Goblins on Grand – Ponca City’s 20th annual free, citywide Halloween event that draws thousands to the northern Oklahoma city’s downtown – is just one reason to give the Kay County community more than a cursory glance.
Maci Graves, Ponca City’s Main Street director, says more than 80 booths are lined up for the frightfully spooky Oct. 17 festivities. Last year’s carnival drew about 3,500 people, with more expected this year. Admission is free.
Later in the year, Main Street offers up its annual ice-skating rink, beginning with a Nov. 17 holiday tree-lighting. Other major draws to Ponca City are two glorious 20th century homes built by Continental Oil Co. founder and Oklahoma’s 10th governor, E.W. Marland: Marland’s Grand Home and the Marland Mansion. Both are operated by the E.W. Marland Estate. The mansion will be the site of an annual Christmas gala, open to the public, on Dec. 14.
In addition to the Ponca City architectural gems, visitors can also find the famed Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum, dedicated to the pioneering spirit of the women who helped shape today’s Oklahoma; as well as the Standing Bear Park and Museum, dedicated to the culture represented by Chief Standing Bear.
“We’re on an upward trend,” says Graves. “I anticipate it continuing in this trend for many years to come. We have new businesses [and] a decrease in vacancies.”
David Keathly, executive director of the E.W. Marland Estate and Marland’s Grand Home, says both the 43,000-square-foot, 55-room, Italian Renaissance mansion and the Grand Home, with its 16,000 square feet, 22 rooms and Mediterranean Revival architecture, represent different styles of wonderment.
“Both of the houses are beautiful but they’re totally different,” Keathly says. “Mr. Marland was true to styles, and brought many things from Europe to north central Oklahoma that are totally unexpected.”
Interest in both homes, from Oklahomans and surrounding states’ residents, remains high due to marketing efforts and recent attention on Oklahoma spurred by the movie Killers of the Flower Moon, set in neighboring Osage County.
“We know that Oklahomans and people from the southern plains really enjoy visiting us,” says Keathly.
Topping all these draws off is the downtown Poncan Theatre, opened in 1927. Today, it continues to provide live and cinematic entertainment in the form of productions by the Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts as well as screenings of first-run movies.
Ashley Barringer, the theater’s marketing chair, says the Academy, with performers ages 7 to 18 from the Ponca City area, stages up to nine productions annually.
Luke Garrison, president of the Poncan Theatre board, says the theater compares with others across the U.S. in the 1920s and 1930s.
“We can show a blockbuster movie one weekend and put a musical or concert on stage the next,” he says.
Local legend holds that the place might also have an occasional paranormal visitor. Garrison mentions that “ghost hunters” occasionally rent the theater for late-night stays.
“Decades ago, a young woman passed away during a show, and many have said she haunts the theater,” Garrison says. “The ghost hunters always say she is still present, as are others. That said, I have been in that theater many late nights, and she has never visited.”
Barringer concedes that speculation about an occasional spooky visitor persists. Does she believe any of it?
“No, I don’t personally,” she says, “although it can be a little spooky being [alone] in the theater.”
For More Information
Poncan Theatre
580-765-0943
poncantheatre.org
Marland Mansion
580-767-0420
marlandmansion.com
Marland’s Grand Home
580-767-0427
marlandgrandhome.com
Standing Bear Park, Museum
and Education Center
580-762-1514
standingbearpark.com
Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum
580-765-6108
pioneerwomanmuseum.com
Ponca City Main Street
580-763-8082
downtownponcacity.com
