This Oklahoma 'Playground of the Southwest' Has Some of the Oldest Mountains on Earth, Here's Why It's No Longer a National Park

"This federally managed recreation area sits where Indigenous peoples long gathered to drink and bathe in sulphur-rich, mineralized springs; Paleo-Indians occupied the region as early as 600 A.D., and Chickasaw and Choctaw nations later stewarded the land before selling 33 springs to the federal government in 1902 to create a public reservation. Early popularity stemmed from the springs’ reputed healing properties and, later, from family-oriented water recreation: travertine-lined creeks, natural cascades (including the feature known locally as Little Niagara), and swimming holes drew summer crowds. Infrastructure projects across the 20th century — Civilian Conservation Corps–built waterfalls in the 1930s and the Arbuckle Dam in the 1960s, which created a large reservoir — shifted use toward broader aquatic activities. The site was renamed in 1906 to honor a U.S. senator and, in 1976, was re-designated and expanded by combining it with a nearby recreation area to emphasize water-based recreation while restoring recognition of Indigenous connections; the Chickasaw Nation now partners with federal managers, shares visitor facilities, and has placed members in leadership roles as part of a long-term collaborative stewardship." - Matt Kirouac Matt Kirouac Matt Kirouac is a travel writer with a passion for national parks. He’s a culinary school graduate and a recent transplant to Oklahoma City after two and a half years of RV living. He covers LGBTQIA+ travel, food, and all things Disney. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines