Noble County: Culture, History and Lakes

Noble County combines regional history and architecture with activities on its lakes. For orientation, U.S. Highways 64 and 412—the latter also known as the Cimarron Turnpike—cross the county from east to west. Major north-south routes include U.S. Highway 177 and U.S. Highway 77/State Highway 86. Museums, historic sites and bodies of water offer different ways to plan your trip.

Pioneer History in Perry

The Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry preserves and shares the region’s heritage with exhibits and programs at Rose Hill School. The five-acre museum complex includes a blacksmith shop, a large implement building and a one-room schoolhouse dating from 1895. Interactive exhibits explore pioneer family life, featuring a general store, kitchen, dress shop and doctors’ offices, among other displays. Rose Hill School also holds living history programs for schoolchildren.

The Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School is about a quarter mile east of I-35, from Exit 186 toward Perry. The historic Time-Frame walking tour offered by Main Street of Perry is another way to explore the city: It covers about a mile through downtown and includes 16 stops.

Architecture, Industry and Remembrance

Several sites illustrate different chapters in Perry’s history. The Carnegie Library was built in 1909 with a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. The Heritage Center and Ditch Witch Museum in downtown Perry traces the history of Ditch Witch equipment from its invention to the present day. The museum is located at the original site of Charles Machine Works, Inc., in a building constructed shortly after the 1893 Land Run.

Perry Wrestling Monument Park is downtown at 613 Delaware. It was completed and dedicated as a memorial to a high school wrestling program. The Noble County Courthouse offers a different architectural note: The three-story building is made of stone and brick and features simplified elements of the Second Renaissance Revival style.

In Billings, the Dr. Renfrow-Miller Museum is housed in the former home and office of pioneer physician Thomas F. Renfrow, a building constructed in 1901. The museum features Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visits are available by appointment in warm weather; check availability before your trip.

Festivals and Living Traditions

September offers two distinct recurring events. The Perry Cherokee Strip Celebration has been held every year in September since 1893; its program includes live entertainment, food and exhibitors. The Noble County Fall Free Fair is also held in September at the Noble County Fairgrounds in Perry. Fair activities include the Farmhand Olympics; the format may vary from year to year. Fair dates also change, so check the dates for your intended travel year.

Another annual event is the Otoe-Missouria Tribe Encampment in Red Rock, held on the third weekend in July. The Tribe celebrates its traditions today with feasts, dances and this encampment. Perry Wrestling Monument Park, meanwhile, commemorates the importance of a high school wrestling program. These examples show different ways that history and living traditions are reflected in Noble County.

Lakes and Outdoor Activities

Perry Lake offers boating, water skiing, swimming and fishing. Camping options include basic sites and RV sites with full electric, water and sewer hookups. CCC Lake & Park in Perry was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Today, its facilities include a boat dock, picnic areas and a playground; boating and fishing are also available.

Sooner Lake in Red Rock offers 42 miles of shoreline and excellent largemouth bass fishing. Rod-and-reel fishing, bowfishing and noodling are allowed, subject to local restrictions. Check current regulations before fishing. Nearby, Lake McMurtry offers fishing docks, boat ramps, and paddleboard and kayak rentals. It has 24 RV sites, 22 tent sites and seven fenced sites.

The 7 Clans Paradise Casino in Red Rock is another entertainment destination, with more than 500 slot machines in a 30,000-square-foot space. Along with its museums, historic sites and lakes, Noble County offers different reasons to plan your trip around your interests.

Discover more destinations: Perry, Morrison, Custer, Payne, Craig County, Beckham County, Texas, Caddo County

For the broader travel overview: Oklahoma.