WAKITA—Long before Wakita blew onto the international map thanks to “Twister,” the small rural town in Grant County almost on the Kansas border was a bustling community. Founded in 1893…
Category: Attraction
Medford stakes its claim on the past with museum
MEDFORD—Step back in time during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet at the 1893 Land Run Historical Center in downtown Medford, which is the county seat for Grant County. The…
To the edge and back: Kenton offers starry skies, dinosaur tracks, and more
KENTON—Long before Oklahoma became a state, this little town popped up on the furthest edge of the Unassigned Lands not part of Oklahoma Territory nor Indian Territory also known as…
Go batty: Trek through Alabaster Caverns
FREEDOM—Hidden in the hills of Northwest Oklahoma is the world’s largest gypsum cave open to the public. The main cave at Alabaster Caverns State Park has been wowing people for…
By air and rail: Waynoka has been delighting passengers for over a century
WAYNOKA—For over a century, the Northwest Oklahoma community formerly known as Keystone has been serving up food and transportation for commoners and celebrities alike. In fact, in the late 1920s,…
It’s a zoo: Bradt’s Menagerie offers fun on the farm
ALVA—Three miles west of Alva is the largest petting zoo in the state of Oklahoma. Bradt’s Menagerie, just off U.S. 64, opened as an official Oklahoma Agritourism farm in September…
The only show in town: El-Co Drive In brings movies to far Northwest Oklahoma
SHATTUCK—In the early 1950s, like many communities across the nation, Shattuck opened a drive-in movie theater downtown. The drive-in was built and opened in the summer of 1952. It was…
Mining for jewels: Crystal digging season has begun
JET—Tuesday was no joke freezing cold and windy like being on the tundra in the furthest part of the northern hemisphere. But it wasn’t the Arctic or Alaskan terrain, but…
Flying high: Pond Creek pilot launched into film stardom
POND CREEK—Pilot Randy Alexander had no idea he’d become a movie star in his 70s. The now-retired aviator, who professionally flew for Deterding Aerial in Pond Creek until three months…
Sands of time: Old friends drawing new tourists to Waynoka
WAYNOKA—Mike Balch grew up in Waynoka and so did Ana Ramirez. The two of them have been the best of friends since they were kids. Both left their hometown for…