6 Most Eccentric Towns In Oklahoma
Oklahoma, a singly landlocked state prettily set in the south-central US betwixt the Great Plains and Ozarks in the Gulf of Mexico watershed, is distinguished for its exceptional geographical heterogeneousness. From undulating woody hills, untimbered high plains, and immaculate water bodies (both natural and artificial lakes) to the lowlands of Arkansas and Red Rivers, the Sooner State is a Shangri-la for both adventurous souls and those who wish to rekindle a bond with the natural world. Although top-rated tourist spots and leading economic bases like Tulsa, Oklahoma City (the state capital), and Norman are absolute favorites for most world travelers, the customarily overlooked eccentric towns in the Land of the Red Man are equally worth touring on your upcoming sojourns.
Pauls Valley
Pauls Valley, primarily settled by the North Carolinian native Smith Paul, occupies the kernel of the highly productive Washita River agricultural complex, approximately 57 miles south of the state capital. With agronomy and petrochemicals industries being the cardinal economic drivers, this Garvin County seat welcomes trippers to ramble the brick-lined streets of the downtown, spotlighting age-old buildings, women’s clothing stores like The White Feather, art galleries like The Vault Art Space & Gathering Place, and family-friendly restaurants like Punkin’s Bar-B-Que & Catfish. Do check out the antique collections and pioneer artifacts put up at the Santa Fe Depot Museum, the noteworthy exhibits of the Toy & Action Figure Museum, and the multiple recreations that one can partake in at the adjoining Pauls Valley City Lake.
Broken Bow
One of Oklahoma’s outstanding destinations offering a perfect fusion of thrill and relaxation, this 4,228-inhabitant McCurtain County town is situated within the Little Dixie region of the state at the base of the Kiamichi Mountains. Formed by the Mountain Fork River’s impoundment, the 14,000-acre Broken Bow Lake is located precisely 9 miles northeast of Broken Bow. Locals, nature enthusiasts, and tourers from the conterminous states of Texas and Arkansas are especially crazy about the incomparable magnificence and gorgeousness of the freshwater lake’s 22-mile reverse stretch into the Ouachita Mountain Country. When in town, the Beavers Bend Resort Park, Beavers Bend Wildlife Museum, Beavers Bend State Park & Nature Center, Cedar Creek Golf Course, Choctaw Casino, and Beavers Bend Brewery are highly recommended sightseeing spots.
Guthrie
Baptized in memory of Jurist John Guthrie, this administrative center of Logan County occupies the heart of the state in the Frontier Country region about 32 miles north of the state capital. Far-famed for its whopping collection of historic Victorian-era architecture, the Guthrie Historic District covering the commercial soul of town, comprises over 2,169 buildings in various architectural styles. Embark on a trolley tour through Guthrie’s Downtown and pay a visit to iconic sites such as the Oklahoma Territorial Museum & Carnegie Library, Pollard Theatre, Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum, Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, and Territorial Capital Sports Museum; apart from award-winning eateries like Gages Steak House, and art galleries like Aunt Gertrude’s House and Gallery Grazioso. Annually, community events like the Eighty-Niner Day Celebration, Guthrie Jazz Banjo Festival, and Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival.
Bartlesville
Bartlesville, the Washington County seat, is situated not far from the Washington-Osage county line, approx. 47 miles north of Tulsa and 18 miles south of the Oklahoma-Kansas state border. The settlement, called after Jacob H. Bartles evolved steadily from a prime energy center and an oil boomtown to a picturesque holiday spot. The 221-foot-tall Price Tower, Bartlesville Area History Museum, Frank Philips House, Jo Allyn Lowe Park, Bartlesville Community Center, Old Washington County Courthouse, Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Oklahoma’s foremost commercial oil well - Nellie Johnstone No. 1, Pathfinder Parkway trail, Philips Petroleum Company Museum, and the Wall of Honor inside Washington Park Mall are some of Bartlesville’s interesting attractions. Spare time from your crazy schedules to attend any of the town’s annual festivals like Bartlesville Biplane Expo, Oklahoma Indian Summer Festival, OKM Music, and Sunfest.
Hugo
This administrative capital of southeastern Oklahoma’s Choctaw County, christened in honor of Victor Hugo - an eminent French novelist, is set at the Indian Nation Turnpike (State Highway 375)’s southern terminal, around 9 miles north of the Oklahoma-Texas state boundary. The region’s mild climate has helped the town to become a well-liked wintering home for rodeo companies and circus performers. Functioning as a railroad center in the early 1900s, Hugo was at the core of all activities having a mix of gunfighters, dance hall girls, and hustlers. Do not miss a tour of Hugo’s prominent sites of interest including Hugo National Guard Armory, Endangered Ark Foundation, Frisco Depot Museum & Harvey House Restaurant, Hugo Public Library, and Mt. Olivet Cemetery’s Showman’s Rest portion. Outdoorsy types get to enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities at Hugo Lake and the adjacent Hugo Lake State Park.
Perry
Noble County’s seat of government, Perry, named after the Cherokee Strip Commission Member J. A. Perry, is located in the state’s north-central portion, roughly 60 miles north of Oklahoma City and 100 miles south of Wichita, Kansas. Heritage connoisseurs are especially attracted by the large number of historically important buildings, such as the First National Bank & Trust Company Building, Noble County Courthouse, and Wolleson-Nicewander Building in the National Register-listed Perry Courthouse Square Historic District. Additionally, drop by the Rose Hill School - Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, the Perry Wrestling Monument Park, and the Cherokee Strip Museum, besides heading to the CCC Lake & Park to participate in swimming, boating, skiing, RV camping, and fishing activities.
From the breathtaking Broken Bow to Guthrie’s well-looked-after Victorian architecture-filled Downtown, each quirky town in the 20th most extensive and 28th most populous state of the nation proffers every vacationer with unbeatable experiences. Replete with phenomenal sceneries, strong Native American heritage, colorful cultures, and profuse open-air activities, these stunning Oklahoma towns are ideal locales for fostering intimacies with closed ones on your quick day trips or lengthy getaways.
