For such a small town in eastern Oklahoma, Gore sure has a lot going for it when it comes to finding great things to do for all ages. This area has a deep history, and with its scenic views adding to a variety of historical sites, Gore and the surrounding areas will leave you enchanted.
And of course, there is the Ozark National Forest just a few short hours’ drive away. But for something closer to Marval Resort, we’ve gathered this list of the best things to do in eastern Oklahoma.
Fishing in Gore
Trout fishing here couldn’t be better, and the Illinois River right next to Marval Resort is the place to be! Gore offers year-round trout fishing with the Oklahoma Wildlife Dept stocking 100,000 rainbow trout at three sites: the River Road Access Area, Tenkiller Powerhouse, and right here at Marval Resort. Springtime water also brings white bass on their spawning run, as well as walleye, striped bass, and paddlefish.
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge
Located just 15 miles southeast of Gore, this incredible nature refuge hosts the largest concentration of snow geese in Oklahoma. During the summer and fall, large numbers of shorebirds are common, and Mallards are abundant during the winter months. The bottomland habitat provides a home to songbirds, raptors, quail, bobcats, muskrats, and rabbits, as well as marshland reptiles. Enjoy miles of hiking trails, with many opportunities to photograph plants and animals in the surrounding river bottom farmland and wooded swamps. Fishing and hunting are allowed here with the proper permits.
Trail of Tears Exhibit
In this journey through some of the area’s less fortunate events, explore this exhibit which depicts the forced removal ancestors from their indigenous home to the “Indian Territory” of present-day Oklahoma. Staged in six galleries, each section shows specific aspects of Cherokee history and culture as told through documentation and artifacts. Both moving and informative, the Trail of Tears will guide you through an important time in the area’s history. Located less than 30 miles northwest of Gore in the town of Tahlequah.
Antique Shopping
There are so many antique shops just within an hour’s drive of Gore, but we’ll list those closest by. They include Main Street USA, Buried Treasure Antiques, Days Gone Bye Antiques, The Speckled Hen, Magnolia House, Meme’s Treasures, and Old Town Antiques. Browse any of these shops and make an entire day of it! Who knows? You may just find your next treasure.
Webbers Falls Historical Society Museum
Another incredible spot for history buffs, they offer a complete history of the early-day Cherokee settlers. With an emphasis on Confederate General Stand Watie and his Cherokee Mounted Riflemen, who survived a civil war within the Cherokee Tribe, only to be defeated as part of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Chief Webber settled here in 1828, making Webbers Falls the 2nd oldest town in Oklahoma, and known as “the gateway to Indian Territory.”
With a good variety of things to do throughout the area, not to mention being at the foothills of the grandeur that is the Oklahoma Ozarks, Let Marval Resort be your home base in Gore, OK.