As the temperature drops, Roman Nose State Park Lodge just keeps getting better.

Winter has arrived at Roman Nose State Park Lodge in Watonga. The bare bones of trees creak and groan in the chilly winds, and the plants that remain are hard with frost. But as the sun slowly ascends over the red mesas and sets the waters of Lake Boecher sparkling, the warmth of nature’s beauty settles over the park. Add to that a steaming hot cup of coffee, and visitors enjoying the Sunset Mesa patio barely notice the cold.

Although it’s hard to compete with the spectacular presentation of fall foliage or the Technicolor buds of spring, winter at this western Oklahoma retreat certainly has its advantages. For one, the scarcity of leaves provides unobstructed views of the lake. It also makes it much easier to see the area’s furry and feathered denizens.

“They’ve spotted eagles in the park,” says lodge manager Jennifer Cuykendall. “We’ve spotted a buck several times. I saw a baby porcupine once, which was so cute. There are also painted buntings, lots of cardinals, bluebirds, and finches.”
For many people, a bit of solitude is the main attraction.

“We have a gentleman who comes to the area to camp and write,” Cuykendall says. “It’s nice and quiet. You don’t have to deal with screaming kids or the hustle and bustle.”

But visitors like Lynda Fogg, who has brought her family here for Thanksgiving almost every year for nearly fifteen years, come seeking a little togetherness, even if it gets loud at times.

“Last year, we played cards and games out on the patio until really late,” she says. “We laughed and played, and no one, including my five grandkids and my grandson’s twenty-one-year-old girlfriend, even wanted to check their phones the whole time we were out on the deck. That’s what it does to you.”

Fogg didn’t realize how much her family treasured their time at the Roman Nose Lodge until she suggested the possibility of going elsewhere.

“My daughter said, ‘Are you kidding me?’” Fogg says. “‘The kids already have their hikes mapped out.’”

Even if it’s too frigid to venture out onto the park’s roughly nine miles of trails, there are plenty of opportunities to get cozy inside the lodge. The restaurant offers breakfast options including sweet cream waffles and a wide range of lunch and dinner dishes like the Inspiration Point pizza, named for one of the most impressive spots in the park. The large, open dining area also features a gorgeous fireplace and a comfortable couch.

“We get a lot of people who come out of their rooms, sit in front of the fireplace, and read or play around on their laptops,” Cuykendall says. “It’s really relaxing.”

Wall-length windows and soft linens also make the twenty-two rooms nice places to cuddle up and enjoy a view of the lake. For guests who return year after year, it’s a little hard to pin down exactly what it is about the Roman Nose Lodge that warms their hearts.

“The whole place has a really good feel,” Fogg says. “You don’t feel rushed. It’s just a really special place.”