Discover Choctaw: History, Lakes, and Nature

When planning a trip to Choctaw, you can focus on historic sites, activities on the water, or observing nature. Fort Towson and Doaksville offer different ways to explore history; the lakes are places for boating, fishing, swimming, and birdwatching. Choose the experiences that shape your plans according to your interests.

Historic Sites in Fort Towson and Doaksville

Fort Towson Historic Site has a visitor center, a reconstructed sutler’s store, a teamster’s cabin, and a hiking trail along historic ruins. The exhibits cover the fort’s history from its establishment in 1824 through the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Fort Towson Historic Site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Doaksville offers a different way to explore history: the Oklahoma Historical Society operates the archaeological site and its interpretive display. A loop trail leads around the stabilized wall remains; signs explain the site’s history and that of its multicultural residents. The starting point for the Doaksville Archaeological Site is reached via Fort Towson Cemetery. The trail passes steps by the cemetery’s eastern wall.

Depot, Cemetery, and Elephant Conservation in Hugo

Hugo Frisco Depot was built in 1914 and remained in use until the 1960s. Exhibits at the Frisco Depot Museum include a miniature circus, a model railroad, a section of a Southwestern Bell switchboard, and an antique whiskey still. The collection ranges from railroad models to historic technical equipment and a distillery.

Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo is the final resting place of rodeo greats Freckles Brown, Lane Frost, Todd Whatley, and L. Hammock. At the cemetery, Showmen's Rest features distinctive headstones and burial sites for circus performers and owners. Tours of Mount Olivet Cemetery are available for groups upon request. If you plan to take a tour, check its current availability in advance.

The Endangered Ark Foundation works in Hugo to protect endangered elephants and educate the public about these animals. During a weekend tour, visitors can meet the elephants and see the foundation’s two buildings. If you plan to take a tour, check in advance whether one is available when you visit.

Lakes, Trails, and Wildlife Viewing

Hugo Lake offers around 8,000 acres of open water for boating. You can hike along winding lakeside trails and observe numerous bird species. An equestrian trail runs along the boundary of Kiamichi Park; visitors can hike there or ride their own horses. Since trail conditions can change, it is advisable to check before your outing.

Raymond Gary State Park is located on the shores of Lake Raymond Gary. The lake offers opportunities for fishing, boating, and swimming. Park amenities include RV sites with full hookups, nine sites with water and electricity, and about 100 tent sites. There are also group pavilions, restrooms with showers, a playground, a swimming beach, and cabins for rent. If you are making specific plans, check the current availability of sites or cabins.

The two lakes offer different experiences: Hugo Lake has around 8,000 acres of open water for boating, while fishing and swimming are also specifically available at Lake Raymond Gary. The state park there also combines time by the lake with camping options and the other listed facilities. Which option suits you depends on whether you primarily want to get out on the water, spend time along the shore, or combine a hike with birdwatching.

Fort Towson in the Wider Context of a Route

The Choctaw and Chickasaw Heritage Corridor is a round-trip route through southeastern Oklahoma that includes Fort Towson as a stop historically connected to the history of Indigenous nations. This route puts Fort Towson in a broader perspective than the history of the fort alone: it is part of a trip linking historic sites across southeastern Oklahoma.

Discover more destinations: Hugo, Muskogee, Pushmataha County, Comanche County, Cimarron County, Tillman County, Garfield County, and Noble County.

View the main travel overview: Oklahoma.