Quick Getaways: Sequoyah State Park

If you’re looking for a quick getaway within an hour of Tulsa, look no further than Sequoyah State Park. Located south of Wagoner, it is close to home, yet you’re far from the hustle of the city. It’s a trip the entire family will enjoy.

This was a three-generation trip for us, and what a perfect choice! My daughter and her crew stayed in a one-bedroom cabin with a generous deck overlooking the lake. It also had a couch that turned into a bed for the kids. We had a very small cabin (the realtor’s spin would be “cozy”) with a double-sized bed, a microwave, and a mini-fridge. It was clean and manageable, but we plan on choosing a larger cabin with a deck next year.

Dogs are allowed in certain cottages, for an additional fee

History and amenities

Sequoyah State Park was built in 1956, and you’ll feel that mid-century vibe in several areas, especially the mid-century architecture in the lodge.  It’s the largest set of accommodations in any Oklahoma State Park and has 104 rooms in the lodge, 45 cabins, and a large bunkhouse that would be perfect for a big family reunion. Tent camping and RV camping are also available.

There are meeting rooms, a recreation center, a pool and splash pad, a nature center, hiking trails, and of course, lots of water! There’s also a playground, tennis courts, a horseshoe pit, a golf course, stables, and sand volleyball. The rec center has organized activities each day, including a guided hike and arts and crafts.  I was worried about whether we’d have enough to do, but that fear had no merit. We had plenty to do and were so busy that we all slept very soundly each night.

The pool is not heated, but if you think a little thing like cold water stopped the kids from jumping right in, then you don’t know kids very well. The pool and splash pad were well attended by people under the age of 18. Most adults, including myself, were too wimpy to get in. However, because our granddaughter is only four and not yet a confident swimmer, an adult had to get in with her. My husband chose the short straw.

Dining

Unfortunately, the restaurant in the lodge had a significant fire last year and is still undergoing repairs and renovations. There are restaurants within about a 15-minute drive from the park, but that’s not always convenient when you have hungry kids. We took food with us and ate a lot of sandwiches and fruit. That wasn’t ideal. The restaurant is likely to remain closed for the rest of the year, so if you plan to visit, please plan your meals accordingly.

Indoor and outdoor activities

We made full use of the rec center. We did arts and crafts, played ping pong, and played board games. The rec center is one of the few places that had Wi-Fi, so my husband and I both took our laptops there one afternoon to catch up on a few necessary tasks. They also had a pool table and various items to check out such as frisbees, cornhole bags, and basketballs.

The lodge and the rec center have internet access, but the cabins do not. For some, that may be a negative, but we saw it as a bonus. We all needed to disconnect. My seven-year-old grandson is a little obsessed with video games, and it was good not to have the option to play for a few days. There were televisions in the cabin, so it wasn’t like “Little House on the Prairie” level of disconnect, but it was nice to cut the umbilical cord to the internet for a short period.

Instead of the internet, we connected to nature. We took morning and evening walks on the nature trails every day. We skipped stones on the lake and watched the sun set over the water each evening. We saw deer roaming through the park and so many bunnies hopping everywhere! We visited the Nature Center, which is home to animal ambassadors including coyotes, foxes, and beavers.

Our three days at Sequoyah State Park were quality time with family, a chance to slow down the pace, and an opportunity to make lifetime memories. The Magic Kingdom in Florida is wonderful, but there’s plenty of magic to be had here in Oklahoma at Sequoyah State Park! Expect to come home with a less depleted bank account, lower blood pressure, great memories, but no mouse ears!