Thackerville, beyond the casino
Thackerville is a small town with a very large casino in it, and most visitors never see past the parking garage. That's a shame, because Southern Oklahoma is genuinely pretty and the Red River valley has more going on than people expect. This is the local guide — the things we tell guests who've done WinStar and want to see something else. Restaurants are in their own guide; this is everything else.
The obvious one
WinStar World Casino & Resort is the largest casino in the world, with nine themed gaming plazas, Lucas Oil Live, two golf courses and a spa. Our homes are two to four minutes from it, most under a mile. We've written it up properly in All You Can Do at WinStar.
Turner Falls Park — about 45 minutes
Oklahoma's oldest park, built around a 77-foot waterfall with natural swimming holes below it, caves, and hiking trails. In summer it's a full day: swim, hike, picnic. In cooler months it's a quieter, better walk. This is the day trip we recommend most for families, and it's the one guests photograph.
Lake Murray State Park — about 30 minutes
One of the clearest lakes in the state. The marina rents pontoons and jet skis; Tucker Tower has the view over the water that ends up on postcards. If your group is split between people who want the casino and people who want a lake, this is how you keep both happy on the same weekend.
The Red River
Minutes from the houses, and the border with Texas. Striper fishing is the draw for people who fish. For everyone else it's the reason the light here looks the way it does in the evening.
Gainesville, Texas — a short drive south
Cross the river and you're in Gainesville, which has a proper downtown — boutiques, antiques, coffee, the kind of main street that's worth an afternoon. We keep a separate day guide to Gainesville. The Red River wine trail starts around here too.
The thing about staying here
Every one of these is a day trip, and every day trip ends with coming back. A hotel room above a casino floor is a strange place to come back to after a waterfall. Our homes are on quiet residential streets — three bedrooms, sleeps eight, two full bathrooms with double sinks, a kitchen for the post-lake dinner, and a firepit in the backyard for after.
Hunter's Lodge, with its antler chandelier and long farmhouse table, is the one that fits an outdoors weekend. Lucky Cowboy Lodge is the easy, low-key one. Group Ready is the one everybody's comfortable in.
Door-code check-in, so getting back from Turner Falls at 7 with wet kids and no key isn't a problem. Free parking. Two minutes from the casino when you want it, and a porch when you don't.
Before you drive
Park hours and marina rentals are seasonal. Check the Oklahoma State Parks site for Turner Falls and Lake Murray before you go — we've left specific hours out on purpose so this page doesn't send you to a closed gate.