Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Elk City, OK

  • Published 2022/07/18

Elk City is a warm, friendly city in Beckham County, Oklahoma, filled with beautiful nature and fascinating history.

This picturesque small city is located in western Oklahoma, approximately 150 miles east of Amarillo, Texas, and 110 miles west of Oklahoma City.

The city’s connection to its past yet embrace of the future is the perfect example of western hospitality.

When you come from a history of courageous pioneers and quality living, it’s not hard to form the ideal vision of a beautiful hometown.

There are five museums here.

They are the National Route 66 Museum, the Blacksmith Museum, the Old Town Museum, the Farm and Ranch Museum, and the National Transportation Museum.

Elk City’s economy depends on agriculture, petroleum, transportation, wind energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and tourism.

Whether you’re visiting for pleasure or on business, here are the best things to do in Elk City, OK:

Check Out the History of Route 66 at the National Route 66 Museum

Exterior of The National Route 66 Museum

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The National Route 66 Museum is your destination if you want to immerse yourself in the cultural and social history of the “Mother Road” of America.

The museum provides informative tours through carefully constructed displays and detailed models that depict all eight states of Mother Road.

They look into the origins and importance of different landmarks along Route 66, like their construction and the reason for their fame.

Antique gas pump at The National Route 66 Museum

ehrlif / Shutterstock.com

With several audio stations strategically placed around the museum, you can listen to each personal account and exciting history.

Key features of the National Route 66 Museum include peculiar roadside attractions, a lovely gift shop, historical documents, and Popeye memorabilia.

Enjoy a Fun Day Outdoors at Elk City Lake Park

Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity, or want to kick back and relax on your day off, Elk City Lake Park is the place.

This 750-acre park has activities and amenities everyone can enjoy, whether fishing, hiking, or boating.

You’ll also find a swimming beach, a disc golf course, picnic pavilions, picnic shelters with grills, and playgrounds for children of all ages.

There are also fish cleaning stations and even BBQ areas.

The city park also oversees two ramps where people can catch their dinner from one of the local lakes.

Elk City Lake Park has both RV sites and campgrounds and also offers five RV parking slots with water and electric hook-ups.

Spend a Fun Day with Kids at Ackley Park

Elk City’s Ackley Park is a unique space, a magical experience for all.

There are so many features scattered throughout the park that will delight people of all ages.

The 220-acre park contains two tennis courts, a playground and toddler park, a softball complex, baseball fields, picnic areas, and much more.

Ackley Park also features Centennial Carousel, where kids can ride 36 hand-carved horses and up to two chariots.

If you love to swing over sand instead of flying through the air, try out the park’s 18-hole mini-golf course.

Moreover, kids from all over have always enjoyed Ackley Park’s miniature train rides.

When those scorching summer days roll around, take a dip in the pool or cool off with a few ice crescents at one of their pavilions.

If you take a trip to Ackley Park during Christmas, you’ll enjoy the delightful winter treats, like the double-decker bus rides, amazing Christmas lights, and hot chocolate.

Score a Hole-in-One at Elk City Golf & Country Club

Elk City Golf & Country Club has one of the best-designed golf courses in Elk City.

Elk City Golf & Country Club is just a short drive west of U.S. Hwy 6.

The golf course is scenic and challenging, with a fair par by today’s standards.

You will also find a challenging layout, to say the least, that plays to par 71.

Elk City Golf & Country Club’s real strength lies in a set of five excellent Par-3 holes that will test every golfer’s ability and patience.

You can also check out the pro shop, a snack bar/club, panoramic views of Elk Lake, and a driving range.

Learn the Art of Blacksmithing at the Blacksmith Museum

A visit to the Blacksmith Museum means you are getting a glimpse into how blacksmiths forged handmade weapons, tools, and other objects from iron or steel.

Blacksmiths used an assortment of hand-operated forging tools like hammers, tongs, and pinchers.

They also used fire-powered bellows to heat the metal and bend it into shape.

Because of this work ethic and skill set, many folks still value handmade versions of these items.

People see these handmade items as much more unique than mass-produced ones.

Some examples include wrought iron gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures and lamps, sculptures, furniture, and tables.

They also include horseshoes and tools such as shovels or farm implements like plows.

These items’ unique aesthetics attracts many people, too.

In the Blacksmith Museum, you’ll also see a wide variety of antique products, early welding equipment, and antique blacksmith tools.

See a Spectacular Performance at the Red Carpet Community Theatre

By expanding its repertoire and reaching out to the greater Panhandle community, Red Carpet Community Theatre has entertained audiences for over fifty years.

With over 196 significant shows to its name, this performing arts theatre has cemented itself as a premier community theatre in the Texas Panhandle and nearby areas.

The theatre actively engages with its significant audience base, which continues to grow from year to year.

The cast reaches out to audiences from all across the state, often going beyond four to five different communities in any given production.

In addition to management’s ongoing efforts towards perfection, local corporate support and patron memberships add a beneficial boost.

These efforts help build this organization’s reputation with peers and audiences alike.

Explore the Old Town Museum

One of the best places for visitors to visit in Elk City is Old Town Museum.

Located in the quaint and historic town of Elk City, Oklahoma, the Old Town Museum preserves a vital piece of local history.

The museum provides a rich experience that makes you feel like a local from the moment you walk inside.

The rich history interspersed with multiple displays and items makes it a one-of-a-kind spot.

See what life in Elk City was like during its beginnings.

Strolling through Old Town Museum will treat you to depictions of early Oklahoma pioneer life in a room filled with nostalgia.

The lower level of this grand two-story Victorian house features early pioneer life, a Native American Gallery, Susan Powell Miss America 1981 displays, and Stars and Stripes Room.

