Osage Hills State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Osage Hills State Park
Sand Creek in Osage Hills State Park
Osage Hills State Park Location in Oklahoma
Location	Osage County, Oklahoma, United States
Nearest city	Bartlesville, OK
Area	1,100 acres (450 ha)
Established	1935
Governing body	Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department

Osage Hills State Park is a beautiful 1,100-acre (4.5 km2) state park located in eastern Osage County, Oklahoma. It's near the cities of Pawhuska and Bartlesville. This park is a great place for outdoor adventures! You can go camping, hiking, fishing, and even watch for amazing wildlife. The park has picnic areas, places for RVs and tents, and cozy cabins. Many of the park's buildings are historic. They were built a long time ago by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Park History and Buildings

Osage Hills State Park is one of the first seven parks built in Oklahoma. It was constructed by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a special program during the 1930s and 1940s. Young men worked on projects like building parks and roads.

Building the Park

Construction on Osage Hills State Park began in 1935. The CCC workers lived at the north end of the park while they built it. You can still see parts of their old living area, like concrete foundations and a lone chimney. The workers used local stone and timber to build the park's structures. Their designs were natural, fitting in with the environment. This style is sometimes called "parkitecture."

Historic Structures

Eight guest cabins built by the CCC are still used today. They look the same on the outside as they did when they were first built. But inside, they have been updated with modern appliances and air conditioning. The park also has a large picnic shelter. This building is great for big groups. It has a kitchen, a large dining area, and two stone fireplaces.

Fun Activities and Wildlife

Osage Hills State Park offers many ways to enjoy the outdoors. It's a fantastic place for fishing, hiking, and spotting animals.

Fishing and Hiking

You can find lots of fish in Lookout Lake. Anglers often catch bass, crappie, catfish, and perch. Sand Creek, at the south end of the park, is also a good spot for fishing. The park has many miles of hiking trails. Some paths are easy for beginners, while others are more challenging.

Wildlife Watching

The park is home to many different animals. You might see whitetail deer walking through the trees. Wild turkeys are also common. If you're lucky, you might even spot a bobcat or a raccoon.

Other Facilities

Besides trails and fishing spots, the park has a swimming pool. It's a great place to cool off on a hot day. There are also areas for camping. You can set up a tent or park your recreational vehicle (RV).

Park Entrance Fees

To help keep the park beautiful and make improvements, there is a small entrance fee. This fee started on June 15, 2020. It helps fund important work like fixing things and upgrading facilities. The fees are usually charged per vehicle. There are different prices for a single day, or for passes that last three days, a week, or even a whole year. Veterans and Oklahoma residents aged 62 and older can enter for free.

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  Picnic shelter made by the Civilian Conservation Corps in Osage Hills State Park