Turner Falls |
by Lin Stone
| There are 1,500
acres of outdoor fun found in the "Heart of the Arbuckles". It is the oldest
park in Oklahoma, -- and it is owned by the City of Davis in Murray County.
It is named Turner Falls Park. The waters of the Honey
Creek tumbles down seventy seven feet of falls (making
it the largest waterfall in Oklahoma) and is fascinating to watch.
At the same time there are innumerable bugs, wildlife and natural beauty to observe in this area. Note the first natural swimming pool at the bottom of the falls. |
| As early as 1868
Turner Falls was known as a popular recreational area.
The City of Davis
operates the park and protects it. Around the clock the city police of Davis make friendly
visits to the area and so do deputies under the direction of the
county sheriff.
You are welcome to enjoy every acre of the park. beautiful picnic areas, nature trails, caves, geological wonders, and the two natural swimming pools found downstream are very unique in nature. In fact, Turner Falls area has been described as one of the three geological windows into our past; the other contenders being the Grand Canyon and the Black Hills of South Dakota. The rocks along the road LOOK old. Many of them weep with oozing water. |
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| There must be ten miles of stonework invested
in creating walls, stairs and pads. Every niche and turn is perfectly
done. In all my exploration I did not notice a single gap.
A memorial at the site suggests that all this was done with convict labor. |
| Known as The Castle, there is a huge rock house built in the shape of a castle by an eccentric doctor in the 1930s. All the rocks were quarried in the area. The castle is huge. From the right angle you will notice two outhouses built in the same style, a guest rock house and a garage. Smooth rock stairs connect all the buildings. |
Wildflowers and medicinal plants
create a thick groundcover in good years.
The Blue Hole area is great entertainment
for those who want to get wet.
SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK signs
warn the visitor that safety is not guaranteed here.
There are campsites right in the park.
Picnic areas abound.
There is room to bike
There are trails to ride.
Entry fees go as high as $10 per person
but children under five get in for free.
Senior citizen discounts are available.
Then,
on down the road, are lots of places
you can rent from private citizens.
Some of these spots have created their own splash areas.
| Turner Falls is found just off of
Interstate 35 going towards Dallas Texas. Signs show up repeatedly
along the way so you won't have any excuse for missing the turn off.
The road to Turner Falls curves around in a rugged horseshoe shape
and comes back to I-35.
The pavement is Oklahoma good and kept in good repair. There are, however, several hairpin turns where the posted speed limits mean exactly what they say. Now, a stern warning is in order here. If Turner Falls is too full, or looks too dangerous for you -- as it well might after a hard rain in the area -- you can follow the road to Davis, and on through it to the town of Sulphur. There is another water park there, less spectacular, but especially inviting -- in spite of the initial smell -- for families with younger children. Then, at the Arbuckle Wilderness you can see over 1000 exotic animals roaming freely in a 400 acre park. Tour either in your own car or hitch a ride in the safari express bus. To the delight of smaller children there is also a petting zoo, amusement rides and hayrides offered daily from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day. The Park is open 362 days yearly with amusements open on the weekends through October. More info is yours for free by dialing 1-800-PET-PARK. So, even if you strike out at Turner Falls
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the end
About the author: Lin Stone takes keen delight in producing articles that parents can read to their bright children. ""If children tried to read this by themselves, this would be over their heads. But when the parent reads one of these subjects it opens up a dialogue between parent and child that can lead to better family togetherness." Parents can find other suitable topics in the index below, or they can Click HERE to see a larger index of the writings of this author.
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