Work is ongoing in the Buffalo Roam Film Studio & Institute sanctuary.
Please do an update on Buffalo Roam.
City Beat readers will recall the City Council voted in 2023 to enter into an agreement with Buffalo Roam Film Studio and Institute. The agreement allowed the company to utilize the former First Christian Church facility, located at 520 S. Osage Ave., after the FFC Board had offered to donate the building to the City.
The agreement also included the placement of $2 million in escrow to serve as matching funding for a near-complete renovation of the facility. These funds are to be paid through the Economic Development Fund and Bartlesville Redevelopment Authority Tax Increment Finance District No. 1 funds. To date, the Bartlesville Film Authority, which was created to oversee the project, has released $420,121 over six payments, matching funds invested by Buffalo Roam. This means nearly $1 million in improvements have been made to the building since the agreement.
This rendering shows what the sanctuary will look like when complete. Renderings courtesy of Buffalo Roam
City staff recently toured the facility and asked Buffalo Roam to provide information in hopes of answering your most commonly asked questions. Following is their response:
What is Buffalo Roam?
Buffalo Roam studios is a professional film and media production campus being developed to support movies, television, commercials, podcasts and digital media. The project includes a large soundstage, production offices, educational space and support areas for crews and creators.
Why Bartlesville?
Bartlesville offers space, affordability, strong infrastructure and a community that supports long-term growth. Its location and cost advantages make it attractive to productions seeking alternatives to larger, higher-cost markets.
What is being built?
The project includes a professional soundstage, production offices, storage and staging areas and education and training space. The facility is designed for real, working productions, not temporary or hobby use.
Will this be noisy or disruptive?
No. Soundstages are designed to contain sound, and most filming takes place indoors. Operations will comply with City regulations. This is not a concert or public event venue.
How does this benefit Bartlesville residents?
The studio is expected to create local jobs, generate work for local trades and vendors, increase spending at nearby businesses, and offer practical training opportunities tied to real production work.
What kinds of productions will use the studio?
The studio will support feature films, television and streaming projects, commercials, documentaries, educational content, podcasts and other professional media productions.
When will education programs begin?
Education will begin as soon as the studio opens. Classes and workshops will be offered during Phase 1, starting in March. A larger, structured education program is planned to launch in June.
How can residents stay informed?
Updates will be shared through official Buffalo Roam Studios communications. Community questions are welcome, and transparency will remain a priority as the project moves forward.
What is the long-term vision?
The long-term goal is to establish Buffalo Roam Studios as a stable production hub, a repeat destination for professional media projects, a training resource for the community, and a consistent economic contributor to Bartlesville.
Note: The Bartlesville Film Authority meets the third Monday of every month (except for January and February due to holidays) in the second floor conference room at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. The public is invited to attend.
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- Current view of the fellowship hall.
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- A rendering of what the fellowship hall will look like once complete.
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- Rendering of the cafe.
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- Rendering of the cafe (alternate view).