Cooperton OklahomaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Cooperton, Oklahoma.
1. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
SCENIC WILDLIFE HAVEN
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge offers over 1.7 million annual visitors a chance to experience Oklahoma's natural beauty with free entry to this massive nature haven. Visitors can enjoy bird watching, wildlife photography, fishing, and hiking on numerous wildlife trails throughout the 59,000-acre refuge. Popular experiences include hiking the Bison Trail, fishing at Jed Johnson Lake, and driving up Mount Scott Road for breathtaking vistas over southwest Oklahoma.
2. Mount Scott
PANORAMIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS
Mount Scott stands 2,464 feet above sea level, offering some of the most spectacular panoramic views in Oklahoma. A 3-mile paved road leads visitors to the summit, providing breathtaking vistas of the surrounding Wichita Mountains and plains. Nature enthusiasts and photographers particularly enjoy visiting during sunrise or sunset when the lighting creates dramatic landscapes across the region.
3. Meers Store & Restaurant
ICONIC LONGHORN BURGERS
Meers Store & Restaurant is a historic establishment famous for its legendary longhorn burgers made from the restaurant's own herd of Texas longhorn cattle. Operating since 1901 in an old mining town building, this rustic eatery has been featured in numerous travel shows and magazines for its authentic Oklahoma cuisine. Visitors often wait in line for a taste of their famous burgers served on tin plates alongside homemade cobbler and root beer.
4. Robbers Cave State Park
HISTORIC OUTLAW HIDEOUT
Robbers Cave State Park is steeped in legend, having once served as a refuge for notorious outlaws like Jesse James in the wake of the Civil War. The park features 25 miles of hiking trails, spectacular clifftop views, and Lake Carlton where visitors can paddle and fish in peaceful surroundings. Fall is an especially popular time to visit, with the annual Robbers Cave Fall Festival welcoming over 80,000 people, while winter brings trout fishing opportunities in the stream below Carlton Lake.
5. Medicine Park
COBBLESTONE RESORT TOWN
Medicine Park is Oklahoma's first planned resort town, founded in 1908 and known for its distinctive cobblestone architecture built from the round red granite rocks found in the area. The charming creek-side village offers visitors a picturesque main street with boutique shops, restaurants, and art galleries nestled along Medicine Creek. Visitors can enjoy swimming in Bath Lake, dining at waterfront restaurants, or attending one of the many music festivals held throughout the year in this historic community.
6. Great Plains Museum
REGIONAL HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Great Plains Museum preserves and showcases the cultural and natural history of the Great Plains region with extensive exhibits on Native American cultures, pioneer settlements, and military history. Interactive displays and authentic artifacts tell the story of Oklahoma's past from prehistoric times through the present day. The museum's rotating special exhibitions and educational programs make it a valuable resource for both tourists and local residents interested in regional heritage.
7. Lake Waurika
PREMIER FISHING DESTINATION
Lake Waurika spans 10,100 acres and offers excellent fishing opportunities for bass, crappie, catfish, and walleye in southwest Oklahoma. The lake features multiple recreation areas with camping facilities, boat ramps, swimming beaches, and picnic areas for day visitors. Water sports enthusiasts enjoy the lake for skiing, wakeboarding, and sailing, especially during the summer months when special events and fishing tournaments are regularly scheduled.
8. Holy City of the Wichitas
BIBLICAL REPLICA VILLAGE
The Holy City of the Wichitas recreates ancient Jerusalem with 22 buildings and structures spread across 66 acres within the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Since 1926, this unique attraction has hosted the Easter Pageant, one of America's longest-running Easter passion plays attracting thousands of visitors annually. Visitors can tour the chapel, various biblical-themed buildings, and a museum showcasing the site's history throughout the year at no charge.
9. Fort Sill National Historic Landmark
HISTORIC MILITARY POST
Fort Sill National Historic Landmark preserves one of the most significant and best-preserved Indian Wars era military posts, established in 1869 and still functioning as an active Army installation today. Visitors can explore the Fort Sill Museum complex featuring historic buildings, artillery displays, and exhibits chronicling Native American history and military developments. The site includes the grave of famous Apache leader Geronimo and offers guided tours of the original stone buildings and quarters used during the frontier era.
10. Quartz Mountain Nature Park
LAKESIDE MOUNTAIN RETREAT
Quartz Mountain Nature Park offers stunning landscapes where the rocky peaks of the Wichita Mountains meet the shores of Lake Altus-Lugert. Visitors can enjoy a variety of recreational activities including hiking, rock climbing, boating, fishing, and swimming in this scenic 4,300-acre park. The park's arts center hosts prestigious summer arts institutes, while the lodge and cabins provide comfortable accommodations for those wanting to extend their stay in this natural paradise.
11. Oklahoma School for the Deaf
HISTORIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
The Oklahoma School for the Deaf campus features beautiful historic limestone buildings constructed in the 1930s that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Founded in 1898, this residential school serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across the state with state-of-the-art educational facilities and programs. Visitors can tour the campus grounds to appreciate the impressive architecture and learn about the school's important role in deaf education throughout Oklahoma's history.
12. Red River Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
The Red River Museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts and exhibits relating to the history of Jefferson County and the Red River region. Displays include Native American artifacts, pioneer-era tools and household items, and documents chronicling the development of ranching and farming in the area. The museum's genealogical research resources make it a valuable destination for visitors researching family connections to the region.
13. Mahota Textiles
NATIVE-OWNED DESIGN SHOP
Mahota Textiles is the first tribally-owned textile company in the United States, founded by the Chickasaw Nation and specializing in culturally significant designs that tell stories of Native heritage. The shop features high-quality blankets, fabrics, and home goods created by Native American designers and inspired by traditional patterns and symbolism. Visitors can not only purchase unique handcrafted items but also learn about the meaning behind the designs and the importance of preserving Native American artistic traditions.
14. Parallel Forest
MYSTERIOUS MAN-MADE WOODS
The Parallel Forest is a man-made forest planted in 1912 with approximately 20,000 trees arranged in perfectly straight rows and columns exactly six feet apart. This unusual forest experiment, created as a windbreak for the adjacent Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, has become a popular spot for photographers and hikers seeking unique landscapes. Local legends and ghost stories surround the eerily geometric woodland, adding a touch of mystery to this distinctive Oklahoma attraction.
15. Bedré Fine Chocolate
GOURMET NATIVE CHOCOLATIER
Bedré Fine Chocolate is a Chickasaw Nation enterprise producing premium chocolates using traditional European techniques combined with Native American heritage. Visitors can tour the manufacturing facility with viewing windows that allow observation of the chocolate-making process and learn about the history of chocolate in Native American cultures. The gift shop offers a wide selection of gourmet chocolate products including their famous chocolate-covered potato chips, meltaways, and specialty gift boxes that make perfect souvenirs from Oklahoma.