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Turner Falls is as dazzling as it is interesting.
I’m fascinated by all things historical and since Turner
Falls was the first state park in Oklahoma, I was under-
standably intrigued. When I saw its castle, I was fasci-
nated.
The park features a cascading waterfall and where
we camped you could see the waterfall from the back
window of our camper and hear the water babbling from
there — very soothing.
Park History
Turner Falls Park is the oldest park in Oklahoma and is
named for Mazeppa Thomas Turner, who was a native of
Virginia and married a member of the Chickasaw named
Laura Johnson. He then became a farmer in Murray
County and in 1878, he and is wife settled in a cabin
along Honey Creek. Turner discovered the nearby water-
fall, which earned his name. The recreational area came
under the ownership of the city of Davis in 1919. Davis
operated the park until 1950, and then leased it out until
1978, when they resumed management of the area. Davis
purchased 370 acres for the park from the Turner family
in 1925, paying a reported sum of $17,000.
About the Castle
The castle was built in the 1930s and became part of the
estate of the late Ellsworth Collings – an author who was
also dean of the education department at the University
of Oklahoma for nearly 20 years.
A lookout spot on top of the mountain provides a
spectacular view of both the castle and the falls.
Things To Do
Explore! The 1500-acre area around the falls provides
an interesting and fun place to hike, but some trails can
be challenging and unless you’re in great shape, you
should be very careful not to take on some of the steeper
trails. Be sure you have ample water with you. It’s easy to
become dehydrated when scaling the steeper trails.
In the warmer months, this is a popular swimming
spot. I wouldn’t attempt to come to Turner Falls during
the tourist season. It can be extremely crowded and the
RV spots can be pretty cramped. But, I think that the
scenery makes it worth the trip, provided you don’t go
during spring break or over the 4 th of July Weekend.
The park has garnered national attention and serves
as a classroom for naturalists. It is a must see for anyone
with a passion for exploration and a favorite among shut-
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