Enjoy a Weekend Getaway in Historic Medicine Park, OK

Situated on the edge of the Wichita Mountains Wildlife refuge, in the shadow of majestic Mt. Scott, you will find historic Medicine Park, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Senator Elmer Thomas founded Medicine Park on July 4, 1908 as a resort community. Medicine Park was centered on Medicine Creek, a spot that the Native Americans thought had special healing powers. There were inns, a health spa, eateries, a dance hall, beautifully landscaped gardens and even some notorious visitors such as Bonnie and Clyde, Al Capone, and Pretty Boy Floyd.

The resort community thrived during the 1920's, but the Depression and World War II kept people away from resorts and Medicine Park declined. It suffered through rough times and setbacks, but today it is being revived as an arts community and it makes a great weekend getaway for anniversaries, birthdays or romantic weekends.

The rustic look of Medicine Park is charming and quaint. The building material of choice is the rounded cobblestone, which can only be found in Oklahoma and nowhere else in the country. Almost all of the early day buildings are built from these cobblestones.

Spending a weekend in the foothills of the Wichita Mountains can be an exciting adventure.

You are only minutes away from boating, fishing, swimming, historical locations, great dining spots, shopping, and wildlife in its natural habitat.

Medicine Park offers a unique lodging experience. You can choose from any of a number of lovely cabins, including one that Bonnie and Clyde are rumored to have stayed in. There are also two bed and breakfast locations that provide a comfortable spot to stay.

If you like to shop and you enjoy the work of local artisans then you will want to be sure to hit the shops of Medicine Park. There are several galleries and businesses with unique items that will be sure to please everyone.

Do you like wine? Then you will want to make a stop at the Winery of the Wichita's. They are open daily from 11:00 to 7:00 and offer wine tasting. You can also sit on the deck and enjoy a relaxing glass of wine while taking in the magnificent scenery.

If you think you are ready for a swim, it's just a few steps to Bath Lake, where you can wash your cares away in an area off of Medicine Creek that was developed specifically for swimming. Remember the waters of the creek are supposed to have special healing powers. The trout also swim in the creek and the fishing is great, just be sure to get your permit.

The Medicine Park Trail is a three-mile, paved walkway lined with cobblestones that rambles around Medicine Creek and provides a beautiful scenic path for an evening walk. If you don't want to walk, you can always take a drive along the shoreline of Lake Lawtonka and enjoy some breathtaking views of this 2,400-acre lake with its 21 miles of shoreline.

When you are ready to eat you will want to make a stop at one of the great restaurants that Medicine Park has to offer. The Riverside Café offers a great menu with lots of variety and an opportunity to eat on their deck overlooking Medicine Creek. You can even feed the catfish while you are waiting for your meal to arrive.

Just a few miles away is the historic Meers Restaurant and Store which serves the world-famous Meersburger which is the size of a dinner plate. While you are there you can check out their seismograph, which monitors the Meers fault, a 15-mile long crack in the Earth's crust.

For the ultimate in relaxation, you can visit The Blissful Body, where a variety of massage options are offered.

With activities of all kinds abounding, Medicine Park, Oklahoma makes an ideal spot for a quick weekend getaway.

To get there, take I-44 West from Oklahoma City and then take the Medicine Park exit just outside of Lawton. Medicine Park is located just off Route 49 at the entrance to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.