Get ready for a fun-filled time with kangaroos, lemurs, sloths, camels, and more at Oklahoma’s largest camel ranch.
Nestled in rural Talala, Oklahoma, the retreat center offers visitors a peaceful, relaxing environment that is perfect for crafting and conversation. With the spacious craft room, full-sized kitchen and weekend spa services, For My Love Craft Retreats provides a perfect location for a girls weekend or business retreat.
Hidden Brooks Stables is an equestrian boarding facility located on a beautiful 65- acre ranch. The location is home to 10 stables, multiple paddocks, an 80′ x 160′ indoor arena, scenic trails, and plenty of pasture for riding. Lessons are available for riders of all ages and skill levels.
Located right off historic Route 66, this 18-hole mini golf island offers hours of fun for the whole family. With unique experiences such as GlowPutt and Splash & Putt, Ralph’s offers unique experiences with every visit. Don’t forget to try out their tasty menu, with delicious treats such as specialty grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and a variety of desserts.
This 18-hole public golf course plays up to 6,756 yards with a course rating and slope of 72.7 and 129, respectively, as well as a pro shop with the latest apparel and golf gear. Complete with a driving range, practice green and short-game practice facility, Heritage Hills is home to the Claremore High School and Rogers State University golf teams. Daily rates and annual memberships are available.
If you love museums, look no further than Claremore, which has more museums per capita than any other city in the world.
If you want to play, Claremore parks have you covered. With numerous locations across the city, our parks are sure to offer an outdoor recreation option that will meet your needs.
Located in Claremore Lake Park, the city’s disc golf course is a 9-hole, par-3 course that features concrete tee pads with Innova DISCatcher Pro baskets. The course is ideal for all player levels. Hole 1 is located near the Park Ranger’s office, and there is also a warm-up basket for practice.
Adventurers should check out the Claremore Mountain Bike Trails on the backside of Claremore Lake. Home to the annual Tour de Dirt, the 16 miles of trails began as a community effort to offer biking experiences for every level of rider. Ideal for hiking and running, the trails are among the best in the state.
Claremore splash pads are popular summertime destinations for visitors and locals alike. With two locations available, there is ample opportunity for guests to enjoy the summer sun while keeping cool in the Oklahoma heat. Claremore’s splash pads operate seasonally from May to September.
Rated as a top attraction on TripAdvisor.com, Claremore Lake is the ideal spot for family fun, with more than four miles of paved paths perfect for running, walking and cycling, plus a disc golf course. Younger visitors can enjoy two playgrounds and a splash pad for hours of fun. The park features tables, grills, and five shelters for public use.
While swimming is not allowed in Claremore Lake, fishing, boating, and kayaking are popular pastimes. Kayak rentals are available, jackpot fishing tournaments are held Thursday evenings from March to September, and daily and annual fishing passes are available (permits are required).
Sunnyside Ramp offers easy and quick access for those looking to enjoy Oologah Lake and its many amenities. In addition to a boat launch, Sunnyside provides campsite, swimming, and fishing locations.
The Talala Historical Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Talala and its residents.
The Common Ground Ranch & Arena hosts several rodeo events throughout the year, including a mutton-bustin’ qualifier for the Will Rogers PRCA Rodeo.
Open from the end of May through August, this old town/Western-themed splash pad features colored concrete etched with railroad tracks. Water features include 13 ground sprays, ten above-ground features, and two interactive water cannons. The splash pad contains three bays with age-based water features that are appropriate for all to enjoy.
What began as a book exchange from an old newspaper box has become a popular community attraction. Today, Oologah’s Free Little Library is housed in a small community building to showcase its wide variety of book options. Bookshelves were built as part of a local Eagle Scout project and funding was provided by the Cherokee Nation. The library is open seven days a week and now houses a small emergency food pantry.
Located on the east side of Oologah Lake, the 18-mile Will Rogers Country Centennial Trail is ideal for hiking or horseback riding.
Oologah Lake provides a great getaway for fishing, boating, picnicking, camping, or just drifting and dreaming over beautiful waters. Several campsites and picnic areas are scattered around the lake, making it a perfect location for weekend getaways. Recreation opportunities include a swimming beach, mountain biking, RV and tent camping, and guided fishing tours. With more than 13,000 acres of easily accessible land managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oologah Lake also provides excellent hunting for quail, squirrel, rabbit, deer, and waterfowl.
Housed in a building constructed in 1890, the Oologah Historical Museum is committed to sharing the history of Oologah and the pioneer families and ranchers who first settled in the community. The museum showcases local school memorabilia, photos, and special private collections.
Telephone: 918-559-9556
Experience a unique glimpse into the life of world-famous vaudeville performer, actor, Cherokee cowboy and American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935) at the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, which features Rogers’s original home and a 162-acre working ranch where visitors can enjoy lovely views of Oologah Lake and have a picnic with friends and family.
