Blake Walsh

20 Best Things to Do in Davis, OK

  • Published 2022/10/05

Davis, Oklahoma, prides itself as a top-notch destination for people who want to experience authentic small-town life.

The friendly community welcomes families and tourists, offering various attractions peppered with good old southern hospitality.

If you drive there, you’ll also notice Davis’ strategic location near three major U.S. cities: Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Dallas, Texas.

Like many U.S. cities, Davis has a rich history, dating back to 1898.

The city got its name from its founder, Samuel H. Davis.

After moving his dry goods store to the settlement in 1890, he requested the construction of a Santa Fe depot near his store.

Then, he had a post office built.

His efforts led to the incorporation of Davis as an official town in 1898.

Another thing Davis is proud of is Turner Falls.

This waterfall is one of the tallest in Oklahoma and welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

Of course, Davis also hosts a slew of famous historical and natural attractions for the whole family.

Do you want to know more about Davis, OK? Check out this list below.

Spend the Day at Turner Falls Park

Scenic view of Turner Falls Park

Newtonian / Shutterstock.com

Thousands of people visit Davis every year just to dive into Turner Falls, one of Oklahoma’s tallest waterfalls.

How tall is it?

Go to the top, look down, and you’ll see it drops 77 feet into a deep freshwater pool.

To get to the falls, you need to climb the nearby Arbuckle Mountains, an ancient mountain range whose rocks are about 1.4 billion years old.

A waterfall at Turner Falls Park

Charles Lemar Brown / Shutterstock.com

Bring your family to Turner Falls Park for an afternoon filled with watersports adventures.

Clear freshwater flows freely through the park, and you can take a dip in numerous natural swimming pools and creeks.

You can also hike along the nature trails or go inside the park’s three caves.

View of Turner Falls Park

Tyler Thomason / Shutterstock.com

You can also try fishing for trout in the park’s various well-stocked streams from November to March.

The Turner Falls Park also offers campgrounds for both tents and RVs.

You can also rent cabins on the grounds.

Visit Turner Falls Park at I-35 & US-77, Davis, OK 73030.

Daytime view of Turner Falls Park

Sari ONeal / Shutterstock.com

Check Out Vintage Cars at the Forgotten Wheels Museum

Vintage car lovers troop to Davis just to visit the Forgotten Wheels Museum.

If you haven’t gone there, you should mark it in your itinerary.

Inside the museum, you’ll find displays featuring vintage motorcycles, antique automobiles, and old trucks.

For instance, you’ll find 29 authentic Harley Hummers made between 1948 to 1966.

You’ll also see an exhibit of classic Harley Davidson motorcycles.

If you’ve got kids with you, bring them to the gift shop for nice toys while you check out the museum’s collectibles and postcards.

Visit the Forgotten Wheels Museum at 1775 US-77, Davis, OK 73030.

Hunt Game at Wild Horse Creek Hunting

On the other hand, you can get that with Wild Horse Creek Hunting if you want a thrilling nature adventure.

The hunting company offers you three full days of hunting whitetail deer and wild hogs.

You’ll find them at a 2,500-acre cattle ranch west of Davis near Turner Falls.

However, you don’t need to camp out in the wilderness.

You can book a three-night stay at the nearby Pecan Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast, a Victorian building erected in 1898.

With Wild Horse Creek, you can join a guided hunting adventure.

This package lets you hunt one adult whitetail buck, one doe, and a wild hog.

Don’t worry.

You’ll feel like a true hunter because there are no artificial aids like high-game fences.

When you’ve hunted enough deer, you can also fish for largemouth bass in the ponds.

Visit Wild Horse Creek Hunting at 36819 Hwy 7, Davis, OK 73030.

Play to Win at the Treasure Valley Casino

Exterior of Treasure Valley Casino

Kym Koch Thompson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You might want to drop by the Treasure Valley Casino in Davis if you like table games.

The casino sits along I-35, which means you can get there hassle-free. Just drive a little up the Arbuckle hills, and you’ll see it.

The Treasure Valley Casino is a delightful gaming experience for people who want to test their skills in table games or e-games.

You can find 400 of the latest and hottest electronic games on the gaming floor, like slot machines.

Interior of Treasure Valley Casino

Kym Koch Thompson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You can also go to town on the tables, playing Texas Hold’em, blackjack, or Three Card Poker.

When you’re done gaming, you can grab a quick bite at the Main Street Grill, which is on the grounds.

Then, get rest at The Inn at Treasure Inn, right next to the gaming floor.

