The 20 Best Things to do in Broken Bow, OK
Are you planning a trip to the southeastern part of Oklahoma? If so, a small town called Broken Bow offers a lot for nature enthusiasts and tourists. Whether you stay in the city or somewhere nearby, there’s much to see. Check out this casual compilation of the 20 best things to do in Broken Bow, so you don’t miss out on a good time.
20. Stay in a luxury cabin in Broken Bow at Rustic Mountain Lodge
Rustic Mountain Lodge is a great choice if you’re looking for a place to stay in Broken Bow. There’s room for the entire family with an open kitchen, quartz countertops, cooking appliances, and everything you need to make a week of it. The large cabin has two downstairs master suites, luxury linens, and walk-in rain showers. Enjoy soaking in the corner Jacuzzi tubs, or sleep in the King sized bed upstairs with scenic views of the treetops. It’s lodging among the trees at its finest, with room for up to fourteen guests in a single cabin. Learn more about booking your stay at the official website.
19. Drive the Talimena National Scenic Byway
The Talimena National Scenic Byway is a two-lane road that winds through the Ouachita National Forest, taking you on an hour-long journey across 54 miles of beautiful scenery. It lies between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians with panoramic views and multiple places to pull over to enjoy the local amenities. You’ll find numerous hiking trails along the route, with scenic view pull-outs to take photos as souvenirs of your trip.
18. Take the Tiki Tour at Broken Bow Lake
Broken Bow Lake is a recreational area featuring Broken Tiki tours on a pontoon boat with a Tiki theme. Everyone from adults to kids will enjoy the amenities at Broken Tiki Tours with bus rides to the tiki boat and enjoyable guided lake tours. After the tours, you can enjoy drinks at the outdoor bar, play yard games, and get a bite to eat. You’ll learn more about the most scenic areas of the lake and find interesting trails to hike. It’s a haven for visitors who love the outdoors but enjoy the trappings of modern conveniences. You can learn more about booking tours by visiting the Broken Tiki website.
17. Try your hand at amateur mining at Beavers bend Mining Company
Visitors may bring their pickaxes and mining helmets to try their hand at gemstone discovery. Beavers bend Mining Company has the perfect set up for people to mine for gold and gemstones and pan for gold. They provide the water channel with a 66 ft sluice. There’s even an assay area that teaches visitors about mining and prospecting for treasures in the earth. It’s a fun and educational experience for every member of the family.
16. Spend time fly-fishing in Broken Bow
Not far from Beavers Bend is the Mountain Fork River. It’s one of the best fly-fishing destinations in the area. Bring your tackle and gear, wet a fly in the rushing waters, and calm eddies. People come from miles around to enjoy fishing its waters. You only need your gear and a valid fishing license to fish in the area. If you’re out of state, it’s easy to go online and get a temporary fishing license for the days you plan to visit.
15. Rent a boat from your choice of companies in Broken Bow
Broken Bow is known for its river rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. It’s also a premier destination for paddle boarding and paddle boats. You’ll find vendors and outfitters waiting to offer you a rental for enjoying your favorite water activities. The local River has a choice of water conditions, including waterfalls, classes I and II rapids, calm areas, and more. The Glover River is more secluded if you prefer to go alone. Broken Bow Lake is ideal for paddle boarding or renting a paddle boat. Wild Googe Canoe offers some good deals on rentals or guided tours.
14. Take the kids to the Hochatown Rescue Center and Petting Zoo
The Hochatown Rescue Center and Petting Zoo offer a unique experience in a wildlife rehabilitation center. It’s a fun and educational experience for the entire family with various animals you cancan pet, hold and feed. You’ll find sugar gliders, alpacas, a pot-bellied pig, ducks, prairie dogs, goats, donkeys, rabbits, deer, horses, and reptiles. The zoo also has a bearded dragon, coatimundi, and many other exotic animals. A guide on duty provides tours with interesting information about each animal in the center.
13. Tour the local distilleries and breweries
Broken Bow is the home of Mountain Fork Brewery and Beavers Bend Brewery. Both establishments offer local craft beer, tours of the facilities, and fresh beer on tap. You can sit in the breweries and enjoy a beer or take some with you to share with friends and family.
12. Sample the local wines
Broken Bow and Beavers Bend are great places to find wineries with outdoor patios and gift shops. Sample the area’s finest wines and enjoy a glass with your favorite companions around the fire pits. The local wineries provide tasting rooms and bottles for sale at the sites.
11. Go Dancing in a Saloon
Broken Bow also offers quite a few places for adult entertainment. The Hochatown Saloon is a great place to find live music and dancing. It’s a restaurant by day and a dance hall when the clock strikes 9 pm. The saloon hosts special weekend musical events if you enjoy live country western or rock music. The venue closes at 2 am on event nights. If it’s more your style to enjoy quiet, the saloon also has a Tasting Room serving specialty cocktails and spirits. The venue is also home to Grateful Head Pizza Oven and Tap Room with outdoor patios to enjoy live music every weekend.
