Great Plains Country, Oklahoma
In southwestern Oklahoma the golden shortgrass prairie extends for mile after undulating mile, mirroring the sky in its vastness. Less than a century and a half ago, the Southern Plains were the domain of the Kiowa and Comanche, who hunted buffalo on horses bridled with Spanish silver and traded with the Wichitas, farmers who lived in grass houses. To the Kiowa, the earth was sacred, and the Wichitas believed their ancestors lived on in the 650-million-year-old granite boulders of the Wichita Mountains. Travelers exploring the region today may encounter moments of similar reverence -- watching the sun set from atop Mount Scott in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, for instance, or watching an eagle soar in winter. A rowdier spirit lives endures in the area, too: Teddy Roosevelt created the wildlife refuge after he traveled to Oklahoma Territory to hunt wolves. Bison now graze on the 60,000-acre preserve, along with longhorn cattle, antelope and elk -- rugged mountain biking, hiking, camping and backpacking are permitted in some areas.
Explore Great Plains Country
Foss Lake State Park
Foss State Park sits on parts of the 60 miles of shoreline of western Oklahoma's largest lake, Lake Foss. The park has 8 campgrounds consisting of 110 Campsites, Swimming Beach, Boating, 6
, OK CampingPercussive Arts Society Museum
The Percussive Arts Museum and Library are currently closed and have been moved to Indianapolis, IN with the administrative offices as of April 2007. The PAS Museum and Library will open in a new space downtown Indianapolis in 2008.
Lawton, OK Museums
Route 66 - America's Main Street
It is known as the Main Street of America - The Mother Road - The Free Road - even the Will Rogers Highway. And it evokes images of roadside diner's, mom-and-pop truck stops, old-fashioned service stations, motor courts, neon signs, and classic American automobiles.
Elk City, OK LandmarksLake Lawtonka
Water recreation, camping, hunting - 2,398 surface acres and 21 miles of shoreline. Noted for smallmouth bass catch and release program. Also largemouth bass, catfish, walleye, saugeye and crappie. 30 primitive sites, group shelters, restrooms/
Medicine Park, OK RecreationRS & K Railroad Museum
Relive the days when the Railroads brought us everything from soup to hay. Experience the entertainment of twelve model trains running at the same time, different gauges, and over 350 feet of track! See over 100 trains beautifully displayed and lots of memorabilia. Over 30
Sayre, OK MuseumsCentennial Park on the Square
Visitors will enjoy relaxing by the fountain in Centennial Park on the Square adjacent to the picturesque Courthouse.
Cordell, OK RecreationBeckham County Courthouse
The impressive Beckham County Courthouse was built in 1911. If you have watched the movie, "The Grapes of Wrath," it may look familiar to you. It appeared in the brief 30-second montage of shots depicting the beginning of the Joad family's westward journey along Oklahoma Route 66
Sayre, OK Historic CourthousesRock Island Railroad Depot/Public Library
The Rock Island Depot in Waurika has been restored for use as the public library. Come visit this historic structure that is part of the history of the only county seat on the 98
Waurika, OK Railroad HistoryOutdoor Murals
These murals are two magnificent gifts to downtown Anadarko located on the building of The Gallery of Art which displays the works of more than 120 artists and artisans in traditional, primitive, and contemporary Native American and Southwestern art.
Mangum Library & Genealogy Center - WPA
The Native stone building was built in 1936 and was a WPA project. The stone was dug from the ground and hauled in by teams and wagons, each piece of stone was cut by hand by the laborers and put into place.
Mangum, OK Historic BuildingsFlying W Guest Ranch
The Flying W Ranch has RV hookups available for 10 vehicles near the lake. This area has a convenient shower house. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the variety of critters around the farm, including goats, lots of beautiful riding horses, cattle, buffalo. It'
Elk City, OK RV ParksPhilomathic Pioneer Museum
There is no better place to learn of Anadarko's pioneer past than at the Anadarko Philomathic Museum. The museum is housed in the old Rock Island Depot, the famed train station where Jesse James' mother stopped for a drink of water.
Anadarko, OK Museums