Grand Lake O' the Cherokees
A Grand Ol’ Time
Any trip to Grand Lake isn’t complete without a stop at some of its quaint, historical towns. And with local festivals and plenty of entertainment, you’ll be sure to have a good time.
BY
Annie Hildebrandt
PHOTOGRAPHY
Matt Kocourek

Miami
Pronounced my-am-uh, Miami draws many tourists to its 13-mile stretch of original Route 66 Ribbon Road. At the center of town lies the historic Coleman Theatre Beautiful. Since it opened April 18, 1929, the theater has never been “dark” — light shines inside at all hours. The theater is worth an estimated $8 million and hosts incredible productions from ballet to opera, while the Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum holds some famous Steve McQueen paraphernalia. Miami is also rich in Native American heritage and is home to nine tribes. The Dobson Museum houses many Native American and early pioneer artifacts.

Monkey Island, Horse Creek & West Grand
Monkey Island and its surrounding towns are known for their variety of accommodations and available activities from parasailing to horseback riding. Monkey Island itself is known as the hub of Grand Lake’s nightlife, and it boasts some of the lake’s best restaurants and shopping. Nearby Afton is home to Darryl Starbird’s National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Fame Museum, and a nine-mile stretch of the original Route 66 drive passes through town. The Bernice State Park, sometimes called the “the Crappie Capital of the World,” is known for its excellent fishing and is also just down the road.

Vinita
Vinita, well-known as the second-oldest town in Oklahoma and the birthplace of Dr. Phil McGraw, began its history with the Cherokee Nation and cattle ranchers and later flourished as Route 66 passed through town. Its historic downtown features quaint shops, and the town has homes dating back to pre-statehood. Each August, Vinita hosts the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo to honor the native Oklahoman. It is followed by “Big Country Weekend” and the World’s Largest Calf Fry Festival and Cook-Off. People turn out to enjoy the food, games, entertainment, arts and crafts, bull-riding competitions and nearly 2,000 pounds of calf fries. Just outside of town sits Summerside Vineyards and Winery, one of Oklahoma’s best-known vineyards, which provides wine tastings daily. The Civil War Battle of Cabin Creek is reenacted locally every three years; the next performance is set for September 2010.

South Grand & Duck Creek
The areas around South Grand are known for their luxury and are home to several private yacht clubs. The area is also popular as a rock crawlin’ hot spot and offers challenging terrain for those with all-terrain vehicles. The local Picture in Scripture, located in Disney, has been nominated as one of North America’s top 100 attractions by the American Bus Association for its epic outdoor productions of biblical stories. Duck Creek puts on a Fourth of July Fireworks production, attracting thousands of people to the south end of the lake. Tours of the Pensacola Dam are available, and the region also features the Okie Twistoff, an aerobatic competition, and the National Hot-N-Cookoff, where 1,000 pounds of catfish are cooked.

Jay & East Grand
Jay was first settled by the Cherokees following the Trail of Tears. The Delaware County Historical Society and Mariee Wallace Museum house artifacts and exhibits from all over the country, commemorating pioneers and the American Indians who traveled along the Trail of Tears. Every April, the Gigging Tournament celebrates the Cherokee tradition of “gigging,” or spearing, fish. The town is also home to the Inter-Tribal Youth Council Powwow. As Jay is the Huckleberry Capital of the World, the town holds a huckleberry festival each July.

Grove
Grove is the largest city on Grand Lake’s shores and has a thriving downtown that offers shops, art galleries, coffee houses and restaurants. Just outside of town, Har-Ber Village, one of the largest antique museums in the country, comprises more than 100 buildings and collections, including a one-room schoolhouse, historic church and 1800s cabin. Lendonwood Gardens, a public botanical garden, is another main attraction open year-round during daylight hours. Visitors are often interested in taking a ride on the Cherokee Queen River Boat, assembled and launched in 1945, as well.

Cowskin
Cowskin took its name from a tannery built there by the Seneca tribe in the 1800s. The small town is home to cottages, resorts and camping facilities. Nearby is the Cayuga Mission Church, completed in 1896 by prominent Native American Mathias Splitlog. The building is made of locally hewn limestone and features hand-carved imported wood.