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Music Venues, Museums and Art Collections Dot Stillwater’s Cultural Landscape
With country music legend Garth Brooks as its most notable ambassador, Stillwater’s legendary Red Dirt genre of music continues to influence performers around the world. But there’s a lot more than music to Stillwater, which boasts a thriving arts community complete with theater, museums and more.
Red Dirt, loosely defined by a new generation of outlaw country music with a focus on songwriting, traces its roots throughout a long musical heritage of Stillwater. Brooks... Read More »
Stillwater Restaurants Serve Delicious, Diverse Foods
The food choices in a college town often are limited to burgers with or without cheese, but that’s not the case in Stillwater by a long shot.
Hungry Oklahoma State University students and Stillwater residents alike take care of their pizza cravings at The Hideaway, which has been around since 1957, and Mazzio’s, a newer entry on the pie scene. The Hideaway is famous for its stone hearth-baked pizzas, including The Pizza of the Gods, a veggie pie made with... Read More »
Stillwater Recreation Includes Fishing, Motocross, Golf, Parks, More
From boating to riding dirt bikes, there is plenty of full-throttle fun to be had in Stillwater. The vibrant recreation scene includes fishing, motocross racing, golfing and activities especially for seniors.
Lakes and Water Recreation
Stillwater may not be widely known as a fisherman’s paradise, but don’t count on local anglers to get the word out — they want to keep a good thing to themselves.
Boomer, McMurtry and Carl Blackwell lakes draw fishermen... Read More »
Stillwater, OK Courses Keep Golfers on Their Tees
The Stillwater club scene is in full swing these days with five nice golf courses located within the city itself, plus two others in neighboring communities. Here is some background and interesting points:
Karsten Creek Golf Club
Renowned golf course designer Tom Fazio put this 18-hole layout together and in 1994 it was named “Best New Course in the U.S.” by Golf Digest. Today, Karsten Creek is a public venue and is home to the Oklahoma State men's and women's golf programs.... Read More »
Sheerar and Washington Irving Trail Museums Preserve the Past
The Sheerar and the Washington Irving Trail museums both offer a detailed look at Oklahoma history with a focus on Payne County.
Located on South Duncan Street, The Sheerar Museum is named after an OSU engineering professor who decided to put his mother’s impressive button collection on display. The 3,450 buttons, dated from the 1740s to the 1930s, are still here, but the museum has expanded well beyond that initial idea.
In 1989, the museum became the official Stillwater History Museum,... Read More »
Town and Gown Theatre Has Long History in Stillwater
Stillwater’s Town and Gown Theatre has come a long way from its first production in OSU’s ballroom, but it’s never ventured very far from its roots.
The 57-year-old community theater, whose name is a play on the old “locals vs. campus” cultural battleground, has become an entertainment mainstay not only because of its age, but because of its open-door policy when it comes to getting involved.
“We exist, basically, to educate people about theater by using not just the shows, but classes and... Read More »
Football Fans Love OSU's Boone Pickens Stadium
Building a strong college sports tradition takes passion, experience, and sometimes, brick and mortar.
That's the case in Stillwater, where Oklahoma State University Cowboy football inspires excitement and loyalty and creates a sea of orange and black on game days.
A long-time fixture in the Big 12 Conference’s South Division, OSU’s 48 team national titles puts it behind only Stanford, USC and UCLA on the all-time title list. From football to soccer, baseball to golf, OSU sports represent a... Read More »
Cool Things About Stillwater, Oklahoma
The Land Where Oklahoma Began
Founded in 1889, Stillwater was the first settlement among many that occurred during the first land run into the Unassigned Lands, which were the lands ceded to the United States by the Creek and Seminole Indians following the Civil War. The Indian Appropriations Bill of 1889 opened the land for settlement. On April 22 of that year, tens of thousands of people poured into the area and had created towns by nightfall. The Organic Act of 1890 created the Oklahoma... Read More »
Stillwater Pet Owners Close To Many Vets, Supplies and More
Residents with dogs, cats, horses and exotic pets alike have many resources to keep their animals healthy, even pampered, in Stillwater. For pet food and other supplies, many shop at the local Petco on North Perkins Road, which also offers vaccinations, full-service grooming and dog training. There are several veterinary offices from which to choose, ranging from full-service offices for all types of pets, such as Baker Animal Clinic, to specialists such as The Cat Clinic of Stillwater, to... Read More »
Stillwater, OK Music Scene Has Red Dirt Roots
Memphis has the blues and Detroit has Motown, but Stillwater is known as the home of Red Dirt music, a genre as varied as the people who try to define it.
“Red Dirt music has more of a focus on songwriting with an outlaw-country sound behind it,” says Jared Cranke, publisher of the monthly Stillwater Scene magazine. “The sound has dominated the music scene in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma for years, especially as local bands including Cross Canadian Ragweed and Jason Boland & The Stragglers... Read More »
Woodland Park Vineyards and Winery Produces Oklahoma Vintages
Down a country road on the edge of Stillwater, a 66-acre farm is home to a myriad of treasures, including wine.
Woodland Park Vineyards and Winery is an elegant scenic destination, offering a relaxing experience featuring antiques, art, food and wine. Picnic areas are surrounded with perennial flowers, rose and herb gardens.
“People come here to enjoy the scenery and the quiet,” says Jeanette Hane, who owns the vineyard with her husband Ivol.
