Payne: Discover Culture, History, and Trails

When looking for a hotel in Payne, first decide which visits will shape your stay. Historic museums and sites, botanical collections, trails, and waterfront activities offer different points of focus. Specific destinations can help guide your plans: a loop around a lake is laid out differently from a longer route made up of several loops, while museums offer ways to explore history, art, and special collections.

Trails, Water, and Gardens

At Boomer Lake Park, a paved path runs in both directions around the entire lake. The loop is 3.2 miles long. The park also has an 18-basket disc golf course and opportunities for fishing. You will need the required Oklahoma fishing license. Fish species listed include bass, crappie, sunfish, and catfish; species and regulations may change. Check current requirements before fishing.

Near Stillwater, the Lake McMurtry Natural Resource & Recreation Area offers four trails around Lake McMurtry for hiking and mountain biking. The Orange Trail is a 9.1-mile out-and-back route made up of three loops. This makes it notably different in length and layout from the paved loop at Boomer Lake. You can also rent paddleboards and kayaks at Lake McMurtry; confirm availability before your trip.

At the Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University, walking paths and native plants come together across a 100-acre site. The garden includes more than 1,000 herbaceous and woody plant species; the collection may change over time. Lake Carl Blackwell includes a 3,350-acre lake and an 800-acre recreation area.

Museums and History

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum presents the history of wrestling through interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks. Memorabilia on display includes sculptures, photographs, banners, plaques, medals, trophies, and uniforms. You can explore the subject through both its interpretation and a diverse collection.

The Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar features exhibits about Stillwater and Payne County. Its timeline spans from the 1889 Land Run, which opened the Oklahoma Territory to settlement, through the end of the 20th century. Temporary exhibits change monthly, quarterly, and annually; check current exhibit dates before your visit.

The Oklahoma Territorial Plaza is a six-acre open-air museum on Main Street in Perkins. Several restored buildings date to the Oklahoma Territorial period. They include a log cabin built in 1901, a 19th-century one-room schoolhouse, and a gas station from the 1950s and 1960s. The grounds also include the former home of Frank Eaton.

The Oklahoma Museum of Higher Education is the only museum in the United States dedicated to the history of higher education in a single state. The OSU Museum of Art offers tours and field trip programs; their arrangements may change. Admission is free; operating guidelines may change. Check current information about tours and field trips before your visit.

Things to Do in Cushing

The Oklahoma Skydiving Center is located at the 350-acre Cushing Regional Airport. It offers Accelerated Freefall courses for beginners and tandem jumps from altitudes of 14,000 and 18,000 feet. Reservation and participation requirements may change; check the current requirements in advance.

The Cushing Aquatic Center has two large water slides, two drop slides, a diving board, and four swimming lanes. As seasonal information about the facility may change, check current details before your visit. The Cushing Main Street Farmers Market is seasonal and offers locally grown onions, tomatoes, and radishes. Market offerings and vendors may vary; plan your visit according to the season.

Discover more destinations: Stillwater, Cushing, Oklahoma, Cleveland, Tillman County, Muskogee, Texas, Johnston County.

Go to the main travel overview: Oklahoma.