Guide
Local Knowledge
The history, hidden gems, and local know-how most Broken Bow visitors miss.
The history, hidden gems, and local know-how most Broken Bow visitors miss.
In This Guide
History & Heritage
Broken Bow's story starts with the Choctaw Nation, who settled the Mountain Fork River valley in the 1830s after removal from Mississippi along the Trail of Tears. By the early 1900s the area was a timber hub - and, during Prohibition, one of Oklahoma's most notorious moonshine communities. (Hochatown's wineries and distillery lean into that history on purpose.)
The forest you hike was shaped by the Civilian Conservation Corps, who began building Beavers Bend State Park in the mid-1930s using native stone and timber. The park was named for John T. Beavers, a Choctaw citizen, and the 'bend' for a near 180-degree turn in the Mountain Fork River.
Then came the dam. The Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Mountain Fork in the late 1960s, and by 1970 the valley had filled to create the 14,000-acre lake you see today - submerging 'Old Hochatown' entirely. Because the Corps protects the shoreline, there are no private docks or lakefront homes, which is exactly why the water is so clear and the views stay wild.
Local Tips
Spillway overlookAccessibility
A few honest notes for travelers with mobility considerations - the area is forested and hilly, so a little planning goes a long way.