Long involved in farming, the... Read More »
Stillwater's Fitness Scene Runs Strong
A spring morning in Stillwater saw both a 5-year-old girl and a woman in her mid-80s behind a walker both take to the running track – just two of the nearly 1,200 runners and walkers who participated in the annual Remember the 10 Run at Oklahoma State University.
The wide age range isn’t unusual for a race in a community that encourages everyone to get out and get moving – and gives them plenty of opportunities. From fun runs to full marathons, Stillwater residents of all skill levels have many... Read More »
Eskimo Joe's Is a Stillwater, OK, Institution
In the college town of Stillwater, even the sports bars have degrees.
Like local legend Eskimo Joe's, which has been summa cum laude on lists including Sports Illustrated's "Perfect 10 College Sports Bars" Sporting News' "Best College Post-Game Hangout" and Playboy.com's Top 10 College Sports Bars and even got a presidential shout-out from George H.W. Bush.
Located a block east of Oklahoma State University's campus, Eskimo Joe's is famous for its fresh-cut cheese fries (the kitchen uses more... Read More »
Stillwater Lakes Include McMurtry, Carl Blackwell, Boomer
If your image of Oklahoma is tied to John Steinbeck and the legendary dust bowl, think again. Here, still waters run deep and wide.
“A large part of the state is heavily forested, with lots of lakes,” says John McClenny, director of parks and recreation for the city of Stillwater. “Three of ours are quite nice.”
Stillwater has three prominent lakes: Lake McMurtry, Lake Carl Blackwell and Boomer Lake.
Lake McMurtry
Lake McMurtry is the crown jewel, offering fishing, boating, skiing and other... Read More »
Activity Center Engages Stillwater Seniors
From board games to video games, plenty of fun happenings are on the roster at the Stillwater Senior Activity Center.
Any citizen aged 55 and older is welcome to use the spacious facility for free. The center on East 12th Street has been open for more than 30 years and underwent extensive renovation in 2006. It’s open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“We offer the usual activities such as ceramic classes, card playing and exercise courses... Read More »
Spend a Weekend in Stillwater
The thriving, family-friendly city of Stillwater boasts great neighborhoods, top-notch schools, low crime, low cost of living and a myriad of recreational and cultural offerings that draw visitors and new residents alike. Home to Oklahoma State University, Stillwater pulsates with the youthful energy of a college town, while its world-class golf courses make it equally attractive to retirees.
The list of accolades for this modern metropolis with old-fashioned warmth and values includes a... Read More »
Stillwater Emerges as Extreme Sports Destination
K.C. Andrews remembers zipping around his backyard on a dirt bike almost before he learned how to walk.
Twenty years later, when Andrews had the unexpected chance to snap up a 60-acre Stillwater property full of rugged hills and classic Oklahoma red dirt, he knew exactly what to do with it.
Today, the property is home to Area 51 Motocross Park, which attracts thousands of visitors from Stillwater and beyond each year who are passionate about the growing sport of motocross racing and... Read More »
Stillwater Community Center Hosts Theater, Concerts, Ballet and More
It’s all a big act at the Stillwater Community Center.
The center is home to several arts organizations, including the Stillwater Community Band, Stillwater Jazz and the Stillwater Community Singers. The facility has an on-site Winfrey D. Houston Theater that is ideal for live drama, dance performances, recitals and concerts.
Recent acts that have played the Stillwater Community Center include the Chinese Golden Acrobats, the Missoula Children’s Theatre and a stage performance of the classic... Read More »
Stillwater, OK Offers an Extreme Staycation
You may not expect a little town in Oklahoma to be labeled extreme, but Stillwater, OK is full of surprises – even for those who have lived there for years. Surprise number one is Area 51 Motocross Park, a 60-acre park located in Stillwater and devoted to racing. Due to its success, multiple retailers have opened in the area to cater to the sport lovers, making Stillwater a top motocross destination spot. Those that would rather the outdoors without the risk can try a tour... Read More »
Year-Round Farmers' Market Features Fresh Produce
Don’t forget peppers shoppers can purchase anything from shiitake mushrooms to kohlrabi – as well as dozens of other traditional fruits and vegetables – at the Stillwater Farmer’s Market. And the market actually operates at two different sites.
From April 1 through Oct. 31, the outdoor market is open to customers on North Main Street. Then, from Nov. 1 through March 31, everything moves indoors to its location on West Ninth Avenue.
The year-round market features locally grown produce along with... Read More »
Kids Keep Active Here
What’s a kid to do for fun in Stillwater? There are plenty of choices.
Children (and their parents) have a variety of entertainment options throughout the city. For example, the Stillwater Parks, Events & Recreation Department has plenty of offerings for youngsters, while the Kid’s Fitness Zone has indoor rock climbing, in-ground trampolines, balance beams and more for the physically active child.
Meanwhile, Pistol Pete’s Pursuit is a self-guided scavenger hunt that takes young people... Read More »
Shopping in Stillwater, OK
Stillwater, OK has a variety of shopping destinations to choose from. Below is a listing of some of the stores available here.
Appliances
AMERICA'S HOMETOWN BRAND CTR, 2323 W 7TH PL., (405) 624-2828
AMERICAN APPLIANCE CO, 817 E 6TH AVE., (405) 624-3060
HOMETOWN BRAND CTR, 610 N MAIN ST., (405) 624-1400
Book Dealers
COWBOY BOOK, 520 W ELM AVE., (405) 743-1383
HALL OF FAME BOOK TRADER, 120 W HALL OF FAME AVE., (405) 624-0800
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY, 104 STUDENT UN, (405) 744-5237
RACK EM... Read More »
