Two distinct themes shape travel planning in Cotton County: the water and wetland landscape of Waurika WMA, and railroad history and collections in several towns. If you’re looking for a vacation rental for your stay, you can choose your focus based on whether you’re more interested in scenery, birdwatching, and hiking, or in historic buildings and museums. The details below offer specific points to consider.
Waurika WMA and the Lakeside Landscape
Waurika WMA covers 10,580 acres in Cotton and Stephens Counties. It includes the floodplains of the main tributaries to Waurika Lake, as well as adjoining upland areas. Birdwatchers and hikers use the area. Within the WMA are 440 acres of wetland units south of Highway 53, adjoining Big Beaver Creek, Little Beaver Creek, and Walker Creek. The 440 acres therefore refer to a particular landscape area within the WMA, not its total area.
At Waurika Lake, there are campgrounds managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with full RV hookups and boat ramps. For travelers with an RV, this is a specific option for a stay by the lake; check availability in advance. Fishing is available at Dave Boyer Lake. The Beaver Creek Trailhead is at the south end of Moneka North Campground. Together, these details point to different nature and water-related attractions, but they do not describe the same activity or location.
Walters: Park, Recreation, and Historic Buildings
Sultan Park is about a mile north of Walters and features a waterfall. Reservations can be made at Walters Swimming Pool for pool parties; if you’re planning one, check availability in advance. Lighting has been installed along the walking track in Walters. These three details offer different starting points for planning recreational activities: the park, pool, and walking track are separate places or amenities.
Walters’ history is also reflected in specific buildings. Walters Rock Island Depot was built in 1920 and is an outstanding example of a brick and stucco Rock Island railroad depot. The Cotton County Courthouse in Walters has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1984; First United Methodist Church was listed in 1983. The Cotton County Museum displays artifacts from the local community, including a wood-burning cookstove, typewriters, and pianos.
Museums, Railroad History, and Events
In Temple, the Temple History Museum displays artifacts from the town’s history; some date back to the 1889 Land Run. A separate exhibit is dedicated to the B&O Cash Store. Railroad history connects several place names, but in different ways: the Enid and Anadarko Railway built a line from Lawton to Waurika that ran through Walters and Temple. The Wichita Falls and Northwestern Railway helped establish Devol in 1907, when it built tracks through the area.
Randlett is the only one of the original settlements that remains incorporated. Nearby, the Cornelius Homestead received recognition as an Oklahoma Centennial Farm. These two details offer a different perspective from the railroad history: they concern the development of communities and a farm award, not museum collections or architecture.
The Comanche Nation Homecoming Powwow features traditional Indigenous dancers in full ceremonial attire, as well as food vendors. A local report from July 2025 described the Walters Round-Up Club Rodeo as its 63rd edition. If you’re planning to attend a powwow or rodeo during your trip, check the current dates in advance.
Explore more destinations: Devol, Randlett, Lincoln County, Ottawa, Okfuskee County, Le Flore, Pottawatomie County, Latimer County.
View the broader travel guide: Oklahoma.
