Stephens: Lakes, Trails and History

Lakes, trails and museums offer different perspectives on Stephens County: shorelines range from short to extensive, while museums explore regional history, the Chisholm Trail and the railroad. You can tailor your mix of outdoor experiences and cultural themes to your interests.

Lakes and Outdoor Activities

The shorelines offer a clear comparison of size: Lake Fuqua has 18 miles of shoreline, and Lake Humphreys has 17 miles. Lake J.W. Taylor has 7 miles of shoreline, and Duncan Lake has 4 miles. Lake Fuqua also includes 1,500 acres of recreation area.

Activities at Duncan Lake include swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, sailing and skiing; local rules may apply to some of them. Tent and RV sites have electrical hookups, dump stations and showers, as well as a picnic area and pavilion. Since facilities can change, it’s worth checking current availability before your trip.

Hunting, fishing and bowfishing are possible at Lake Humphreys; activity conditions and permits may change. Lake Humphreys also offers wildlife photography opportunities, with deer, turkeys, birds and waterfowl. There are 44 paved RV sites with hookups. Those interested in fishing at Lake J.W. Taylor can fish for saugeye, bass and carp. The lake is nine miles north of Marlow.

Trails also offer different experiences. Duncan Lake Equestrian Park covers about 900 wooded acres and offers 12 to 15 miles of marked trails through rolling terrain, rated easy to moderate for riders. Duncan’s 3.2-mile Heritage Trails connect parks and community facilities. They are fully ADA-accessible and wide enough for walkers, joggers, wheelchairs and bicycles.

The Chisholm Trail and Regional History

The Chisholm Trail was established after the Civil War and ran through Stephens County. At the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, an Experience Theater brings one aspect of Trail history to life with thunderstorm and longhorn stampede effects. In the Campfire Theater, animated figures of Jesse Chisholm and Tex explain where the Trail got its name. Visitors can also try roping a longhorn on a life-size horse model. Check before your visit whether the interactive roping experience is available.

The Stephens County Historical Museum depicts life in an early town through scenes of a one-room schoolhouse, a church, and the offices of a pioneer doctor, dentist and lawyer; early homes and businesses are also represented. Oil-related exhibits and materials on county history, including information about Halliburton Energy Services, add to this perspective. The Rhythm & Routes exhibit features members of the Oklahoma Music Trail.

Other collections offer different perspectives: the Garis Gallery of the American West displays historic works by cowboy artists such as George Catlin, Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. The Rock Island 905 Museum & Travel Center in Fuqua Park includes old steam locomotive No. 905 and a museum in a replica of an 1892 train depot. Exhibits on railroad communications include dispatcher phones and a dispatcher’s desk; the depot also features G-scale model trains and other models. Access is subject to the posted hours.

In Marlow, the Marlow Area Museum is located in the Marlow Mercantile. It explores regional history, including outlaws and pioneers, and the Chisholm Trail’s route through Marlow. Items on display include artifacts associated with the three Marlow brothers and their family, including the family’s original gravestones. Check with the Marlow Area Museum before visiting to find out whether an appointment is required. Foreman Prairie House is a two-story, 1918 Prairie-style brick house listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Parks, Events and Stages

In Marlow, Redbud Park combines the Creekwalk Trail and historic Redbud Chapel. In Duncan, the Crapemyrtle Trail intersects the Chisholm Trail. The Main Street Duncan Historic Stepping Stone Trail tells the city’s story from the Chisholm Trail to the present through stones set into the sidewalk. These trails have different focuses: some connect parks and community facilities, while others tell a specific historical story.

The events calendar also offers a range of occasions. The Stephens County Free Fair has been held annually in Duncan since 1907. Its format includes a rodeo, arts and crafts, live entertainment and a midway with rides; the annual program may vary. CTAC Live offers concerts across a range of musical genres and performing arts programs, while the CTAC Art Gallery displays and sells works in various media by local and visiting artists. Artists and event dates change.

There are more venues for theater and music: the Jack A. Maurer Convention Center & Theatre at the Simmons Center in Duncan has 750 seats and hosts musical and theatrical performances. Duncan Little Theatre stages plays, musicals, dinner theater, children’s programs and melodramas throughout the year; individual productions vary. The Palace Theatre is in historic downtown Duncan and screens movies. Call for current showtimes.

Fuqua Park has a seasonal amusement park with a Tilt-A-Whirl; its operation depends on volunteer availability and local updates. Miniature train rides are also seasonal and subject to local updates. Check dates before your visit.

Explore more destinations: Comanche, Duncan, Rogers County, Carter County, Texas, Le Flore, Bryan County, Okmulgee County.

For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.