo smash its annual attendance record for the year as well with a total of 800,000 guests.