How a Tourism Office Helped Stillwater Say Yes to Animal Welfare
Learn how Visit Stillwater has become an essential civic partner to the City of Stillwater, supporting bond initiatives, driving quality of life, and leading one of the community’s most effective advocacy campaigns to date.
A Quality of Life Organization at the Core
Visit Stillwater may be a destination marketing organization, but its mission reaches well beyond tourism. In addition to promoting events and driving visitation, it coordinates community-wide campaigns, manages a regional airport marketing initiative, supports wayfinding signage, assists with local beautification efforts, and co-produces multiple events. It also serves as a media partner weekday mornings through TV and radio appearances and contributes to the local newspaper.
“I would consider us more of a quality of life organization,” said Cristy Morrison, President & CEO of Visit Stillwater.
Morrison, a longtime Stillwater resident and proud Oklahoma State University graduate, has led the organization since 1995. Under her leadership, Visit Stillwater has transformed from a tourism-focused department to an essential civic partner.
“We very much feel like we’re an integral part of [Stillwater] — kind of the glue that brings different community partners together,” she said. “Because we don’t steer just down the visitor lane. We really kind of do both, equally.”
A Shelter Worth Fighting For
Stillwater’s animal shelter had long outlived its useful life. “We’ve been talking about the need for a new animal welfare facility for at least a decade,” said Morrison. The structure had been repeatedly struck by lightning, flooded regularly, and could no longer accommodate the demands of a growing community.
But the shelter’s importance extended far beyond adoptions. “It’s more of a public safety aspect,” Morrison noted. The Animal Welfare team plays a key role in disease prevention, stray animal control, and emergency response. That role became especially clear in spring 2025 when wildfires destroyed or damaged nearly 200 homes and structures and displaced countless pets. The timing underscored the need for a facility that could also serve as an emergency support hub.
A Win for the Community and Its Animals
While the campaign’s visuals leaned into heartwarming adoption messaging, the project resonated because it aligned with deeper civic values. “People want to live in a community where you care for your animals as much as your people,” Morrison said.
The community responded resoundingly — the bond passed with 74% of the vote. Groundbreaking is expected soon.
Looking ahead, Morrison sees potential for the facility to also serve Stillwater’s visitor economy. “You cuddle a puppy and all of a sudden it’s the best day ever,” she said. She imagines future corporate meetings or community events integrating animal interactions. “I think it would be something different, unique.”
Showing Up, Day In and Day Out
Looking ahead, Visit Stillwater is continuing its work with the City on future quality of life bonds and projects. Proposals may include a new public pool or expanded youth sports facilities, all of which would serve both residents and visitors alike.
Visit Stillwater’s impact isn’t just seen in high-profile wins, it’s built through everyday engagement. Morrison attends city council meetings, collaborates with economic development leaders, and remains in close contact with partners across the community. “We’re actively in communication with our city management, our city council, the chamber, economic development, Core Commercial Districts, and various arts and community boards and committees,” she shared during our interview. “So we hear the issues from everybody’s perspective.”
That presence, built over decades of service, has helped cement Visit Stillwater as a trusted and responsive partner in both civic and visitor-facing conversations.
“We're not in the pictures. Our job is to make everybody else successful,” Morrison emphasized, explaining that while the DMO doesn’t seek the spotlight, it plays a key role in moving projects forward.
Through bonds, beautification, public safety, and smart advocacy, Visit Stillwater is showing what it means to support a destination by strengthening the foundation it stands on.
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