Minute Massage closes after 30 years at Tulsa International AirportBy
- Cherokee 411 Staff
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee 411
TULSA, Okla. — After three decades of soothing weary travelers, Minute Massage at Tulsa International Airport has closed, marking the end of an era for one of Tulsa’s most enduring and beloved small businesses.
Founded by in the early 1990s, Minute Massage introduced the concept of “massage by the minute,” a simple but groundbreaking idea that brought calm and comfort to travelers on the move. A 1998 Tulsa People feature called it “an airport innovation” and one of the city’s most creative small-business success stories.
For 30 years, Helen and her daughter Dan’niel kept Minute Massage thriving with a mix of hard work, hospitality and heart. Together, they built a trusted haven for travelers and flight crews — a place to relax before takeoff or recharge after landing. In the business’s final months, Dan’niel continued her mother’s legacy, keeping the family-founded shop open until its last day of operation.
Jeanie Renfrow, a Cherokee Nation citizen, joined Minute Massage 17 years ago and became an essential part of the team. Known for her healing touch and compassionate nature, Renfrow helped countless travelers manage the stress and strain of flying. She is also well known in the Tulsa Indian community for her connection and care, often visiting with the late Maggie Studie, a respected Cherokee language teacher and speaker.
As a frequent traveler through Tulsa International Airport, Cherokee 411 co-founder and former Cherokee Nation Councilwoman Cara Cowan Watts remembers Renfrow’s kindness vividly.
“Jeanie always brought calm to chaos,” Cowan Watts said. “She didn’t just relieve pain — she genuinely cared about people, our stories, and what was happening back home in Cherokee Country. She’s been part of my journey for more than 20 years.”
Although Minute Massage has closed its airport location, Renfrow will continue providing mobile massage services by appointment.
To schedule, call 918-845-3888.
Helen Wormuth’s vision — carried forward by Dan’niel and supported by dedicated therapists like Jeanie Renfrow — will live on in the memories of thousands of travelers who found a few quiet minutes of peace thanks to their work.
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