Gage OklahomaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Gage, Oklahoma.
1. Gage Artesian Beach
UNIQUE NATURAL SWIMMING HOLE
The Gage Artesian Beach offers a unique swimming hole unlike any other in Oklahoma, featuring cement sides like a pool and a sandy, lake-like bottom. Created accidentally in 1917 when a crew struck water while drilling for oil, this natural swimming area later became a popular health resort due to its mineral-laden waters that were once said to cure ailments. Today, the beach includes amenities such as a slide, diving board, picnic areas, restroom facilities, and a concession stand, making it a popular spot for visitors looking to cool off during hot summer months.
2. Shattuck Windmill Museum
HISTORIC WINDMILL COLLECTION
Shattuck Windmill Museum showcases a fascinating collection of historic windmills that played a crucial role in the development of the region. Visitors can explore numerous restored windmills of various designs and learn about their significance to early settlers and agricultural development in the area. The museum offers a unique glimpse into the technological innovations that helped tame the Oklahoma plains.
3. Fort Supply Historic Site
MILITARY POST HISTORY
Fort Supply Historic Site preserves the remains of a military post established in 1868 during the Indian Wars. The site features several restored buildings including the commander's quarters, guardhouse, and reconstructed stockade, all offering insight into frontier military life. Visitors can explore exhibits detailing the fort's role in the Red River War and its later conversion to Oklahoma's first state mental hospital.
4. Hector's y Amigos Mexican Restaurant
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE
Hector's y Amigos Mexican Restaurant in downtown Woodward offers an authentic taste of Mexico through family recipes passed down from owner Hector Carvajal's mother. This cozy café serves both Tex-Mex staples and traditional Mexican dishes prepared with fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques. The restaurant has become a local favorite for those seeking genuine Mexican flavors in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
5. Boiling Springs State Park
NATURAL SPRINGS OASIS
Boiling Springs State Park is named for a natural spring that appears to boil as it bubbles up through sand, creating a serene oasis in the plains. The park encompasses over 800 acres with amenities including hiking trails, fishing areas, camping facilities, and a swimming pool fed by the natural spring water. Visitors can observe diverse wildlife, enjoy picnic areas shaded by ancient elm trees, and explore the unique ecosystem that has attracted humans to this location for thousands of years.
6. Main Street Woodward Shopping District
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SHOPPING
Main Street Woodward Shopping District features a charming collection of locally-owned businesses housed in historic buildings dating back to the early 1900s. Visitors can browse through specialty shops offering everything from Western wear and handcrafted items to antiques and unique gifts. The district regularly hosts community events, sidewalk sales, and seasonal celebrations that showcase the area's rich cultural heritage and small-town hospitality.
7. Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE COLLECTION
The Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum preserves and displays the rich history of Northwestern Oklahoma through extensive exhibits on Native American cultures, pioneer settlements, and the development of the region. Housed in a historic building that once served as a federal post office, the museum features artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays that bring the past to life. Visitors can explore collections highlighting the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, early ranching operations, and the devastating 1947 Woodward tornado that reshaped the community.
8. Crystal Beach Park
FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECREATION AREA
Crystal Beach Park offers a variety of recreational activities including an aquatic center with water slides, a lazy river, and swimming pools perfect for cooling off during hot summer days. The park also features sports facilities, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a walking trail encircling a picturesque lake populated by ducks and geese. This beloved community space hosts numerous events throughout the year, including the popular Woodward Elks Rodeo, concerts, and seasonal festivals.
9. Alabaster Caverns State Park
RARE GYPSUM CAVE SYSTEM
Alabaster Caverns State Park features one of the largest natural gypsum caves in the world that is open to the public, stretching three-quarters of a mile in length. The cave's rare black alabaster formations, along with pink, white, and rare selenite crystal formations create a stunning underground landscape that can be explored through guided tours. The park also offers hiking trails, camping facilities, and opportunities for wild caving adventures in smaller caves with proper permits.
10. Little Sahara State Park
VAST SAND DUNE PLAYGROUND
Little Sahara State Park encompasses over 1,600 acres of sand dunes reaching heights of up to 75 feet, created from terrace deposits left by the Cimarron River. The park is a premier destination for off-road enthusiasts who bring dune buggies, dirt bikes, and ATVs to traverse the sandy landscape that resembles a desert oasis. Visitors can also enjoy activities like sandboarding, hiking, photography, and primitive camping while experiencing this unique geological wonder in the heart of Oklahoma.
11. Buffalo Ranch
AMERICAN BISON EXPERIENCE
Buffalo Ranch offers visitors a chance to observe American bison in their natural habitat while learning about conservation efforts to preserve this iconic species. The working ranch provides educational tours explaining the historical significance of bison to Native American cultures and the Great Plains ecosystem. Visitors can purchase bison meat and products from the ranch store, supporting sustainable ranching practices that help maintain healthy herds.
12. Sod House Museum
PRESERVED PIONEER DWELLING
The Sod House Museum preserves the only remaining authentic sod house from the settlement era, built by homesteader Marshall McCully in 1894. This rare structure offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of pioneer life on the plains, where settlers used blocks of prairie sod to construct homes due to the lack of timber. The museum complex includes exhibits displaying period furnishings, tools, and artifacts that illustrate the ingenuity and perseverance of Oklahoma's early settlers.
13. Black Mesa State Park
HIGHEST POINT IN OKLAHOMA
Black Mesa State Park sits at the base of Oklahoma's highest point, offering access to the 4,973-foot Black Mesa summit through a challenging 8.4-mile round trip hiking trail. The park's remote location provides some of the darkest night skies in the region, making it a premier destination for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers. Visitors can explore diverse ecosystems that harbor unique plant and animal species, including pronghorn antelope, golden eagles, and over 60 rare plants found nowhere else in Oklahoma.
14. Great Salt Plains State Park
CRYSTAL DIGGING ADVENTURE
Great Salt Plains State Park features a vast salt flat where visitors can dig for unique selenite crystal formations that include an hourglass shape found nowhere else in the world. The park encompasses part of Great Salt Plains Lake, offering opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, and bird watching at the adjacent national wildlife refuge. From April through October, designated digging areas allow families to excavate their own crystals to take home as natural souvenirs of this geological wonder.
15. Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
SIGNIFICANT NATIVE AMERICAN SITE
Washita Battlefield National Historic Site preserves and interprets the location of the controversial 1868 attack where Lt. Colonel George Custer led the 7th U.S. Cavalry in a dawn attack on a Southern Cheyenne village. The site offers a self-guided trail with interpretive signs that provide perspectives from both U.S. military and Cheyenne accounts of the conflict. Visitors can explore the visitor center's exhibits, watch an informative film, and reflect on this pivotal moment in the Indian Wars that shaped American and Native American relations.