Visit the Treasure Valley Casino at 12252 Ruppe Road, Davis, OK 73030.

Take a Break at the Pecan Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast

You might think the Pecan Valley Inn is just another hotel, but you’d be wrong.

Staying in this inn does provide you with lots to do, such as walking and picking berries.

Likewise, the inn is also a historical building.

The place operates out of a fully restored 1898 Victorian home, once belonging to a Chickasaw doctor.

The property is enormous, too, occupying a 2,500-acre cattle ranch.

If you want to experience a truly romantic getaway in the American South, you must book a room at Pecan Valley Inn.

Every morning, you’ll have a hearty country breakfast.

Then, you’ll walk it all off on three miles of hiking and mountain biking trails.

You can also take a stroll around the property and pick blackberries and pecans.

The vast property also gives you several chances to spot rare birds if you like birdwatching.

Visit the Pecan Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast at 36819 Hwy 7, Davis, OK 73030.

Go Wild at Arbuckle Wilderness

Landscape of Arbuckle Wilderness

Matthew Rutledge, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You won’t be wrong to expect to find nature parks of any kind in Davis since it’s the proud home of Turner Falls.

Luckily, the city hosts a wildlife park that’s open to the public.

This wildlife park is the Arbuckle Wilderness, spanning more than 400 acres that various animals call home.

If you want to see exotic animals in Davis, Arbuckle Wilderness is the place for you.

What animals can you see at Arbuckle Wilderness?

You can check out buffalos, zebras, llamas, deer, and camels.

You can even see yaks from time to time.

Notably, you can also get up close and personal with these animals through the drive-through safari experience.

Just drive your car through the park and let the animals come to your window.

From there, roll your windows down and feed the critters who come to you.

The Arbuckle Wilderness also holds a walk-thru park that contains more animals, such as birds and reptiles.

You can also find a petting zoo there.

If you want a break from the animals, you can also go-karts, bumper boats, paddle boats, and moon bounces.

You can even ride a camel.

Visit Arbuckle Wilderness at 6132 Kay Starr Trail, Davis, OK 73030.

Go Off the Beaten Path at the Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park

If you want a unique traveling experience in Davis, you can try visiting the Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park.

You’ll need to enter the heart of the prehistoric Arbuckle Mountains to arrive at the largest off-road park in both Texas and Oklahoma.

Spanning 6,500 acres, the Cross Bar Park offers travelers more than 200 miles’ worth of trails.

You’ll never run out of ground to travel.

If you fancy off-road driving, you can pick any of the diverse trails.

They’re meant to provide a fun experience for drivers of any skill level.

What can you see at the park?

You can roam the prairies, dirt trails, rocky mountainsides, and creek beds.

If you like climbing, you can try the sloping hills.

Wherever you look, you’ll see magnificent views, so don’t forget your camera.

You can also follow a trail that leads to Turner Falls Park from the park.

Likewise, rugged adventurers can camp on the Cross Bar Park.

There are 28 hookup sites available for primitive and tent camping.

You can also go tent camping on the trails.

There are no bathhouses, but you can try a primitive bunkhouse that accommodates five people.

It also has a dump station and a water spigot.

If you’re curious about the pioneer life, Cross Bar Park is the place for you.

Visit the Cross Bar Ranch Off-Road Park at 4550 Dolese Rd, Davis, OK 73030.

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth at Bedre Fine Chocolates

Exterior of Bedre Fine Chocolates

Kym Koch Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Who says a small town like Davis can’t enjoy a taste of luxury?

When you visit the city, head to the Bedre Fine Chocolate to sample a selection of fine deluxe chocolates.

You’ll also support the Chickasaw Nation, which owns and operates the chocolatier.

Over the years, the shop had grown from a small chocolatier to a nationally renowned brand.

Bedre Fine Chocolates continues the Native American tradition of handing chocolates as gifts, which began in the 1500s.

Back then, the Olmecs and Toltecs gave chocolates to the Europeans, introducing chocolate to the West.

Today, you can buy gourmet chocolates and gift baskets at the store.

You can also visit their 34,600-square-foot manufacturing facility to see where the magic happens.

While touring the factory, you can also pick up some chocolates to nibble on, like milk chocolate, caramel delights, and espresso bars.

Visit Bedre Fine Chocolates at 37 N Colbert Dr., Davis, OK 73030.

Take the Plunge at 777 Zip

On your trip to Turner Falls, you might want to drop by 777 Zip for an afternoon of thrill and excitement.

Take a swing to the right off Highway 777 to get there.

What’s so great about 777 Zip?

