Allen & Natalie Jones (21339)
Oklahoma State Directors
The weather is getting warmer, and we bet that most of you are ready to get those coaches un- winterized if you haven’t already and ready to hit the road for the adventures and fun that await each of us. The anticipation of heading out to explore this great country is such a rite of passage. Whether you are headed to a National Park, State Campgrounds, Newmar Rally or an epic road trip we hope that it will be the best.
Spring can be a great time to travel but can also present some problems and stress with the weather especially in the South or anywhere else these days. Always remember to check the county your campground is in for weather alerts and have a plan if an emergency arises.
In this edition of the news article from Oklahoma we thought how about we introduce you to our state and just a few of the places we have found that would make a great overnight or a place to park for a few days. If you have travelled from east to west on I-40 or north to south on I-35 you have travelled through Oklahoma, be it intentional or just getting from one point to another. So here we go.
Weatherford Oklahoma (1 hour west of OKC) located on I-40 is a great place to stop and rest. Wanderlust Crossings RV Park is big rig friendly and close to I-40 without the road noise. The park has plenty of pull throughs for those easy overnight stays and the staff is super friendly. We have held several state rallies at the park. If you have the time, make sure you check out the Thomas Stafford Air and Space Museum in town. The town also boasts plenty of fun places to eat with a route 66 vibe (Lucille’s is just one of them). There are still other museums. Heartland Museum shows a history of early life in western Oklahoma. If you are interested in wind energy they have a museum for that. I promise you will not be disappointed and just west of their in the town of Clinton is the Route 66 Museum with lots of fun highlighting the famous road.
If traveling east on I-40 we have found that the rest stop between Sallisaw and the Arkansas border has a great area for RVs to overnight in. They have separate areas away from the trucks and if you just need a place to rest for the night this might work you. We have stayed several times and always felt very safe.
There are several state parks in Oklahoma that truly are gems and a little off the beaten path. Heading south on I-35 is Lake Murray which boasts several campgrounds. We love to stay at Elephant Rock. The lots are very shaded and offer views of the lake. Also in this area you can find RV By the lake Park which also is big rig friendly. If in the area don’t forget to check out the Chickasha Cultural Center in Sulphur, OK which does have parking for RV’s while visiting the museum. Tuckers Tower built in the 30’s at Lake Murray is also cool.
Another off the path state park is Natural Falls – located on State Highway 412 between Tulsa, OK and Silom Springs Arkansas. It is one of our favorites especially in the fall. Parts of the movie “Where the Red Fern Grows” were filmed here.
North on 1-35 and a little to the east lies the little but famous town of Pawhuska made famous by the Pioneer Woman and the filming of the movie “The Killers of the Flower Moon. Although there is not campground in Pawhuska, we hope that maybe in the future there will be one(“If you build it they will come”). It is worth checking the town and all the fun shopping and places to eat. If you have time make sure you check out the Tallgrass Prairie Reserve just to the north of Pawhuska and home to bison and others. It also home to the Osage Nation and the Osage Nation Museum.
The Immaculate Conception Church (1314 Lynn Ave) in Pawhuska built in 1910 for local members of the Osage Nation (commonly known as the Cathedral of the Osage) has a rich and fascinating history. Wanting only the best for their new church, the Osage commissioned Old World German craftsmen to create the stained-glass windows. As two of the windows depicted members of the church who were still living at the time, their installation required a special dispensation from the Vatican. I have only seen the outside of the church, but even from the outside the stained-glass windows are amazing.
Ponca City not to far from Pawhuska does have a few small campgrounds and is home to the Marlin Mansion (oil money). Another fun town for a day trip is Bartlesville, the original home of Phillips 66 and the Woolorac Musuem which is museum full in of Indian art, artifacts and Phillips memorabilia.
Oklahoma boasts many other State Parks, COE Campgrounds and Harvest Hosts that might just fit your style. We have lots of lakes, museums, Agra-tourism, changing landscapes and one might just fit you. Just take a visit to the Travel OK Website for all (https://www.travelok.com/).
At time of print the Oklahoma Spring Rally will be in the books. Thank you to all those who helped make this rally happen. These are only possible because of all the volunteers. We appreciate each and every one of you. The rally was held at Wanderlust Crossings RV Park in Weatherford OK. More on the rally and activities in the next edition of the Legacy. So hard to talk about a rally prior to being held, but I am sure we all had a good time because we are a fun group, but like I said more on that in the next Legacy.
The International Rally is June7th thru June 14th in Lewisburg West Virginia. Registration is open and we hope that if able you can attend. Don’t forget that there are plenty of ways to participate and volunteer at International. It is an opportunity to meet fellow Klub members from all over the country. We have found that it is a great way to learn from others and network ideas and solutions to problems we all have as we travel this country in our Newmar coaches.
In your travels be sure to check out any Newmar Kountry Klub events along the way. These rallies are a great way to learn about other parts of the country, different foods and who knows you might make a return trip to the area.
Allen and I hope that 2025 will be full of travel and new adventures along with making new friends and meeting up with old friends along the way.
Safe travels to all.
We can be reached at Allen 405-812-3150 osuallen1@gmail.com or Natalie 405-812-3152 osunat1@gmail.com
