Mannford on Keystone Lake

Mannford on Keystone Lake

Mannford is located on the shores of Keystone Lake. There are several specific themes to choose from for your stay: trails in Keystone Lake Park, activities on the water, the Lake Life Festival and the town’s history. You can plan your trip around whether you want to spend time outdoors, take fishing events into account or learn about Mannford’s past. The combination of the lake and local history is a distinctive starting point for getting to know the destination.

Trails and water activities

Keystone Lake Park has hiking trails. Visitors to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Keystone Lake can explore the lake on stand-up paddleboards and canoes. The park also has a floating aqua park on Keystone Lake and an activity pool with integrated basketball and volleyball areas. The locations and activities are distinct: the trails are in Keystone Lake Park; the water and pool activities are at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Keystone Lake. Camping and day use at this park are available from May through September. If you plan to make use of these seasonal facilities, confirm the specific dates before your visit.

Lake Life Festival and fishing

The Lake Life Festival has been a community tradition for more than 50 years. It was originally known as the Striped Bass Festival. During the festival, the annual Hooked on Bass fishing tournament takes place at the Prairie View Boat Ramp on Keystone Lake; a children’s fishing tournament is also part of the program. The festival’s former name and its fishing events give the event’s focus on fishing both a historical and a practical dimension. If you plan to attend the tournament, check the festival dates before your trip, as the tournament takes place during the festival.

Mannford’s history

Mannford was relocated several miles southeast of its original site in 1963 after flood-control plans threatened to inundate the town. The original settlements of Mannford, Keystone and Prue were flooded during the creation of Keystone Lake. The town’s relocation and the creation of the lake are therefore closely connected to the area’s history.

The Mannford Museum

The Mannford Museum was founded in 1975 to preserve and share the history of Mannford and the area around Keystone Lake. Its collection includes Native American artifacts and relics from the original settlements of Mannford, Keystone and Prue. The collection areas link the town’s history with the changes that shaped the area during the creation of the lake. The museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check the opening hours before you arrive if you want to make a firm plan to visit.

Horseback riding and a photo opportunity

C & A Outlaw Trail Rides offers horseback riding experiences in Mannford. During these experiences, visitors hear stories about the Mannford area’s connection to the outlaw era. This means that, alongside lake activities and local history, regional storytelling is another possible theme for a stay. Creek County Frog Rock is recommended as a photo opportunity during a visit to Mannford.

Explore more destinations: Drumright.

Go to the broader travel overview: Creek County.