Wichita
Mountains
Escape

Medicine Park —
Oklahoma's First Resort Town

Founded in 1908 by John William Elmer Thomas — a man who fell so completely in love with this cobblestone-studded valley that he bought it and built a resort — Medicine Park is Oklahoma's original escape. More than a century later, it still feels like a secret. Tucked into the foothills of the Wichita Mountains along Medicine Creek, this tiny, cobblestone village has survived wars, floods, and decades of changing tastes to emerge as one of the most charming day-trip destinations in the state.

At the heart of it all is Bath Lake, formed in the 1920s as the town's communal swimming hole. Waterfall-fed and crystal clear, it's the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stumbled into a painting. Swim, wade, fish for trout in the winter, or simply sit on the shore and let the sound of falling water do its work. Surrounding the lake, local shops offer handmade art, antiques, and one-of-a-kind finds. The restaurants and bars pour cold drinks and serve up good food with porches that face the mountains.

Lake Lawtonka sits just east of town — over two square miles of open water with 20 miles of shoreline, marina access, boat launches, fishing docks, and overnight camping. It holds the Oklahoma record for the largest smallmouth bass ever caught. The Medicine Park Music Hall hosts live music year-round, and the town's festival calendar fills up fast with events that draw people from across the state. This is the kind of town where you stop for lunch and realize three hours have passed.