Taking the family to this state park in OK next month for a camping trip. We have a popup and a van, and looking to just chill out because I've been traveling internationally WAY too much for work...

Anyways, besides enjoying nature and the state park itself, anyone been and have recommendations on other attractions in the area?

My kids are all girls aged 5-10 years old.

Hochatown. Lots of tourist stuff and places to eat. Took the kids to a petting zoo there years ago and they had a blast

Check the website or Facebook page for their Halloween stuff in the park by the campgrounds. If that's your kind of thing with kids, they have a train that goes around with Halloween music all through the night. For me and my wife, it was very annoying because I wanted some peace and quiet at night, but screaming and loud music with a train roller coaster thing.

Buy yourself a bottle downtown, then go shake some dominoes.

Went a few months ago with kids your kids age.

Three things they enjoyed (they enjoyed more than three, but these come to mind as tops):

The maze
Kayaking (yippie kayo)
Cold hole

The latter two were their favorites. If you have tubes, there are shallow rapids just downstream of cold hole with parking right there. It dumps into a deeper pool with easy egress. We sat for hours as the kids went up and down like it was a water park. It's maybe 100 yards long.

I have been several times and take my daughters.

Staying in the state park I never go into hochatown.

We always do the the friends hike. Ride the train. We usually fish for trout since we camp on the river. If kayaking is open at the state park definitely do that.

Between that and poking stuff with sticks and putting things in the fire you can totally avoid all the touristy stuff in town.

What are the fishing license rules for state parks in OK?

Texas residents age 16-65 need a nonresident fishing license.

Annual Fishing License - $55 (valid Jan. 1 - Dec. 31)
6-Day Fishing License - $35 (valid six consecutive days of choice)
1-Day Fishing License - $15

My kids loved horseback riding through Riverman Trail rides.

Check out the Friends Trail Loop. It's a pretty easy hike that's about 1.5 hours with some great views. We also rented a pontoon boat on the lake for a couple hours, which was very enjoyable.

Quote:

---

Anyways, besides enjoying nature and the state park itself, anyone been and have recommendations on other attractions in the area?

---

We go there a good bit for Scouts and general family fun.

You can gamble at the Choctaw joint at the entrance if that is your bag but definitely not a family friendly area.

The Toasted Head Pizza Company is a lot of fun.

Several good breweries and wineries - Girls Gone Wine, Beavers Bend Brewery

Plenty of touristy kid things to do in town - Putt Putt Golf, Race Car Tracks, Maze of Hochatwon. etc.

I am not sure how much one-off stuff you are curious about inside the park, but the fly lodge there is well run and teaches intro fly tying classes for little ones. They can also refer out guides.

Finally, the Lookout Mountain trail launches from the Center of the Park. We have done that many times and you get a decent amount of elevation.

txaggie02 said:

---

Check out the Friends Trail Loop. It's a pretty easy hike that's about 1.5 hours with some great views. We also rented a pontoon boat on the lake for a couple hours, which was very enjoyable.

---

Yep, great trail with big waterfalls. Looks like Colorado/Canada.

Riverman Trail horseback riding was great.

Fishing for rainbows was great.

Rented jet skis on the lake.

Kayaked down to the bridge wit Tippa Canoe and also around the horseshoe in the park. Caught a few rainbows with just rooster tails on that one.

Really a GREAT trip with the kids. Loved the area.

Y'all got me all excited

Following. My wife and I are going to Broken Bow next month as well

Edit: I was thinking of the wrong part of the river. Apologies

rak1693 said:

---

Following. My wife and I are going to Broken Bow next month as well

---

We'll be there the 15-21…

But you have 3 gold stars and a bunch of tags; maybe we could come mooch of y'all?

I have a 12th Man Tag but we're going the last weekend in October meaning I'm missing the South Carolina game. That's the kind of Ag I am. My wife and I would both rather be camping/hiking/hunting

Fly fishing

One warning about Hochatown. All these cabins are pushing into backwoods that don't want to see the light of day.

We rented a place just off the main town drag a few years back on Spinner Trail and brought the dogs. I walked them the next morning and stumbled on some seriously Deliverance looking trailers just a a quarter mile up the road. Past that was a broken down hulk of a house with five rotties off chain, all looking defensive. The owner was drinking at 10 in the morning on the porch.

I made it past that and looked at Google Maps. I could go back the way I came basically a 1/4 mile back through these joints I just tip-toed through. I kept going for the several miles and ended up near some axe throwing joint and worked my way back up the highway from there.

Prosperity is pushing into what must have been bootlegging shacks at some point.

Windy City Ag said:

---

Prosperity is pushing into what must have been bootlegging shacks at some point.

---

Meth. And maybe still cooking.

My wife and I still dream of the corn dogs at the hocha-hut. Went there 3 times during our 3 or 4 day stay a few years ago.

We've arrived - great sites; enjoying it so far:

Place was pretty dang awesome - really enjoyed it and thanks to everyone for the recommendations above.

Unfortunately on the way home some idiot pulled out in front of us near Henderson and we clipped them ; likely totaled my van (everyone was OK; just some minor scrapes and bumps thank God) but my camper seems intact so far.

Sorry your trip ended this way and thank goodness no one was hurt. I'm sure the great memories you made will far outweigh the struggle. Thanks for sharing your trip, reminds me of doing the same back when mine were young (pop up and horseback). It's a wonderful place. Safe travels on your final leg home.