Elk City Chamber of Commerce

The Elk City Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization funded primarily through its membership revenue and event sponsorship. Hosting more than 25 events throughout each year, the Chamber relies heavily on its 300+ members to serve as the volunteer base for all of its programs, events and services. The Chamber promotes Elk City and their businesses, often using the fact that the city is on the acclaimed Route 66 pathway.

One of the many events for Elk City is Christmas in the Park. This celebration lights up Ackley Park with millions of lights, and contains a hand carved wooden carousel, mini train, Double Decker bus, horse drawn carriage rides and, of course, Santa himself along with a gift shop. It takes a committee of volunteer Chamber members in partnership with the City of Elk City to put on this annual holiday extravaganza. A detail very important to the Chamber is that admission always remains free. Executive Director Susie Cupp explains, “For some of our families struggling in this economy, this celebration is the only Christmas they have.” But mounting the event can be costly, especially keeping the Park lit from the day after Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve.

In 2003, the Christmas in the Park Committee wanted to find a new fundraising program to help pay for the cost of lighting the park. They had sold clothing in the past, but wanted to try something more in line with the spirit of the season that could represent a different park attraction each year. They had been referred to ChemArt by the Capitol Visitor’s Center, who has been doing an annual ornament with ChemArt since 1996.

The first few years depicted various horses from the carousel in the Park. In 2007, Cupp took over as Director of the Chamber and decided to shake up the ornament design to help celebrate Elk City’s 100th birthday. That year the ornament was of the Elk City Centennial Lighthouse. The response was so great that they decided to create a special “Route 66” ornament to sell year round in addition to the annual ornament. The Route 66 ornament is sold at the National Route 66 Museum, Transportation Museum and the Chamber office, as well as during the Christmas in the Park celebration. The ornament is marketed by their Convention and Visitors Bureau in conjunction with the celebration in advertisements in the newspaper, radio and television.

Cupp comments, “Every year the program, and the event, get a little bigger”.

Elk City boasts a good deal of new growth and unique attractions. They have built a new high school which includes the Pioneer Center, housing numerous facilities including a gym and auditorium. This year a new hospital, Great Plains Regional Medical Center, was opened. Elk City also has a vast museum complex and various museums, including the National Route 66 Museum.

“Our town is growing and is prosperous,” comments Cupp. “All our events are memorable and each one attracts different people. But all embody the spirit of the community and its support of Elk City.”

 Download a PDF of the Elk City Chamber of Commerce customer success story.