At the top of the Old Town museum is a display dedicated to the old cowboy and rodeo way of life.

The world-renowned Beutler Brothers Rodeo Stock Producers donated most of the items displayed at the upper level.

Since 1929, they’ve produced award-winning rodeo stock through traditional and authentic methods that have stood the test of time.

Snap a Photo of the Centennial Lighthouse

Local architect Tommy Shaw designed the Elk City Centennial Lighthouse with stucco construction and a steel base.

A beacon from the structure shines a beam each dusk.

The fundraising for the Centennial Lighthouse began in 2005.

That year, the city government decided to start a project to celebrate Elk City’s (as well as Oklahoma’s) Centennial.

The city and chamber of commerce collaborated to raise more than $90,000 for the cannon relic restoration project.

It morphed into a tribute to the statehood of Oklahoma, which residents of Elk City helped bring about.

In 2007, they finished and unveiled the 42-foot-high Elk City Centennial Lighthouse.

Discover Early Farm and Ranch Life at Farm and Ranch Museum

Old windmills at Farm and Ranch Museum

steflas / Shutterstock.com

The Western Oklahoma Historical Society sponsors the Farm and Ranch Museum.

As you explore the vast grounds of this museum, you’ll find exhibits of various tools from early farm and ranch life.

See blacksmith shop tools like anvils and hammers.

In another exhibit, you can see windmill collections ranging from century-old handmade ones to the more modern turbines used on farms today.

Other highlights in the museum include antique tractors, carpentry tools, early farm pieces of machinery, and so much more.

Join the Elk City Fall Festival

Regarding monthly arts and events festivals, Elk City’s Fall Fest is a sure winner for families and fans of the season.

This festival is the place to find homemade crafts and pure local flavors, celebrating all things fall.

Likewise, this spectacular show draws avid artisans from far-reaching locations throughout Oklahoma.

Held every third weekend in September, the cool breeze brings comfort as you roam the festival grounds while enjoying a delicious selection of good food.

During autumn, the park fills with people seeking cozy outdoor shopping experiences.

Restaurants serve warm fall favorites like roasted turkey legs on a stick.

Customers can shop at boutique booths selling local treats and handmade goods along the boulevard.

Grab a Meal at Country Dove Gift and Tea Room

Country Dove Gift and Tea Room is not your average tea room.

Its wacky vintage interiors make it feel like something from a movie set.

This is not a road diner but rather a quaint tea house and bookstore/gift store located in a vintage building.

Like most restaurants in the Elk City area, Country Dove offers a wide selection of food and drinks.

Inside, there’s an eclectic gift shop selling literature and gifts with a distinctly Christian theme.

The menu consists mainly of salads, sandwiches, and soups, with one rotating special each day to keep things interesting.

The people at Country Dove are kind and welcoming, and this establishment is easy to find.

You’ll find it just north of I-40 on Route 66 in downtown Elk City.

Learn Transportation History at the National Transportation Museum

A train caboose on the grounds of National Transportation Museum

William Cushman / Shutterstock.com

The National Transportation Museum is a terrific destination for kids and adults who want to take a look at transportation history.

The garage building houses many great cars from the past, from carriages and steam engines to in-car smartphones.

Kids can learn about transportation’s history with an interesting short film shown in the Rex Theatre.

The Drive-In Theater is also a great place to visit because kids can watch some clips from old movie classics.

They can see films like The Blob, complete with drive-in speakers in 1959 Red Impala seats.

It’s great for people who want to learn about the evolution of transportation, both past and present, while doing something fun.

Join Moonlight Madness

Halloween is fun for the kids, but for some, it’s a time to dress up and have some fun with their furry friends.

The Elk City Retail District transforms into the Spookiest Place on Earth (at least in Oklahoma) when Moonlight Madness arrives.

It starts with a contest for children who come dressed as witches, werewolves, or other Halloween-themed characters.

Costume contests aren’t just for kids.

You can also bring your dog to strut their stuff at the Halloween costume contest.

Other events for the early evening include window decorating and face painting.

You can also look for a bake sale at Moonlight Madness in Elk City’s retail district.

Find an Eclectic Mix of Gift Items at WOHS Flea Market

You can go rummaging through vendor booths set up at Ackley Park during the annual Western Oklahoma Historical Society Flea Market.

You might find some wall art and home goods to purchase.

Browse countless merchandise to discover new things to add to your home decor.

Tons of people show up every day at Western Oklahoma Historical Society Flea Market and love everything it offers.

Some visitors come for the food and crafts, while others enjoy seeing the oddities from other vendors.

Each day is an entirely different experience, depending on who shows up.

Check Out the Elk City Motocross Track

Rated one of the most interesting off-road tracks in Oklahoma, the Elk City Motocross Track is a must-see for any motocross enthusiast.

Red Dirt MX is an exciting challenge through some of the finest trails for quads, motocross, and UTVs.

The track is on a picturesque property with rolling hills and woods.

The track comprises a series of jumps, berms, and whoops that challenge riders of all skill levels.

There is also a play area for kids and beginners to practice their skills.

The track is on South Merritt Road in Elk City.

Final Thoughts

Elk City’s got a lot to offer the intrepid adventurer.

From hiking and climbing to biking, rafting, and skiing, you’ll find it hard to discover something you can’t do in Elk City.

Of course, fantastic indoor entertainment options complement outdoor wonders for all seasons.

From art galleries and sports stadiums to science centers and museums, Elk City is a city bursting with fun things to do.

If you’re visiting for the first time, make your trip truly memorable by keeping this list of things to do in Elk City.

Book your trip today!

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