3 minute read
Outside the Metro
Sublime in Sulphur
In south central Oklahoma, Sulphur provides outdoor recreation, Native American roots and luxurious accommodations.
The Chickasaw Cultural Center boasts a variety of historical sculptures to view. Photo by Jacquelyn Sparks
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
CHICKASAW CULTURAL CENTER
580-622-7130 chickasawculturalcenter. com
SULPHUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
580-622-2824 sulphurchamber.com
CHICKASAW NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
580-622-7234 nps.gov/chic/index.htm
ARBUCKLE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
580-622-5593
THE ARTESIAN HOTEL, CASINO AND SPA
855-455-5255
SULPHUR VETERANS CENTER
Once a destination for people who believed in the healing and restorative powers of the nearby sulphur springs – from which the town took its name – and for the location of Oklahoma’s only national park, Sulphur remains a place that beckons people looking for a variety or outdoor recreation, dining, or even a little pampering. e city’s variety makes it unique, says Chamber of Commerce executive director Anna Lawrence, a life-long resident.
“Sulphur is a great town,” she says. “I like to see people who aren’t from [here] come and see what Sulphur has to o er.” e city boasts three prime attractions:
Chickasaw National Recreation Area
e sprawling, 10,000-acre area presents a smorgasbord of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, shing and swimming. It features two lakes, six campgrounds and 22 miles of trails, which park ranger Megan Wilkins says present several ways to enjoy the outdoors. Even though most of the sulphur springs are no longer owing, one remains, for visitors who want to “take the waters.”
Wilkins reported that park use spiked during the initial COVID-19 surge as people discovered the safety of outdoor life.
“Once we got past that very early phase, our park became a good option for folks, because we are so outdoor-based,” says Wilkins. “Being outdoors was one of the good options available.”
Fishing and boating are o ered at the 3,000-acre Lake of the Arbuckles and the 200-acre Veterans Lake. e park’s sprawling acreage includes the original Platt National Park – the nation’s seventh national park, which became part of the CNRA in 1976.
The Chickasaw Cultural Center
Operated by the Chickasaw Nation, the center o ers a Smithsonianquality immersion into the rich history and culture of the Chickasaw people on Sulphur’s western edge. With 118,000 square feet of exhibit space, the CCC includes an interactive exhibit hall, art galleries, outdoor sculptures and a genealogy and research library. e CCC’s theater and café are closed for extensive renovations, says event operations director Fran Parchcorn.
She says the center re-opened last July and has seen a steady number of visitors – including one family that recently ew in from France. Since opening in 2010, the CCC has attracted close to 850,000 visitors.
“We’re shooting for that million mark,” says Parchcorn.
The Artesian
At the southern edge of downtown, the 81-room Artesian Hotel, built by the Chickasaw Nation, occupies the site of the original hotel by the same name. It o ers visitors what the original hotel also did – a chance to relax in luxury.
Hotel general manager Justin Williams says it has been popular with townspeople and visitors since opening in 2013, with lots of repeat customers. Hotel occupancy approaches 95% in summer, and hovers at about 75% the rest of the year. People who frequent the four-story hotel love it, he says, “but it’s always interesting to see a fresh set of eyes” on the hotel that features restaurants, retail, a pool, a 270-person ballroom on the ground oor and guest rooms on the top three oors. e hotel is also connected to a tribal-operated casino.
Elsewhere near downtown, the original 1917 City Hall now houses the Arbuckle Historical Museum, presenting a storehouse of local history.
Two state institutions are located in town: e Sulphur School for the Deaf, serving deaf and hearingimpaired children; and the Sulphur Veterans Center, maintained for U.S. Armed Service veterans who need nursing home care. HENRY DOLIVE
