The City of Okemah offers many great activities for vacationers, history buffs, hikers, boaters, rodeo lovers and outdoorsmen. Like to fish? Hunt? Golf? Walk? We have it! Our hotels, restaurants and shops are here to make you comfortable and content. And, every July, the annual Woody Guthrie festival draws visitors from all over the world for a weekend-long party! Check our Events Calendar to see what's coming up soon!
Casino
Conveniently located just south of Exit 221 off Interstate 40, The Okemah Gaming Center offers a variety of electronic video gaming machines and paper bingo. The facility, established in 2001, also serves as a meeting place for area tribal members which consist of 125 square miles. The Gaming Center is operated by the Okemah Indian Community, Muskogee (Creek) Nation.
Golf Course
Okemah has one of the finest golf courses in the area. Our nine-hole golf course is the site of many hours of family fun for local residents. Golfers from area communities are attracted to this course and impressed by its caliber. Built by volunteers in 1991, the golf course has been a dream come true for our community. This state-of-the-art link style course is a tribute to the hard work, cooperative effort and community spirit put forth to make this dream become a reality. Hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. till dark. Snacks and soft drinks are available in the Clubhouse throughout the day. The Okemah Golf Club is a non-profit organization that supports the Okemah High School golf team. The Golf Club is proud to be making a significant contribution toward helping our City meet our goals as a Century Community.
Lakes
Okemah boasts one of the most beautiful 1100 acre city lakes in the state of Oklahoma. Okemah City Lake offers superb fishing, water skiing and RV Park and camping in Okemah City Lake complex, located seven miles north of the City. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife's annual Angler's Guide is an excellent way for anglers to find some of the best fishing spots. The 1998 Angler's Guide ranked Lake Okemah as the number one fishing spot for bass fishing. This rating was the result of tournaments reported by the many different bass organizations holding events across Oklahoma.
This lake has plenty of room for the fishermen and the water-skiers alike. Recreation facilities include: Tent and camper spaces, water hookups, pavilions available for retreats and family or church gatherings, restrooms, a swimming area, a playground for the kids, boat dock and boat ramps. If you like to fish, try it from your boat or from the sixteen miles of shoreline up and down the lake. Okemah Lake is stocked with Large & Small mouth Bass, as well as Channel, Blue & Flathead Catfish. Perch... Bluegill & Goggleeye are in abundance. Bring your fishing gear & enjoy some great fishing!
The many recreational opportunities available at Okemah Lake are significant contributions toward Okemah's goals as a Century Community.
Library
The Okemah Public Library is located in a historic native rock building constructed with the aid of WPA funds. Enjoying a scenic view of Okemah's Noble Park, it is within a block of the Okemah Middle School. Friendly, helpful staff and dedicated volunteers make the library a cheerful place to spend a few hours with your nose in a good book. The library provides an internet access site for the community and attracts many who wish to do research or check their email. Providing both educational and recreational value to the community, the library makes a substantial contribution to Okemah's goals as a Century Community.
Outdoor Classroom
The Outdoor Classroom is a fun educational area built to teach adults and children alike about the environment and how to control flooding. There will also be several different stations such as a butterfly garden, animal footprint identification, native tree identification, gazebo and wildflower area. The local USDA/NRCS is heading the Outdoor Classroom project under the direction of the Community Improvement Association.
The Outdoor Classroom is a part of the Recreational Complex built and operated by the Okemah Community Improvement Association (CIA). The CIA was formed by a group of concerned citizens after a 1995 survey revealed numerous community needs. The Complex has been instrumental in helping to meet some portion of all 5 goals set in the CIA's Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan has been incorporated into Okemah's Comprehensive Plan, which is at the core of progress being made by Okemah as a Century Community.
Parks
Noble Park, in the heart of the city, provides picnic tables, playground equipment and lighted basketball courts with benches nearby. Public restroom facilities are maintained by City employees.
Okemah also has a beautiful park in the heart of downtown. The City of Okemah, the Chamber of Commerce, the Woody Guthrie Coalition, and the Community Improvement Association have worked together to make annual improvements to this cheery addition to the downtown area. The continuous improvements to Okemah's Parks are directly related to Okemah's goals as a Century Community.
Rodeo Arena
As far back as the 1930's the annual Pioneer Day rodeo has been a major attraction for Okemah. From the 30's until sometime in the 50's, the rodeo was held at the WPA Pecan Bowl. In the late 50's the location of the annual rodeo was moved to its current site. The rodeo arena is city property and was originally leased to the Okemah Chamber of Commerce. Garrett Davis, deceased, was president of the Okemah Round Up Club when the new arena was constructed. The original clubhouse, little more than a shack, was replaced in the early 80's with a log building which remains there now.
In addition to the annual Pioneer Day Rodeo, the Okemah Round Up Club sponsors numerous events of interest to the community. A rodeo is held every August in conjunction with the Okfuskee County Fair. In April there will be a thunderbull competition for Pioneer Day. Throughout the summer barrel racing and bull riding competitions are held. The Round Up Club is proud to offer these recreational events as their contribution toward helping our City meet our goals as a Century Community.
Softball Fields
The Okemah Community Improvement Association is nearing the completion stages of building four baseball/softball fields for Little League and Tournament games. The four ballfields and the concession area are available for tournaments and games. Okemah High School and Middle School softball teams currently play their home games at the complex. Okemah Little League baseball and softball teams play here as well. Adult leagues and tournaments plus junior tournaments will also be held throughout the year.
Events at the Okemah Recreational Complex change weekly, so check with the Complex Director, Dwayne Swayze at 918-623-7354, for scheduling events.
Tee Goff Field is also available for softball games.
Swimming Pool
Okemah's city-owned swimming pool is the "happening" place to be on those long hot summer months. The pool was renovated in 2002 and has fresh new look. Children and adults alike look forward to family recreation time at the pool. Continuous improvements to Okemah's Public Swimming Pool are directly related to Okemah's goals as a Century Community.
Tours
Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 918-623-2440 to make arrangements to take a tour of Okemah.
For a list of points of interest to visit in Okemah, go to Click here.
Walking Trail
The Alice Cash Walking Trail is a 3/4 mile, lighted walk that surrounds the four ball fields and Outdoor Classroom/wetlands area constructed by the Community Improvement Association. The Walking Trail is a part of the Recreational Complex built and operated by the Okemah Community Improvement Association (CIA).
WPA Armory
Okemah's WPA Armory was built in the 1930's during the depression as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's program designed to provide jobs for people. Hundreds of men were able to make a livable wage by working on this project. The armory was originally built as a home for the National Guard. Before its construction they had been meeting in the lower floor of what is now R&R Body Shop in downtown Okemah. During World War II both the WPA Armory and the WPA Pecan Bowl housed German prisoners sent here to work in our fields. The Arkansas National Guard was mobilized to Okemah to guard the prisoners because our local National Guard troops were in Europe fighting the war. The prisoners did their own cooking and provided their own recreation, which included frequent soccer games.
A new National Guard Armory was built and dedicated 1986. No longer needed by the National Guard, the Armory became the site of many an Okemah High School basketball game. Currently the Armory is owned and maintained by the City of Okemah and houses city equipment and the city dog pound.
WPA Pecan Bowl
Built during the depression as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's WPA program, the construction of Okemah's WPA Pecan Bowl provided hundreds of men with the means of making a living. The WPA Pecan Bowl was originally built as a location for outdoor sports and as a place to hold events such as county fairs and rodeos. Currently the WPA Pecan Bowl is used by the Okemah High School for football and baseball practice and games. The WPA Pecan Bowl serves an important role in meeting the goals Okemah has set as a Century Community.