Adair County: Ozark Scenery and Cherokee History

Adair County combines the wooded foothills of the Boston Mountains with a complex Cherokee history. Natural areas along Barren Fork Creek, historic sites on the Trail of Tears, and the traditions around Stilwell offer travelers a variety of ways to connect with the area.

Landscape and Getting Around

The Ozark Plateau in Adair County includes the wooded foothills of the Boston Mountains. The Illinois River drains the northern and central parts of the county. These geographic features give a sense of the landscape: wooded highlands and river areas lie side by side, rather than the county being defined by a single place or experience.

Roads also cross the county in different directions: U.S. Highway 62 runs east to west, while U.S. Highway 59 runs north to south. To travel from Tulsa to Stilwell, one route first follows Highway 412 east to West Siloam Springs and then Highway 59 south to Stilwell. Because routes and road conditions can change, check the route before departure.

Nature Along Barren Fork Creek

The Barren Fork WMA covers about 497 acres along Barren Fork Creek in eastern Adair County. The creek offers year-round fishing opportunities for black bass, particularly smallmouth bass. This makes the area a specific destination for travelers who want to spend time by the water.

In the western part of the county, the 301-acre Thomas A. Bamberger Sr. WMA also lies along Barren Fork Creek. From the creek bed, the terrain rises more than 200 feet into a dense oak-hickory forest. An information kiosk is located at the northern entrance. By comparison, the eastern Barren Fork WMA is larger in area; the Thomas A. Bamberger Sr. WMA is particularly notable for the rise from the creek bed into the forest.

Cherokee History and Historic Sites

Adair County was formed from the Going Snake and Flint districts of the Cherokee Nation. Stilwell City Cemetery was a disbandment site on the Trail of Tears in 1838–39. In Westville, Bushyhead's Depot served as a ration distribution point for members of the Cherokee Nation arriving on the Trail of Tears. The depot is designated as a significant site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail.

The mission near present-day Westville was first called Breadtown and later became known as Baptist Mission. In 1841, the Baptist Board established Baptist Mission at Bushyhead's Depot, with a church, a school, and a printing press. The first issue of the Cherokee Messenger was published there in August 1844—it was also the first newspaper produced in Oklahoma. These events connect the site with the history of education and printing in the Cherokee context.

Other buildings also tell the story of the region. Golda's Mill near Stilwell is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The KCS Railway Depot is significant to Stilwell's transportation history. The Opera Block is associated with Westville's time as the county seat of Adair County and its role as an entertainment center, when railroads made it possible for traveling vaudeville and Chautauqua performances to visit. The Buffington Hotel on West Main Street in Westville is also listed on the National Register. It was built in 1910 to meet travelers' lodging needs.

Stilwell and Local Traditions

The annual Stilwell Strawberry Festival has been held since the 1940s to promote locally grown strawberries. The festival includes a 5K run. If you want to plan your trip around it, check the event dates in advance. The Stilwell Farmers Market sells fresh Oklahoma produce.

For outdoor overnight stays, Adair Park offers 20 basic campsites and seven RV sites with electrical and water hookups. When choosing a site, you can distinguish between basic campsites and RV sites with electrical and water hookups.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Stilwell, Delaware County, Noble County, Mayes County, Jefferson County, Garvin County, Kiowa County, Custer.

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