Robbers Cave State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robbers Cave State Park |
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Hiking Trailhead at Robbers Cave State Park
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 Robbers Cave State Park
Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | Latimer County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Area | 12.884375 sq mi (33.37038 km2) |
| Established | 1929 |
| Website | http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.6415 |
Robbers Cave State Park is a super fun state park in Latimer County, Oklahoma. You can find it about 5 miles (8 km) north of Wilburton, Oklahoma. It used to be called Latimer State Park, but it got its new name in 1936. This park is in the beautiful, hilly Sans Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma.
The park is a favorite spot for people who love outdoor adventures. It's great for rappelling (climbing down cliffs), horseback riding, and hiking. The park and the nearby wildlife area cover more than 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) and have three lakes. Visitors can enjoy fishing for trout, boating, and mountain biking. There are also trails for hikers and horses. You can even climb and rappel on the sandstone cliffs. In the fall, the colorful leaves are amazing to see! Robbers Cave is also famous because outlaws like Belle Starr and Jesse James used to hide there.
Contents
Park History: A Look Back
Ancient Hunting Grounds
The land where Robbers Cave State Park is now has been a hunting area for hundreds of years. Scientists have found clues that show the first people here were like those who built the Spiro Mounds. By the 1600s, the Osage and Caddo tribes lived in this area. French hunters and explorers also visited. They gave names to some of the important places, and we still use those names today.
In 1850, the Robbers Cave area became part of Sans Bois County. This county was a section of the Choctaw Nation.
Outlaws and Hideouts
After the American Civil War, this area became famous for hiding people who were running from the law. Some of these well-known outlaws included Jesse James and Belle Starr. Other groups like the Dalton Gang, the Youngers, and the Rufus Buck Gang also found shelter here.
How the Park Began
In 1929, a man named Carlton Weaver, who was an editor and politician from Wilburton, gave 120 acres (49 ha) of land near Robbers Cave to the Boy Scouts of America. They wanted to build a campground there. The warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary helped out. He arranged for skilled prison inmates to build things for the camp. They used rocks from a nearby quarry to build a kitchen and other buildings.
The new camp was named Camp Tom Hale. It was named after a man from McAlester who supported the Boy Scouts. This camp was next to a piece of land that Carlton Weaver had rented to create a game preserve. Later, Weaver gave this preserve to the Oklahoma Fish and Game Commission.
Building with the CCC
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a group formed in 1933. They helped build many parks across the country. Under the guidance of the National Park Service, the CCC built a bathhouse, cabins, trails, and roads at Robbers Cave. They also created group camps and shelters. In 1937, the CCC and another group called the Works Progress Administration (WPA) built Lake Carlton. This lake was named after Carlton Weaver.
Park Events and Recognition
In 1987, the park started its first yearly Robbers Cave Fall Festival. The Robbers Cave Bluegrass Festival began a year later in 1988. In 1994, the old bathhouse was turned into a nature center. This center helps visitors learn about the park's plants and animals. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Lakes and Water Fun
Robbers Cave State Park has three beautiful lakes: Lake Carlton, Lake Wayne Wallace, and Coon Creek Lake. These lakes were made by building dams on Fourche Maline Creek. All three lakes together cover about 189 acres (76 ha). You can rent paddle boats to explore the lakes.
Camping and Staying Over
The park offers many places to stay. You can find spots for RVs, tents, and even special campsites for people with horses. If you prefer a building, there's the Belle Starr View Lodge and several cabins. There are also two group camps for larger gatherings. Good news for pet owners: leashed pets are allowed in the park and in some cabins!
Park Amenities and Activities
Robbers Cave State Park has lots of facilities to make your visit great. You'll find picnic tables and clean restrooms with showers. There are boat ramps for launching your boat. You can swim at the swimming beach or in the swimming pool, which has a bathhouse. Kids will love the playgrounds and miniature golf course.
For those who love nature, there are many hiking trails. You can also rent horses to ride on the trails. One trail goes around Lost Lake. The park also has a small grocery store and a restaurant. The nature center offers programs and exhibits to teach you about the park's wildlife. A few miles from the park, you can find two tennis courts, a basketball court, and a walking track.
Boy Scout Connection
The Boy Scout camp inside the park was once used for a famous study. A researcher named Muzafer Sherif conducted his "Robber's Cave study" here. This study helped us understand how groups can have conflicts and how they can learn to work together.
Park Fees: What to Know
To help keep the park nice and make improvements, the state started charging an entrance fee on June 15, 2020. The fees are per vehicle. For a single day, it's $10, or $8 if you have an Oklahoma license plate. Good news for honorably discharged veterans and Oklahoma residents aged 62 and older (and their spouses) – your fees are waived! You can also buy passes that are good for three days, a week, or even an entire year for all 22 state parks that charge fees.
Images for kids
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Canoe rental facility on Lake Carlton in July 2007.
