Bad Weather Blues?

Here are two things that are true:

One, everyone complains about the weather where they live. People in Hawai’i complain about the weather. Someone in Chicago might mention that if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute, because . . . because they say that about all weather everywhere. Inuit people camping in igloos almost certainly complain about the cold.

Two, we get special dispensation in Oklahoma, because sometimes, our weather is truly spectacular. Mile-wide tornadoes? Got ‘em! Hundred-plus-degree summers? Check! Crippling ice storms in winter? Tell ‘em not to order any more, because we have enough. You name it, it probably happens in our atmosphere.

And weather can ruin plans pretty easily. Rain can put the kibosh on pretty much any outdoor fun, whether it’s a #lakelife day on the boat, a hunting or fishing trip, or a nice hike. Extreme heat can do the same. And sometimes, you’ve gone to all the trouble to head out to a nice outdoor area like one of our Oklahoma State Parks, and this thin envelope of gas that shrouds our planet is just refusing to cooperate. So just in case you find yourself with a day at the park and weather that’s being rude, here are a few ways to have a great time indoors at some of our state parks:

Beavers Bend State Park's Forest Heritage Center includes both information and art. Photo by Lori Duckworth

This is one of my favorite stops at Beavers Bend, even with all the other amazing stuff there is to do there. This museum-in-the-round—follow the path one way, and it’ll take you through the whole display—features amazing murals by Harry Rossol, the artist behind Smokey Bear. They tell the history of the area, from the prehistoric Caddo who first lived here through the history of logging and forestry throughout southeastern Oklahoma. There’s also an absolutely fabulous new gift shop run by the great folks at Hochatime.

One of the finest views at Lake Murray State Park is from atop Tucker Tower. Photo by James Pratt

One of the state’s most instantly recognizable buildings, Tucker Tower originally was built as a summer getaway for Oklahoma’s governor. Now, it houses a nature center that details everything from the history of the lake and the park to the wildlife present here and in the water. And the climb to the top of Tucker Tower awards those who accomplish it with amazing 360-degree views of the local scenery.

Back in the fold, Quartz Mountain State Park is known for captivating vistas and a top-notch art collection. Photo by Lori Duckworth

One of the original seven state parks, Quartz Mountain also is one of the most unique, with its rocky, remote, and scenic locale in southwestern Oklahoma feeling like visiting the surface of some alien world. Here, we find one of the state’s premier art collections, with works by Mike Larsen, Jesús Moroles, and Allen Houser, amont others. If weather isn’t permitting anything else, walk around the lodge to see these amazing works by some of the masters of the form.

Keep your eyes peeled for tasty fare at the newly opened Lookout Kitchen, like this location at Roman Nose State Park. Photo by Lori Duckworth

Earlier this year, six of Oklahoma’s state parks got a flavor-up—that’s a glow-up you can eat—when The Lookout Kitchen restaurants opened at Robbers Cave, Beavers Bend, Roman Nose, Sequoyah, Lake Murray, and Quartz Mountain state parks. Eat healthy from the Fit and Focused section of the menu, or really indulge your time off with whole pizzas, hearty sandwiches, and burgers, salads, and homestyle dinners galore. Not sure what else to do if it’s raining out? Have something to eat; you’ll figure it out.

Written By

Nathan Gunter

A sixth-generation Oklahoman, Weatherford native, and Westmoore High School graduate, Nathan Gunter is the magazine's editor-in-chief. When he's not editor-in-chiefing, Nate enjoys live music, running, working out, gaming, cooking, and random road trips with no particular destination in mind. He holds degrees from Wake Forest University and the University of Oklahoma. He learned how to perform poetry from Maya Angelou; how to appreciate Italian art from Terisio Pignatti; comedy writing from Doug Marlette; how to make coconut cream pie from his great-grandma; and how not to approach farm dogs from trial and error. A seminary dropout, he lives just off Route 66 in Oklahoma City.