Duncan Lake combines 550 acres of water with a four-mile shoreline. Swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, sailing and skiing are possible at the lake; local rules may affect some activities. For lakeside stays, there are tent sites and RV sites with electrical hookups, dump stations, showers, a picnic area and pavilion. Since facility availability may change, check before your trip.
Lake Humphreys also combines fishing with wildlife viewing: it is listed as one of Oklahoma’s 40 best fishing lakes, and wildlife photography opportunities include deer, turkeys, birds and waterfowl. Its shoreline is 17 miles long, and it has 44 paved RV sites with hookups. Hunting, fishing and bowfishing are also among the activities available there. Lake J.W. Taylor lies nine miles north of Marlow and has seven miles of shoreline; you can fish there for saugeye, river bass and carp. Lake Fuqua, in turn, has 1,500 acres of recreational area and an 18-mile shoreline. A floating fishing dock and two boat ramps add to the opportunities at the lake; check facility conditions before your visit.
Trails for Hiking and Horseback Riding
Duncan Lake Equestrian Park offers a different view of the landscape: it sits on about 900 wooded acres and has 12 to 15 miles of marked trails through rolling terrain. They are described as suitable for riders of intermediate or easy difficulty. The Heritage Trails in Duncan offer a contrast: covering 3.2 miles in total, they connect parks and community facilities. The trails are fully ADA-accessible and wide enough for walkers, joggers, wheelchairs and bicycles. This lets you think of a ride on marked trails and a walk between public places as different ways of getting around.
History also unfolds along the trails: the Crapemyrtle Trail crosses the Chisholm Trail in Duncan. The Main Street Duncan Historic Stepping Stone Trail tells Duncan’s story, from the Chisholm Trail to the present, through stones set into the sidewalk. Duncan was officially designated the “Crapemyrtle Capital of Oklahoma” on February 27, 2008. The Chisholm Trail itself was established after the Civil War and ran through Stephens County.
History to See and Experience
At the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, historical themes meet interactive exhibits. The Chisholm Trail Experience Theater features staged thunderstorm and longhorn stampede effects. The Campfire Theater explains the origin of the trail’s name with animated characters Jesse Chisholm and Tex. Visitors can also try roping a longhorn on a life-size horse model. Check current operating details and interactive exhibit availability before your arrival.
The Stephens County Historical Museum in Duncan depicts life in an early town through recreated scenes of a one-room schoolhouse, a church and the offices of a pioneer doctor, dentist and lawyer; early homes and shops are also represented. Oil-related exhibits and materials on county history, including information about Halliburton Energy Services, expand on the theme. The “Rhythm & Routes” exhibit features members of the Oklahoma Music Trail. The Foreman Prairie House offers an architectural contrast: the two-story brick Prairie-style house dates to 1918 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In Duncan’s Fuqua Park, the Rock Island 905 Museum & Travel Center includes the old Rock Island steam locomotive No. 905 and a museum in a replica of an 1892 railroad depot. Exhibits include dispatcher phones and a dispatcher’s desk used for railroad communications; the depot also features G-scale model trains and other model railroad exhibits. Access is subject to posted hours. In Marlow, the Marlow Area Museum at the Marlow Mercantile covers the region’s history of outlaws, pioneers and the Chisholm Trail’s route through Marlow. It also displays items associated with the three Marlow brothers and their family, including the family’s original gravestones. At Redbud Park in Marlow, you’ll find the Creekwalk Trail and the historic Redbud Chapel.
Art, Stage and Events
For visual art, CTAC Art Gallery displays and sells works by local and out-of-town artists in a range of media. CTAC Live has a different focus: the series offers concerts across a variety of musical genres and performing arts programs. Since artists and dates can change, check the latest event schedule if you’re planning your visit around a performance.
In Duncan, the Jack A. Maurer Convention Center & Theatre at the Simmons Center seats 750 and hosts musical and theatrical performances. Duncan Little Theatre stages plays, musicals, dinner theater, children’s programs and melodramas throughout the year. The Stephens County Free Fair has been held annually in Duncan since 1907. Its format includes a rodeo, arts and crafts, live entertainment and a carnival with rides; the program may vary from year to year.
Seasonal attractions also shape the area’s offerings: Fuqua Park has a seasonal amusement park with a Tilt-A-Whirl and miniature train rides. Kiddieland Park includes a small park train and a Tilt-A-Whirl ride; check operating details before visiting. The Palace Theatre is located in historic downtown Duncan and offers movie screenings. Call for current showtimes. If you’d rather get active yourself, Duncan Golf & Tennis Club has a driving range, a putting green, and tennis and pickleball courts. Territory Golf Facilities also includes an 18-hole championship course.
Explore more destinations: Duncan, Comanche, Washita County, Choctaw, Mayes County, Rogers County, Murray County and Mccurtain County.
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