The log-walled, two-story home where Rogers was born was built in 1875 within the Cooweescoowee district of Cherokee Nation. It was designed in the Greek Revival architectural style that was popular throughout the South at this time. In fact, a house almost identical to Rogers’s boyhood home can be found on the outskirts of Guntersville, Alabama. The Oologah home, nicknamed “The White House on the Verdigris,” is a rare surviving example of buildings on the former Indian Territory frontier.
Rogers’s mother and father were Cherokees, and Rogers was proud of his heritage. During vaudeville performances, Will often joked, “My ancestors didn’t come over from the Mayflower, but they met the boat.” His mother, Mary America Rogers, was born into the Paint clan. His father, Clement Vann Rogers, was a Cherokee statesman and judge who would later help draft the constitution for the state of Oklahoma.
Will Rogers grew up on his father’s ranch, which at its height was nearly 60,000 acres. There, he learned his love of cowboying from the ranch hands, including roping from Cherokee freedman Dan Walker. He rode the range and joined the long, dusty cattle drives from Texas to the Kansas railheads. His physical prowess in precisely and expertly flipping heavy rope coils demonstrated his training, fitness, and strength. Using that same deft touch with a lasso, Rogers created a top vaudeville and cinema persona, “The Cherokee Kid.” From 1899 to 1902, after his father had moved into Claremore, Will Rogers operated the ranch himself, renaming it the Dog Iron Ranch after his cattle brand.
Today, the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch features a historically accurate barn with a climate-controlled classroom and a historical video program. The working ranch is home to Texas Longhorn cattle and other livestock.
Your Route 66 trip isn’t complete without a stop at the World’s Largest Totem Pole. You literally can’t miss it, as it stands 90 feet tall and is made of red sandstone, steel, wood, and concrete. Artist and veteran Ed Galloway spent his retirement building a unique park and, in 1999, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Nearby is a “Fiddle House” displaying Galloway’s handcrafted fiddles and other inlaid wood artifacts. Roadside tables supported by small concrete totems provide travelers with the perfect spot for a picnic.
Newly renovated Fleming Park features amenities such as an updated pavilion space, walking trail, basketball and tennis courts, and restroom facilities. The park also offers two playground areas, with a dedicated play space for toddlers and young kids.
The Ingersoll Public Library serves residents of all ages by providing access to materials and services which meet their informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs. With a variety of programs for adults and children, there is always something new to discover when visiting the library.
Come discover how cars have changed over time through an impressive collection of 19 well-preserved vehicles designed between 1917 and 1953. The museum features gas memorabilia from the time of service stations, including 145 gas pump globes, eight gas pumps, gas signs, oil cans, cookie jars, calendars, and more.
Part of the original Route 66 alignment, this historic 123-foot bridge is the only unaltered bridge left in Oklahoma today. While it is no longer drivable, visitors can walk along this incredible piece of Oklahoma and Route 66 history.
Take a trip under Route 66! Walk through one of the only open underpasses on the Oklahoma stretch of the Mother Road while taking in bits of Route 66 and Chelsea history. A mural pays tribute to historical elements of Chelsea, from a 1930s gas station to the Hogue House, and guests are invited to sign the mural to document their visit.
Opening each year on Memorial Day weekend, the Catoosa Splash Pads are the perfect place to beat the Oklahoma heat. Residents and guests can enjoy these free-use city facilities during daylight hours through Labor Day.
The Catoosa Public Library offers residents access to hundreds of book titles, DVD rentals, magazines, youth programs, and more. With new titles being added monthly, there is always something new to discover at the library.
Paying homage to the railroad’s significant role in Catoosa’s history, the Catoosa Historical Museum is found in the old train depot. The many displays will transport visitors back to the community’s early days, and include items such as an 1897 train depot log book and a Farmers and Merchants Bank check dated 1907.
Catoosa is home to one of the more unique and recognizable Route 66 attractions. Conceived by Hugh S. Davis, a zoologist and family man, the Blue Whale was created as a special place where his grandchildren could play and swim. The whale took Davis two years to construct, welding the metal framework and applying hand-mixed cement. Since its completion in 1972, the Blue Whale has attracted visitors from around the globe.
Today, it remains a popular tourist destination and photo hotspot. Guests are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and head to the Blue Whale for a fun-filled day of fishing.
Spanning two buildings, the D.W. Correll Museum offers something for everyone. Guests can explore antique automobiles and other items of general interest and history, such as an antique Texaco gas pump. The second facility houses an extensive collection of rocks, gems, minerals, and seashells from around the world, along with highlights from the construction of the Tulsa ports.
An integral part of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa is a 2,500-acre shipping and industrial park complex that houses 70 businesses. Roughly 90 percent of goods that come through the Port of Catoosa are agricultural. Fertilizer, soybeans and wheat are among the most-shipped products. Guests are invited to tour the expansive and impressive port utilizing a self-guided tour map. Stop by the Maritime Education Center for a hands-on, interactive opportunity to learn about the port’s history and economic impact on Oklahoma.
An open-air farmers’ market offering a wide array of fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, farm-fresh eggs, meats, flowers, and Made-in-Oklahoma products. Open every Saturday, April through October, the market is located at the Rogers County Courthouse.
