Touring Kiamichi Country

Counties, Tribal Jurisdiction, Geography, Cities and Towns

   7 Counties – Pittsburg, Haskell, Latimer, LeFlore, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw Tribal Jurisdiction – Choctaw Ecoregions – Mosaic plains, floodplains, hills, terraces, scattered mountains

Agricultural Destinations

   Diverse timber industry – ranks OK’s top agricultural commodities, producing lumber to writing paper, “Festival of the Forest” includes forestry competitions {www.okhorizon.com: show #650} Native American Foods – wild onions, fry bread, Indian tacos, crisp salt pork, scalloped corn, sweet potato pie Italian immigrants to McAlester and Krebs serve up culinary heritage

Aviation & Aerospace

   Balloonfest – Poteau Balloon Days – Hugo Hang gliding – Ouachita Mountains

Nature-Based Tourism

  Ouachita National Forest – LeFlore and McCurtain counties, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, 1.8 million acres, oldest & largest national forest in southern U.S., Spainish explorer Hernando De Soto’s explored in 1541 Winding Stair Mountain Scenic Byway – 200,000 acres, Ouachita National Forest, Talimena National

Nature-Based Tourism

   Little River National Wildlife Refuge – Preserve migratory waterfowl(mallards, gadwall, wigeon, and green-winged teal American alligator – Red Slough Wildlife Management Area Arrowhead State Park – Lake Eufaula 2,200 acre park-equestrian campground, stables, marina, playgrounds, 18 hole Arrowhead Golf Course

Nature-Based Tourism

    Robbers Cave – Wilburton – onetime hideout for outlaws( Belle Star, Cole Younger, Jesse & Frank James) Beavers Bend Resort Park Broken Bow Lake – stretches for 22 miles through the Ouachita National Forest Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation – 64 wildlife management areas, provides public access for hunting and other uses

Culture and Heritage

  Forest Heritage Center and Museum – Beavers Bend Wildlife Heritage Center Museum – Antlers “Deer Capital of the World”    Choctaw Tribal Museum Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center – Fort Towson – outpost on the U.S. border with Texas

Arts and Entertainment

   Frisco Depot Museum – Hugo, hosts Spring Art Show Quilt Show – Poteau Bluegrass Music – Sanders Family Bluegrass Festival

Sports

  Rodeo – one of America’s largest open bullriding events-Freckles Brown Memorial Bullriding, Hugo Rock Climbing – Robbers Cave