Sleep in Singular Style at These Oklahoma Getaways

From birdhouse cottages to Atomic-Age motels, there’s no shortage of fun overnight stays

T ravelers wanting to break away from the standard hotel experience will find unique places to hit the pillow across Oklahoma.

Only a 10-minute departure from Interstate 35 in Oklahoma’s southcentral region, Lake Murray State Park near Ardmore provides a couple of unconventional lodging options. Three tiny cabins situated along the lake’s shore offer stunning views and cozy, private settings, with vacationfriendly features like spacious kitchens and large porches. Just north of the the park’s sleek, modern lodge, visitors also will find the Lake Murray Floating Cabins, where you can travel from the sofa to the water’s edge in just a few steps.

In the picturesque southwestern town of Medicine Park, travelers’ dreams take flight at the Birdhouse Cottages. Built to resemble--you guessed it--human-sized birdhouses, each of these three colorfully appointed abodes overlooks Bath Lake and the surrounding Wichita Mountains. Their central downtown location also means shopping and restaurants are within easy walking distance. But for those who want to work up a sweat, the trails in the adjacent Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge offer some of the region’s most scenic mountain biking and hiking.

Mother Road enthusiasts will find a retro-glam stopover at the Classen Inn in Oklahoma City. Here, motelstyle digs get an elevated makeover, with hip, comfortable rooms and an on-site superette that stocks snacks, beer, wine, and other goodies. Route 66 road trippers in Tulsa will want to check out Buck’s Cosmic Crash Pad. Located behind Buck Atom’s Comic Curios--a must-stop gift shop--and the 21-foot space-cowboy muffler man it’s named for, this threebedroom bungalow accommodates travelers in a “living gallery” of comforting kitsch, where much of the art on display can be purchased. Within the rolling plains of Osage County, downtown Pawhuska is a popular destination. The Frontier Hotel gives visitors a front-row starting point to the area’s Tallgrass Prairie and internationally acclaimed Pioneer Woman attractions, which include a mercantile, pizza parlor, lodging, and ranch tours. Built in 1912, the Frontier is a triangle-shaped building in the center of town that originally housed business offices and retail stores. Just a few years ago, this historic landmark was resurrected with 20 Art-Decoinspired luxury guest rooms. To learn more about Oklahoma and to order free travel guides, visit TravelOK.com. •