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
Altus Reservoir Fishing
Altus Reservoir and adjacent Quartz Mountain State Park provide a major recreation spot in southwest Oklahoma. The lake holds two state records for largest walleye (13 pounds) and hybrid bass (22
, OK FishingSayre City Park
The Sayre City Park offers an abundance of activities all within a half-mile radius, such as a well maintained nine-hole golf course with cart rentals available, an 18
Sayre, OK RecreationQuanah Parker Star House and Eagle Park Ghost Town
Comanche Chief Quanah Parker had stars painted on the roof of his home to mimic those on the uniforms of the U.S. military officers. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Cache, OK Famous HomesDuncan Little Theatre
Duncan Little Theatre brings "live theatre" to the area by providing an extremely varied program of plays, musicals, assorted dinner theatres, and melodrama's over the course of each year.
Duncan, OK TheatresWichita Mountains NWR - Camping
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of camping opportunities.
- Doris Campground is a modern camping facility with individual and group sites.
- Fawn Creek Campground Lawton, OK Camping
Beckham 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 CourthousesQuartz Mountain Golf Course
Breathtaking natural beauty is probably the most distinguishable feature of Quartz Mountain Golf Course. Located at the base of rocky Quartz Mountain on the western edge of the Wichita mountains range, the course is surrounded by a sea of sage and prairie grass.
Altus, OK Golf CoursesNew Holy City History Book Available
Oklahoma City author, Jacqulein Vaughn Lowry has authored a new pictorial history book about the Holy City of the Wichitas. Published by Arcadia Publishing company, the book chronicles the rich history of the Holy City from 1926
Lawton, OK LiteratureElk City Municipal Golf Course & Country Club
18 hole Public Golf Course with Snack Bar. Country Club - Swimming Pool - Lounge - Restaurant Pro Shop - Green Fee's &
Elk City, OK Golf CoursesFort Sill's Leisure and Recreation
Fort Sill's Leisure and Recreation is open to active-duty, retired, and warrant officers, and most Department of the Defense civilians. Public access is limited to certain activities. Please contact the Public Affairs Office at 580-442-4500 for further information.
The Meers Store
The Meers Store, serving up plate-sized longhorn beef burgers, is all that remains of a boom town born in the Wichita Mountains turn-of-the-century gold rush. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building was once a drugstore, doctor'
Meers, OK One Of A Kinds