Chickasaw Country Oklahoma

Recently, we were invited to visit Chicasaw Country, located in south-central Oklahoma. We were treated to delicious food, fun adventures, and some great family memories! #ad

NOTE: At the bottom of this post, you’ll find contact info and links for each of the attractions mentioned.

Chickasaw Country Oklahoma

Chickasaw Country is just a two hour drive from those of us in southern Denton County and is compromised of 7,648 square miles over 13 counties.

As you tour Chickasaw Country, you will discover Native, historical and cultural attractions, as well as picturesque natural outdoor spaces, ready to explore.

Don’t think you have the time to get away?

Ours was a whirlwind trip… we had just over 24 hours to make some memories, before we had to get back to the demands of everyday life. You won’t believe how much we were able to see and do!

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Our trip started with a quick visit to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

The park is home to over 30 miles of trails, 6 campgrounds, and offers multiple activities such as boating, water skiing, sailing, fishing, swimming, and more. It also includes Lake of The Arbuckles, with unusually crystal clear water and deep rock cliffs, which make it one of the most popular lakes in Oklahoma.

We’ll definitely be back when we have more time to hike, swim, and explore:)

Smokin’ Joes Rib Ranch

We then grabbed dinner at Smokin’ Joes Rib Ranch in Davis, OK.

It’s a unique environment with lots of fun photo opps and conversation starters…

But the fact is, we were there for the food! And it didn’t disappoint:)

As their name suggests, they serve a variety of ribs as well as other traditional favorites: pulled pork, smoked brisket, sausage, chicken, etc. Be sure to come hungry – their servings are HUGE!

And the Strawberries on a cloud were loved by everyone in our group:)

The Artesian Hotel

After dinner, we headed back to our hotel, The Artesian (Hotel/Casino/Spa).

This is modern luxury at it’s best!

I loved the fact that each floor had an open sitting area – perfect to hang out, play a game, or get some computer work done, without disturbing anyone who wants to take a nap or sleep in.

Anyway… We settled into our room, got our swim suits on, and hit the hotel pool – or should I say pools!

The hotel offers indoor/outdoor pools, as well as a bath house, or as I like to say, one of the largest jacuzzi’s I’ve ever been in!

Chickasaw Visitor Center

We hit the ground running Saturday morning. After a quick breakfast, we visited the Chickasaw Visitor Center and picked up a few maps and guides to get our bearings. There’s so much to do and see in Chickasaw Country, we wanted to be prepared:)

We hiked an area trail and stumbled upon Little Niagra (as well as some other small waterfalls). It’s a beautiful place to explore!

Then we loaded into the car and drove about 20 minutes from Sulphur to Davis, OK. This is where we would spend the rest of our day.

777 Zip

Our visit to Davis started with 777 Zip.

Talk about an early morning thrill ride!! If you’re like me, and are afraid of heights, this will really get the blood pumping!

Two guests at a time are secured before being hoisted in reverse to their view point 777 ft. away. The viewing point is a 130 foot tower with a spectacular view of Turner Falls. Feel the thrill of release as you zip back 777 ft. to the landing zone – reaching speeds of up to 28 mph.

777 Zip is very affordable: $13 for a single rider; $12.50 each for two riders. Military, Senior, and Group discounts available.

Turner Falls

Of course, because we were right there at Turner Falls, we had to do a little exploring.

Turner Falls is one of the most amazing places to visit in Oklahoma! Snug within the Arbuckle Mountains, Turner Falls Park is the oldest park in Oklahoma.

We visited in October, which means there were discounted admission rates, but everything was open, and the water was warm enough for the girls to take a swim:)

We also did some hiking. There are some old ruins that you can actually enter.

And there are trails that take you high enough to get a gorgeous view high above the falls!

After all of that adventure, it was time to re-fuel.

Bedré Fine Chocolate

On our way to lunch, we stopped by Bedré Fine Chocolate – YUM!!

Bedré Fine Chocolate has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that’s almost 35,000 square feet, and includes floor-to-ceiling windows, giving you an up-close look at how they produce these delicious treats.

NOTE: We visited on a Saturday and the production floor was closed. This feature is open most weekdays. Please call them before your visit to confirm.

Of course, we had to pick up some treats to take home! Visit their website: www.bedrechocolates.com. If you don’t have the opportunity to visit in person, you can always order online:)

Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center

Right next door, you’ll find the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center.

Stop in for souvenirs or tips on area attractions.

And between the two buildings, there’s a playground for little ones to have a bit of fun!

Boom-a-Rang Diner

As you can imagine, we were now ready for lunch. What better place than Boom-a-rang Diner?!? Not only was the food great, but the atmosphere was so nostalgic. We had a lot of fun with the girls trying to see who knew each of the celebrities pictured!

Boom-a-Rang has a number of locations throughout Chickasaw Country. Visit their website for details.

Cross Bar Ranch

After lunch, we had time for one more adventure… and it was a BIG one!!

Cross Bar Ranch features 6,500 acres of prime Arbuckle mountain range virtually untouched and abundant with wildlife. The ranch offers the largest area in Oklahoma dedicated to ATV, UTV, and motorcycle off-road riding. Visitors are welcome to bring their own equipment, or rent 4-wheeler (ATV) or side-by-side (UTV) there.

I don’t know who was more thrilled about driving:

My 16 year old…

… Or my husband! (He’s already making plans to return with friends.)

Getting up the mountains was an incredible rush, with steep inclines, rocky terrain, and challenges you didn’t know you could overcome. But these machines are built to handle it! And when you reach some of the peaks, you won’t believe that you’re only two hours from DFW!

You can also camp overnight: Bring a tent for more primitive accommodations, or reseve one of the ranch’s RV camping hookups. Head over to Cross Bar Ranch for a thrilling adventure riding and camping in the wilderness of southern-central Oklahoma!

Please note: Cross Bar Ranch is closed the period that spans the weekends before, during, and after Thanksgiving (roughly November 17 – December 3) due to an agreement they have with the town of Davis regarding local hunting).

Visit Chickasaw Country

We had a blast during our visit. There was so much to do and see – we’ll definitely be back SOON! In fact, not only is my husband planning a trip with friends to Cross Bar Ranch, we’re already planning to visit Chickasaw Country again next month with family and friends to go camping!

NOTE:

I just want to say that the Chickasaw Country website, http://chickasawcountry.com, is a fantastic resource! It’s well organized so you can search by region, city, type of activity, etc. And there are lots of attractions, restaurants, and lodging options listed.

Browse around and plan your next family adventure!