First, you’ll climb 777 feet to the top of the 130-foot tower overlooking Collings Castle and the 77-foot Turner Falls.

From there, you’ll go back where you come from, but through a zipline.

You’ll soar through the trees, covering 777 feet in just seconds.

If you’re scared, you can bring a partner with you on the soaring eagle ride.

This zipline also offers comfy seats that secure you using a monitored seatbelt restraint system.

You can go to the Curio Shop to buy some drinks, snacks, and Turner Falls memorabilia when you get back down.

Visit 777 Zip at 6250 US-77, Davis, OK 73030.

Learn Local History at the Arbuckle Historical Society Museum of Davis

History buffs will also enjoy going to Davis because of the Arbuckle Historical Society Museum.

Like many museums, this one operates inside another historic building, the 1917 Sulphur City Hall.

This museum will teach you about the shared history among Davis, Murray County, Turner Falls Park, and the pioneering families who lived there in the early days.

What can you see in the Arbuckle Museum?

You’ll find several historical artifacts, such as beaded clothing from the family of Nelson Chigley, one of the foremost Chickasaw politicians in Davis.

You’ll also find a loom circa 1850.

Likewise, the museum features military artifacts, period clothing, copies of the Davis News Daily, and school picture displays.

You can also find a comprehensive file on Davis family histories.

Finally, the museum also holds a territorial room to see how life was like before Oklahoma became a formal U.S. state.

Visit the Arbuckle Historical Society Museum of Davis at 12 E Main St., Davis, OK 73030.

Get Lost Inside Collings Castle

Aerial View of Collings Castle

Kit Leong / Shutterstock.com

In Davis, another historical site you can visit is Collings Castle, completed in the 1930s.

Back then, it was a private home, complete with bunkhouses, narrow-windowed parapets, and a fireplace.

On this fireplace, you can see adornments of native rose rocks.

Today, you can enter the house and get lost inside its maze-like, low-ceilinged rooms.

You can also climb steep staircases, leading you to other rooms inside the castle.

Likewise, you can delight in the view of Turner Falls from the top of the castle ruins.

While some parts of Collings Castle have fallen to disrepair, the building is still an unmissable attraction in Davis.

Visit Collings Castle at Turner Falls Park at Hwy 77 S, Davis, 73030.

Learn More History Through the Davis Historical Mural

If you’re running out of things to do in Davis, you can take a photo walk across downtown.

One of your subjects could be the Davis Historical Mural, painted on the walls of a shuttered antique store.

Tracy Beasley, a local artist, painted this mural that depicts the city’s history using its historical landmarks and important figures.

Look carefully at the mural, and you’ll see the Davis Mercantile, the old Davis depot, and a steam locomotive.

In terms of figures, Beasley focused the mural on Nelson Chigley, the Chickasaw politician and one of the first settlers in Davis.

Another figure in the mural is Key Wolf, a football star and coach whom Chigley adopted.

Wolf lends his name to the Davis Wolves, the city high school’s sports teams.

Beasley also painted the city founder, Samuel H. Davis, and his dry goods store that started the city’s story.

You’ll find the Davis Historical Mural at the Gingerbread House Antiques Building, at 317 E Main St., Davis, OK 73030.

Float Merrily Down the Stream with the River Bottom Campground & Tubing

If you prefer to relax while experiencing nature, you need to hook up with Davis’s River Bottom Campground & Tubing.

With their services, you won’t need to exert much effort to appreciate your surroundings.

Bring your family and enjoy camping out in the summer and fishing in the Washita River.

However, the highlight of your trip is floating down this four-mile river on enormous rubber tubes.

You can simply ride the river’s current and bask in the wonders of nature around you.

Let the natural beauty of Davis cradle you as you sit back and take as many photos as you want.

After riding the tubes, you can also swim in the river.

You can find the River Bottom Campground & Tubing at 3629 Hwy 77 S, Davis, OK 73030.

Try the Cowboy Life at the Flyin’ D Ranch

If you’ve ever wanted to live the cowboy life, you should head to Davis and stay at the Flyin’ D Ranch.

The Ranch offers cozy cabins for you to rest at night after going on horseback along the ranch trails.

Inside the cabins, you can light the fire pit to grill some patties, living as close to the pioneer lifestyle as possible.

Afterward, you can soak your bones in the hot tub.

The Ranch covers 400 acres of property, and you can either walk down its trails on foot or horseback.

Watch the Sunset at Cedarvale Cabins

Each of the 16 cabins, only a few yards from Turner Falls Park, is uniquely decorated and equipped with a modest bathroom, a tv set for inside entertainment, and outside shared spaces for added relaxation.

