New Hotel And Restaurant Set To Transform Tulsa's Cry Baby Hill Area By 2026

A new hotel and restaurant are coming to the area next to Cry Baby Hill and Route 66. It’s intended as a destination for travelers and a local spot for neighbors to enjoy the pool and bar.

The hotel and restaurant will be located in a grassy area and will feature a pool. It’s adjacent to the infamous Cry Baby Hill, with developers aiming for completion by the end of 2026.

Local developer Sharp Development released renderings of their vision for the green space and parking lot near Route 66 and Riverside Drive. The project will include a 45- to 50-room hotel with a 4,000-square-foot restaurant, pool, and bar, and will be called the Palmera Motor Court, channeling a retro vibe.

Image Provided By: Sharp Development

“The reason why it's legendary is the steep topography," said Ellen Ray, Managing Director of the City of Tulsa Design Studio. "We knew we needed a pro, and a team to bring in financial resources to make it happen.”

Ellen Ray said the overall cost of the project should be around $23.4 million, with 10 to 1 private to public funding. The city is expected to provide around $2.5 million of its Vision 2025 dollars.

“We’re excited to use those dollars which are largely about generating economic development through Route 66 tourism, to having a commercial development where the tourists can stay at a central site in the heart of Tulsa.”

2026 is the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Route 66 Alliance director Ken Busby said he is hopeful but noted that many plans have been put in place here for years with no development yet.

“I’m excited to see something develop here," Busby said. "As long as neighbors are happy with it, we’re happy with it.”

The city said this all goes hand in hand with recent developments and the need for more hotels to continue bringing people to the city.

"This is our chance to shine," Busby said. "Whatever we do, we have to make the capital of Route 66 the best it can be.”

Busby also hopes people with opinions on this new development will share them at public meetings, especially after the social media backlash that followed the proposed Cry Baby Hill statue.

Related: Artist Of Cry Baby Hill Statue Releases New Renderings After Tulsans Raise Concerns Over Original Design

The final statue renderings are still being discussed. City leaders are hopeful this hotel can be completed by Nov. 11, 2026, the centennial, but they still need to analyze the site further.