In Association with Home Educators Around Texoma - H.E.A.T.
www.texomahss.org
Lawton, Oklahoma is less than an hour away -
north on I-44 across the Red River.
Your family can enjoy the day or a week
exploring fun things in Oklahoma!
Here are a few things to do in the Lawton Area:
Museum of the Great Plains
At the Museum of the Great Plains, the natural and cultural history of the Great Plains of north America is studied and shown in many exhibits and programs that will be enjoyed by all members of the family. Special events include a twice-yearly encampment of 1830s trappers and hunters, plus re-enactments of 19th and 20th century events and activities.
Prairie dogs frolic near the post and in the adjoining Elmer Thomas Park. The popular park offers picnic areas jogging paths, and a small lake with fountain, ducks, and geese.
Adults and Children over 12, $4.00
Children 7 to 11 years, $2.50
Children Under 7, no charge
Seniors, $3.00
Summer Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
601 Ferris Avenue, in Elmer Thomas Park
580-581-3460
www.museumgreatplains.org
(From southbound I-44 take exit 39B to Ferris Avenue and turn right. From northbound I-44, take exit 37 (Gore Avenue) and go west to 2nd , turn right to Ferris Avenue, turn left to the museum, or follow the blue museum of the Great Plains signs posted throughout the city.
Red River Encampments
Held each spring and fall at the Museum of the Great Plains, visitors take a trip back in time and catch a glimpse of life in the 1890s.
Ph: 580-581-3760
Arts for All Festival – May
Southwest Oklahoma's largest and most popular cultural event. This festival draws over 40,000 people and features visual arts, non-stop entertainment and tempting foods. More than 200 artists and area groups entertain visitors with a diversity of visual and performing arts. Visitors can view paintings, pottery, photography, sculptures, and enjoy terrific entertainment provided by performers from Southwest Oklahoma.
Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-5pm.
Address: Elmer Thomas Park , Lawton, Oklahoma
Ph: 580-248-5384 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: afa@sirinet.net
Web: www.lawtonafa.org
Fee: Free
Fire, Transportation, and Farm Museum
The museum features antique Rolls Royces, fire trucks, buggies, saddles, Army and Navy relics and an African spear collection.
Free Admission
By Appointment - Welcome
616 S.E. 1st Street
580-355-0692
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area is your one-stop family fun and outdoor recreation location. LETRA is nestled in the picturesque Wichita Mountains and offers a 360-acre lake surrounded by native prairie.
Some of the attractions include a double flume water slide, miniature golf course, bath house and sandy beach, beach snack bar, 62 RV campsites with full hookups, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and hiking trails.
In addition, LETRA offers a multipurpose lodge for special events, restaurant grille, equipment rental, convenience store, and a boat launch/marina.
7453 Deer Creek Canyon Road
580-442-5541
For Hours of operation, fees, etc go to --- http://www.sillmwr.com/letra.html
Holy City
While you're in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, be sure to visit the Holy City of the Wichitas, an interesting manmade intrusion that is historic in its own right. Built as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the 1930's, the Holy City is located on 110 acres and features 22 native granite buildings including the c. 1936 World Chapel. A natural amphitheater is the setting for the nation's longest running Easter passion play in America, The Prince of Peace.
Holy City was founded by Reverend Anthony Mark Wallock who viewed the Wichita Mountains as resembling the hills and mountains of the Holy Land. The Chapel of the Holy City, built of native stone, was completed in 1936. The design, inspired by a church in Alexandria, Virginia, is reminiscent of an Old World Temple. In the interior of the Chapel are wood carvings, paintings and murals of the Biblical days of Christ in 1933. Government land in the Wichita National Forest Reserve was designated by the U.S. Government for the site of the Holy City and its Easter Pageant. The nationally famous Easter Pageant is a dramatization of the life of Christ held on Easter Eve.
This annual event is held the Saturday evening before Easter.
FREE VIEWING
800-872-4540
Mount Scott
Mount Scott is one of Oklahoma's most prominent mountains, rising 2,464 feet above sea level. Located on the eastern edge of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, it is a legendary site which boasts tales of ancient spirits, Spanish gold and buried outlaw loot. An old legend told by the Indians is that the Great Spirit appeared on Mount Scott after a devastating flood. Other legends include those of gold mined here by the Spanish in the 17th century and of buried loot hidden by bandits of the old west.
To reach Mount Scott, take Highway 49 into the Wildlife Refuge and continue to the base of the mountain. A 3 -mile, paved road leads to the summit and the best view of Southwest Oklahoma. Be sure and bring a camera - the summit provides a perfect setting for informal photos of your family and friends!
800-872-4540
Visitors Center Hours:
Visitor Center - closed on Tuesdays but is open every other day of the week from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
The Center is closed on major holidays, including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day.
It opens at 1:30pm on Easter Sunday.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
E-mail: wichitamountains@fws.gov
Phone Number: 580-429-3222
Visit the Refuge's Web Site: http://wichitamountains.fws.gov/
The 59,020-acre Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge hosts a rare piece of the past a remnant mixed grass prairie. This refuge is an island where the natural carpet of grass escaped destruction because the rocks underfoot defeated the plow. The prairie community hums with life. The refuge provides habitat for large native grazing animals and Texas Longhorn cattle. Bison, elk, deer, coyotes, red-tailed hawks, prairie dogs, turkey, bunch grasses, post oak and blackjack oaks these are just a few. More than 50 mammal species, 240 bird species, 64 reptile and amphibian species, 36 fish species, and 806 plant species thrive at this refuge.
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is located 25 miles northwest of Lawton, Oklahoma. From Interstate 44, take exit 45 west 10 miles to the Refuge gate. If coming in from Highway 62, take Highway 115 (Cache exit) north to the Refuge gate. Contact Refuge Headquarters for more information.
Lights in the Park
Over one million lights illuminate a park of unique Christmas displays. Entertainment features choirs, horse-drawn carriage rides, skaters, and Old Saint Nick! Visitors also find many other activities to enjoy at this festive time of the year - The Messiah, the Living Christmas Tree, choral concerts, the Nutcracker, candlelight strolls at Fort Sill, and much more. Lights on from 6pm-midnight.
Address: Elmer Thomas Park ,
Lawton, Oklahoma
Ph: 800-872-4540 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: vanhoozerd@aol.com
Fee: Free
Boulevard of Lights
Over one million lights illuminate a park of unique Christmas displays. Entertainment features choirs, horse-drawn carriage rides, skaters, and Old Saint Nick! Visitors also find many other activities to enjoy at this festive time of the year - The Messiah, the Living Christmas Tree, choral concerts, the Nutcracker, candlelight strolls at Fort Sill, and much more. Lights on from 6pm-midnight.
Address: From 3rd St to 10th St on W Gore Blvd. , Lawton, Oklahoma
Ph: 800-872-4540 (Always call and confirm events)
Email: vanhoozerd@aol.com
Fee: Free
Medicine Park is just north of Lawton. It is a great place to spend a lazy summer day. They have a neat swimming hole & lots of fun things to do. Check it out!
