Heavener Runestone Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heavener Runestone Park |
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 Heavener Runestone Park
Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nearest city | Heavener, OK |
| Area | 55 acres (22 ha) |
| Established | 1970 |
| Governing body | City of Heavener, Oklahoma |
Heavener Runestone Park is a cool place to visit in Le Flore County, Oklahoma. It's a park that covers about 55 acres (which is like 40 football fields!). You can find it close to the town of Heavener, Oklahoma. This park used to be run by the state of Oklahoma. But in 2011, the City of Heavener took over. Now, a group of volunteers called the Friends of Heavener Runestone helps keep the park awesome. They even hold a festival twice a year to raise money for the park!
The park first opened in 1970. It was created to protect a special rock called the Heavener Runestone. This big stone was found in 1923. Many people think it might have been carved a long time ago, maybe even by a Swedish immigrant in the 1800s. The mysterious stone sits on Poteau Mountain, just outside the town.
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How the Park Changed Hands
In March 2011, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department said they would close Heavener Runestone State Park. This was because of money problems. But the City of Heavener stepped in and agreed to take care of the park. They officially took over on July 1, 2011. Now, a group of dedicated volunteers manages the park. They are a non-profit organization, which means they use all the money they make to help the park.
What Can You Do at Heavener Park?
Heavener Park has lots of fun things for you to do!
- You can have a picnic at one of the picnic tables.
- There are outdoor grills if you want to cook.
- You can go primitive camping and even use showers.
- There's an amphitheater for shows or events.
- Kids can play at the playground.
- You can go hiking and explore the area.
- The park also offers educational programs about the famous Runestone.
- You can even rent parts of the park for special events like parties or family reunions!
Unlocking the Runestone's Secrets
A professor named Henrik Williams from Uppsala University in Sweden has studied the Heavener Runestone. He looks at old stones like this all over the world. He says the Heavener stone is a very interesting runic monument. It's really big, about 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide! The eight symbols carved into it seem to spell "GNOMEDAL" or "GNLOMEDAL." Professor Williams thinks this might mean "Little Valley."
Some local stories say the stone is very, very old, from the Viking Age. But Professor Williams believes it's probably not that old. He points out that there's no proof Europeans were in Oklahoma during the Viking era (which was from about 750 to 1000 A.D.). The symbols on the stone are from an older writing system called Elder Futhark, used between 100 and 700 A.D. Also, you can still see tool marks on the stone. If it were from the Viking Age, these marks would have worn away by now. So, the stone is still a bit of a mystery!
Join the Runestone Festival Fun!
Since 2011, Heavener Runestone Park has hosted the annual Heavener Runestone Festival. This exciting event actually happens on two weekends every year! It's a big fundraiser to help support the park.
At the festival, you can enjoy:
- Live Celtic and folk music.
- Cool sword-fighting shows.
- Lots of different merchant booths to explore.
- Fun games for everyone.
- A hike to see the real Runestone up close.
- Overnight camping if you want to stay longer.
Many of the people working at the festival, and even some visitors, dress up in costumes. It's a great way to have fun and help keep this special park open for everyone!