10. Take the family on a horseback ride
Broken Bow has several outfitters happy to take visitors on guided horseback adventures. Choose from Glover River Tail rides, Beavers Bend Depot & Trail Rides, or River Man Trail Rides. They offer rides that match your current skill level from beginner to seasoned rider. The most popular rides are through the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area and the Ouachita National Forest. Most rides last between 45 minutes to an hour. When you return, you’ll find plenty of places to get snacks at the local vendors and gift shops.
9. Test your analytical skills at the Maze of Hochatown & Escape Rooms
If the family has had their fill of the great outdoors and you’re looking for a different kind of entertainment, visit the Maze of Hochatown to figure your way through a wooden maze that is 29,000 square feet. It’s an adventure that calls on your skills to find several hotspots indicated on a game card, then find your way out. On the same property, the Hoachtaown Escape Games offer gaming adventures that give you 60 minutes to search for clues to solve puzzles that unlock the mysteries that get you out of the rooms. It’s a crime scene, and you only have an hour to solve the mystery before the killer returns. If you identify them first, you win the game.
8. Shop til you drop at the Hochatown shops
Hochatown is near Broken Bow and offers a host of retailers to find souvenirs and gifts. You’ll find the Whippoorwill Fudge Factory, which specializes in all kinds of fudge. Other shops are We Fudge, A Little and Coffee A Lot, Once Upon a Time Antiques, Janets Treasure Chest, Mostly Memories, Antiques, Etc, Broken Bow Vintage Market, the Hochatown Trading Company, and the Hochatown Swamp Booger Mercantile. Plan on spending a day going through all of the shops featuring the lifestyle brand Hochatime.
7. Soar to the sky on a zipline ride
Rugaru Adventure is an outfitter with trained guides that take guests on zipline adventures that glide across the canopies of the forests to span parts of Broken Bow Lake. The average time of the zipline tour is 2 hours, with maximum speeds of 35 mph and heights of 60 feet. The company operates tours that include travel by six zip lines from 300 feet to 1,100 feet in distance.
6. Gamble at Chocktaw Broken Bow
Broken Bow is the home of Choctaw Broken Bow Casino. It’s a premier destination in the area for people who enjoy gambling. You could get lucky and win some of the shares of the thousands that the casino pays out daily. You’ll find poker, slots, blackjack, and games ranging from low stakes to high stakes and progressive slots. The casino also sponsors live concerts, NFL viewing parties, and pay-per-view sporting events. There’s always something fun and exciting going on at Choctaw Broken Bow.
5. Ride the Go Carts in Broken Bow
If you’re looking for family fun, Hochatown Amusements is an interesting place to check out for go-kart racing for all ages. You’ll find a few different courses. If go-karts aren’t your thing, there’s also a miniature golf course that serves delicious ice cream. The other go-kart venue is Big Foot Speedway, with its signature snow cones.
4. Hunt or Fish near Broken Bow
The Honobia Creek Wildlife Management Area offers 80K acres of hunting grounds. It’s just 60 miles to the west of Broken Bow. You’ll find private properties that are open for hunting and fishing. Glover, Eagle Fork, and Upper Mountain Fork Rivers are the most popular areas. You’ll find various animals for legal hunting, including dove, rabbit, quail, turkey, deer, and other game. The fishing is great in the rivers, streams, and lakes. It’s essential to check with the Honobia Creek Wildlife Area about information about seasons, licenses, and the regulations that pertain to each area. You can also visit the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation website. You’ll also find numerous areas to set up a primitive campsite in the National Forest.
3. Enjoy a Massage at Body Harmony Spa
Body Harmony Spa is one of the top day spas in the area and one of Broken Bow’s biggest attractions. The spa has won awards for its 90-minute Sensory Therapeutic options. A Servants Hands Massages goes one better. It’s available for in-cabin therapy sessions with all the services you can imagine, but you don’t need to go to the spa. With just a phone call, they will come to you.
2. Visit the Forest Heritage Center Museum
The Forest Heritage Center Museum might interest you if you’re a history buff. It’s an attraction housed in a century-old cabin with timber harvesting tools from bygone eras, dioramas, historical documents, and a research library with books and periodicals. You’ll also find homestead memorabilia, antique forestry tools, and more.
1. Play a round of golf
The Cedar Creek Golf Course is a nice retreat for visitors passionate about golf. The fairways are lined with pines in a narrow course not far from Broken Bow Lake. A beautiful creek runs through the center of the 18-hole course at par 72 with tees, fairways, a putting green, a driving range, and a pro shop that offers cub and cart rentals along with drinks and snacks. The Old West Town Miniature Golf Course is an 18-hole miniature golf course with a Wild West theme dating back to the 1800s. The course features a hotel, a saloon, an undertaker, a Post Office from 1890, and a dentist’s office. The course runs through a church, stables, and a blacksmith’s shop. After you’ve completed the course, there’s an ice cream shop to help you cool off.
