Lake Country, Oklahoma
Before southcentral Oklahoma was lake country, it was river country, home to the mercurial Red, the gentle Washita and the pristine Blue rivers. Corralled, the rivers created four major lakes -- and a whole new world of water. Lake Texoma splashes into three counties and draws fisherman from all over the country, lured by the best striped bass fishing to be found anywhere. Near Ardmore, clear spring water fill Lake Murray, built in the shady foothills of the Arbuckle mountains and the sparkling centerpiece of Oklahoma's oldest, most historic state park. (A limestone castle houses the park's nature center.) The 9,000-acre McGee Creek National Scenic Recreation Area, adjacent to Atoka Lake, is home to white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and the occasional mountain lion. Campers can apply for a permit to backpack into the recreation area, or stay in relative luxury in a rustic log fishing hut at McGee Creek State Park.
Explore Lake Country
Masonic Lodge
The Masonic Lodge of Pauls Valley is the oldest enterprise in Pauls Valley in continuous existence. Valley Lodge #6 was chartered on September 7th, 1875 by the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory and has met continuously since that time. Silas Rogers was the first Master of Valley Lodge #6.
Pauls Valley, OK Historic BuildingsBoggy Depot Townsite
Prelude to a State Boggy Depot's contribution to Oklahoma outlasted all her structures, for it was the source of the state's name. Chief Allen Wright, principal chief of the Choctaw Nation, suggested the word "Oklahoma" (meaning "Red People") in 1866
Atoka, OK Historic TownsConfederate Cemetery
The "burying ground" was first used by emigrants traveling on the Butterfield Stage road who camped at a spring, which was later called "Harkins' Spring," just north of the Middle Boggy River (today known as the Muddy Boggy).
Atoka, OK CemeteriesCaddo Indian Territory Museum & Library
Caddo's museum was the brainchild of Caddo's Bicentennial Committee (1976). It opened in 1978 and since then it has been entertaining and enlightening visitors from across the country and around the globe. Some are just "passing through"
Caddo, OK MuseumsGarvin County Courthouse
Part of the Historic Downtown tour the Garvin County Courthouse was built in 1918.
Pauls Valley, OK Historic CourthousesMurray Mansion
At Erin Springs near Lindsay, stands the largest farm in cultivation in all Indian Territory. The owner of this land and the 1880 handsome, three-story home was rancher, Frank Murray. He owned 20,000 acres with corn fields three miles wide and five miles long.
Lindsay, OK Historic HomesThe Castle and The Bar-C Dude Ranch
The Castle and the Bar-C were built by Dr. Ellsworth Collings, Dean of Education at the University of Oklahoma. It was never a permanent home of the Collings, but on special occasions, friends were entertained at the Castle in the Arbuckles.
Sulphur, OK Historic Homes