Medicine Park the cobblestone coolest small community in Oklahoma

MEDICINE PARK — Sure, most of Southwest Oklahoma knows that Medicine Park is about as cool as it gets. It’s an open secret.

Now, a leading magazine for travel in the United States has recognized it as the coolest small community in Oklahoma.

Fifty Grande, a magazine geared towards everything travel-related in the nation, recently released its list for each state and identified the cobblestone community at the entry to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is as cool as it gets. Citing its arts and culture and rich sense of community to its historical significance and natural beauty, this little treasure was noted for being big in character.

With its cobblestone construction, Medicine Park is one of the nation’s rare throwbacks to the Old World. It’s also home to a rich culture that goes back to the Old West as part of the winter homelands of the Comanche Nation.

Known as Oklahoma’s first resort town, it originally gained acclaim for the healing properties of Medicine Creek which runs through the town center. Its reputation has grown as a little getaway with shops, independent restaurants, and bed and breakfasts and as home to several music and arts festivals that draw thousands each year.

Now retired from that post, Dwight Cope served as Medicine Park’s mayor for many years. With the establishment of the Mayor’s Blues Ball on Labor Day weekend 17 years ago, he helped begin a feature that fits the community as the definition of “cool” to a T. He said there’s many more reasons Medicine Park is a special place filled with special folks.

“It’s always had that vibe, I think,” he said. “Of course, the scenic beauty and naturalness of it all, it’s always had a laid-back vibe.”

Learning of the magazine’s honorarium, Cope offered the sense of humor found in so many in town.

“That’s cool,” he said. “They just heard I was here.”

After laughing for a moment, Cope said, the draw is the proximity of the 59,000 acre wildlife refuge and surrounding nature allows for visitors to enjoy getting out and hiking and kayaking, for example. Joined with the historic connections and creativity that abounds, he said the magazine made the right choice.

“There’s a lot of cool surroundings and the environment,” he said. “Of course, the music has now become kind of second nature besides the festivals with so many places having performers.”

Gary Gregory from the Discover Medicine Park Facebook group, calls Medicine Park a “hidden jewel.” He concurs with Cope’s comments about the community’s cool factor.

“Those who are fortunate enough to discover this unique place enjoy live music playing in an assortment of fine restaurants and bars; free festivals happen on most holidays,” he said. “Picturesque cabins and cozy rentals dot the streets and mountainsides.”

Musician and avid mountain biker Rodney Whaley said Medicine Park has become “home” to him and many others.

“For so many others as well as myself, our roots are penetrating the granite and reaching the waters to become firmly planted in this tiny unique community,” he said. “It is the essence of a community. We are proudly shaded and protected by the Wichita mountains.”

With 25 miles of trails in town for hikers and mountain bikers, Gregory said motion is encouraged. Motorcyclists and car enthusiasts flock in for the weekends, events and, often, just to pass through and imbibe its spirit for a moment. It mimics the ever flowing creek through town.

In those waters, from Bath Lake’s swimming area to the stocked fishing lanes full of bluegill, bass, catfish, and winter trout, a rainbow of life bubbles within. It mimics the beauty of the people who come into the city limits, according to Gregory.

“This is one town in America where people of every hue and fashion come to enjoy each other and experience the beauty of the town in peace together,” he said.

Whaley said it’s the Medicine Park spirit resides in its people. Not only its residents, but the business owners, employees and multitudes of visitors.

“You can hear it in the live music that echos off of the rocks at night and the silence in the calm mornings,” he said. “You can see it in smiles on faces. It’s proven by the wildlife that comfortably roam through town. It’s special. It’s family. It’s Home.”

Diversity is not only accepted but encouraged and possibly a source of our strength, according to Whaley.

“You aren’t just friends with your neighbors,” he said, “your neighbors are your friends.”

That’s the Medicine Park way and that’s why it’s cool.