Pawhuska

Get a taste of the Old West — as well as some of the best cooking in the state — in Pawhuska. On the outskirts of town, visitors will find the 40,000-acre Tallgrass Prairie Preserve where you can take a leisurely drive along a 50-mile route. Known as the last protected tallgrass prairie in the world, this preserve is also home to one of the largest bison herds in the country. Board a wagon at the nearby Old West Buffalo Company and embark on an adventure where you can get up close and personal while feeding a bison herd.

Pawhuska is known far and wide as the home of Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond. Not only can visitors enjoy a meal and shopping excursion inside The Mercantile, but they can also tour the lodge where filming is held, pick up goodies at Charlie’s Sweet Shop and even stay overnight at the Pioneer Woman’s gorgeously renovated Boarding House.

For those fond of Native American history, a visit to the Osage Nation Museum is a must. Officially founded in 1938, it is the oldest tribally-owned museum in the country. Another Pawhuska attraction with a long history is Osage Hills State Park, one of Oklahoma’s original seven state parks. Fishing, hiking and camping are popular at the park, which also offers native stone cabins built by the CCC in the 1930s.

Plan your visit to Pawhuska in June for the annual Cattlemen’s Convention or July for Cavalcade, both of which are packed with cowboy-themed events, or come the first Saturday in October for the National Indian Taco Championship where you can also enjoy Native American dance demonstrations. Any time of year, you're sure to find treasures in the unique boutiques and antique stores of Pawhuska as well as interesting attractions and abundant outdoor recreation.