Guest/Spouse Program
Ardmore is a progressive, attractive city bustling with activity. Founded before statehood, its history is diverse and rich. Ardmore was born with the establishment of the Santa Fe Railroad in 1887 while Oklahoma was still Indian Territory. Initially the community’s roots were agricultural, with cotton as the primary crop. At one point, it boasted the largest inland cotton market in the United States. This was the beginning of a city destined to become one of the premiere towns in the State of Oklahoma. The overwhelming number of people farming in the area quickly depleted the area soil, and the cotton industry all but disappeared.
The decline of the cotton industry did not slow this progressive community. Soon oil was discovered! This discovery rapidly converted the economy from one based on agriculture to one based on energy. Quickly Ardmore became one of the wealthiest and fastest growing cities in the Southwest. After waning in the latter part of the last century, the oil industry is once again a mainstay of the town’s economy. Learn what to see and do during your visit at visitors.ardmore.org.
We look forward to welcoming lots of spouses and guests to our hometown during the field conference. The guest/spouse fee of $85 includes the Friday Icebreaker and Saturday night dinner in addition to the following:
Saturday 18 October, 9:30 am-3:30 pm
We’ll leave the Convention Center/ Holiday Inn parking lot on the trolley bound for Historic Downtown Ardmore, where you will find many antique shops and consignment malls, boutique apparel stores, jewelry and a quilting store. We’ll provide everyone with a walking tour brochure of historic buildings, a restaurant map card and discount cards from downtown merchants and restaurants.
Lunch will be your choice. Ardmore features many one-of-a-kind places to eat—Ten Star Pizza Kitchen, Cuppycakes Sweet and Treats, Edamame American Sushi Bar and the Famous Hamburger Inn just to name a few!
At 2:00 the trolley will take us to The Goddard Center to view the featured artists’ exhibit and some of the Permanent Collection on display. That collection includes over 300 works of art, featuring Oklahoma artists as well artists from across the United States, Europe and Mexico. We will depart the Goddard Art Center and return to the Convention Center at 3:30pm.
Sunday 19 October, 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Departure by bus from the Convention Center parking lot will take place at 8:30 am for an exploration of the Arbuckle Mountains— a geotour for non-geologists! Get the “Reader’s Digest” version of some of the outcrops of the main field trip, and some not on the main tour, many unique to this part of the country. Learn some of the geologic history of the Ardmore Basin and Arbuckles. The rocks can tell an amazing story that spans millions of years. No major hikes, step out of the bus, get a short explanation without a lot of terminology, snap a picture. No notes required, no final exam. Return is at 12:30.