Their completely furnished cabins, which come with a complete kitchen and range in size from spacious to compact, are supplied with various facilities to meet your accommodation needs and price range.

Their cozy, rustic cottages are dotted over the hillside, each furnished differently.

Nothing compares to preparing your delicious recipes on the grill outside when camping; fortunately, visitors have use of an outside BBQ grill.

Everything from board games, movie screenings, and campfire tales to outdoor activities like watching a stunning sunset from your private deck area with patio furniture and a private grill is available.

Order their Famous Root Beer at A&W Restaurant

Since 1919, A&W Restaurant has provided the option for customers to take freshly prepared Root Beer from their restaurants back to the house.

Your classic American favorites, including 100% beef patties, chicken tenders, hotdogs, french fries, fruit shakes, and root beer floats, are available at their family-friendly restaurant in Davis, OK.

Try their freshly produced root beer, best served in their iconic frosty cup.

Their legendary A&W Root Beer, produced with genuine cane sugar and a mixture of secret ingredients, is served in a cold mug filled with creamy vanilla ice cream.

Scoop up and savor this delicious beverage; it is a timeless treat.

Drop by and Explore the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center

Through trained staff, informative kiosks, and printed pamphlets promoting leisure, historical, and touristic locations, the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center offers travelers essential information about Chickasaw Country along with the state of Oklahoma.

It offers authentic Chickasaw and other First American works of art, as well as gifts and retail products made in Oklahoma.

The facility changes its collection of artwork year-round; part of it is for sale, while other pieces are utilized for interior design.

The building grounds include a playscape for kids, an indoor lounging space, public bathrooms, a dog park, a coffee station, a gift store, vending machines, parking spaces, and Bedré Fine Chocolate is located just next door.

The State of Oklahoma’s licenses is available for purchase at the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center for hunting and fishing that is used for outdoor recreation activity.

On your next trip to Chickasaw Country or whenever you want something unique, swing by and browse at the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center!

Spend the Afternoon Shopping at the Ranch House

Bobbie Jo Wells’ appreciation of the western aesthetic seen in The Ranch House was influenced by her upbringing in the rodeo scene.

In 2017, she launched The Ranch House, a place where gorgeous western clothes, jewelry, and collectibles combine with cowgirl elegance.

The Ranch House offers exquisitely crafted apparel and accessories from well-known and loved fashion labels.

The accessories include hats, purses, belts, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces, among other things.

Check out their women’s clothing and select from various options, such as sweaters, graphic shirts, jeans, outerwear, dresses, and more!

Spend the afternoon shopping for jewelry and new clothes!

Unwind at Smokin’ Joe’s RV Park

Explore The Ranch House clothing store, RV sites, and various amenities at Smokin’ Joe’s RV Park!

They provide areas with Fire Pits as part of the comprehensive selection of facilities they offer their visitors to fulfill their unique demands.

Three cabins are available for guests: a three bed, two bath, and a four bed, one bath.

They offer their visitors the best quality comfort possible at no extra expense through excellent shower facilities.

They feature a banquet space that can accommodate up to 200 people for major events!

The facilities you seek for a relaxing outdoor adventure are available at Smokin’ Joe’s RV Park.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Learn Oklahoma History at the Santa Fe Depot Museum

Exterior of Santa Fe Depot Museum

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

Just 23 minutes away from Davis lies Pauls Valley, where the fully restored 1905 Santa Fe Depot stands.

The depot features several displays that trace the history of Oklahoma.

For example, you’ll find collections of old photographs and railroad memorabilia.

Recall the early 20th century through these exhibits and more.

Signage of Santa Fe Depot Museum

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

You’ll find an authentic 1902 Santa Fe steam engine with a coal tender on the depot’s parking area.

It’s the museum’s highlight and will be the background of many memorable family photographs.

Notably, the Santa Fe Depot is still working as a train station.

Handcar at Santa Fe Depot Museum

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

Every morning, an Amtrak Heartland Flyer stops there on its way to Fort Worth, Texas.

This train also returns every evening.

Visit the Santa Fe Depot Museum at 204 S Santa Fe, Pauls Valley, OK 73075.

Facade of Santa Fe Depot Museum

RaksyBH / Shutterstock.com

Final Thoughts

Don’t underestimate small towns like Davis, OK.

You’ll do so at your own risk.

If you do, you’ll miss out on the city’s vibrant nature attractions and important historical landmarks.

Experience the American South by booking your Davis trip!

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