Fall in Oklahoma and North Texas has a certain pull to it. The heat finally breaks. The light turns gold in the afternoons. People start looking for reasons to be outside again. If you’re planning time around WinStar World Casino and Resort this season, the area around it has plenty to offer. There’s no shortage of ways to fill the hours between visits to the casino floor.
Short on time? Here’s the shortlist: catch a show at Lucas Oil Live, WinStar’s own 6,500-seat concert venue; chase a 77-foot waterfall at Turner Falls Park, about 45 minutes north; watch the leaves turn at Lake Murray State Park, 25 miles north; or spend an afternoon at Frank Buck Zoo, 15 minutes south in Gainesville, Texas. Read on for these and more ways to fill a fall trip near WinStar.
An Evening of Music at Lucas Oil Live
Some nights call for the casino floor. Others call for live music. Lucas Oil Live, WinStar’s 6,500-seat venue, covers the second option well. Fall lineups tend to bring in well-known country and rock acts. It’s the kind of show where the crowd knows every word.
Wander the Arbuckle Mountains
Turner Falls Park sits about 45 minutes north, inside the Arbuckle Mountains. The park’s 77-foot waterfall is the main draw, but the trails and caves around it hold their own too. Once the trees start turning, the whole place takes on a different color. It’s a good place to stretch your legs after a late night at the tables.
Wander the Arbuckle Mountains, about 1 hour north of WinStar, off I-35 N.
Chase Fall Colors at Lake Murray
Lake Murray State Park sits about 25 miles north. It turns into a real showcase once the leaves change. There are hiking trails and mountain biking routes along the water. Scenic drives are an option too, for anyone who’d rather stay in the car. Golden hour on the lake is worth timing your visit around.
Chase Fall Colors at Lake Murray, about 35 mins north of WinStar, off I-35 N.
A Family Day at Frank Buck Zoo
About 15 minutes south, in Gainesville, Texas, sits the Frank Buck Zoo. It’s smaller and slower-paced than a big-city zoo. It’s a good fit for an afternoon walk with kids, especially once the weather cools down. Sweater weather and zoo animals go together better than people expect.
The Frank Buck Zoo is about 15 mins south of WinStar, off I-35 S.
Trails and Culture at Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Chickasaw National Recreation Area turns into a different park once October rolls around, cooler air, thinner crowds and fall color along the water. The Travertine Creek Trail is flat and stroller-friendly, tracing a path past Little Niagara Falls, while the short climb on Bison Pasture Trail ends with a real payoff: the overlook at Bromide Hill. Next door, the Chickasaw Cultural Center adds a slower afternoon to the day, with art galleries, daily stomp dance demonstrations and sky bridges looking out over the park below. It’s an easy full day away from the tables, and an easy drive back.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area is about an hour north of WinStar, off I-35 N and OK-7 E.
Watch for Wildlife at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is one of the region’s best wildlife-watching spots as fall migration gets underway. Admission is free, and the two-mile Wildlife Drive lets you spot birds without leaving the car, or you can get out and walk one of five trails along Lake Texoma. Migratory geese start moving through as the weather cools, building toward big numbers by winter, and the visitor center hands out free binoculars — an easy add for families with younger kids who’d rather watch wildlife than hike to it.
Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is about 45 minutes south of WinStar, off I-35 S and Highway 82.
More Ways to Spend Your Fall Trip
A few more spots worth working into the itinerary if you have extra time:
- Pumpkinville at Myriad Botanical Gardens — a sprawling pumpkin patch right in the middle of Oklahoma City, made for photos
- Orr Family Farm — with hayrides, a corn maze and enough outdoor fun to fill a whole day
- Haunt the Zoo — a trick-or-treat night that turns the zoo into a lantern-lit Halloween trail
- Plaza District Festival — a lively street fair packed with local art, live music and food trucks
- Wine tasting along the Red River Valley, where local vineyards pour something new for every cooler evening
- WinStar Spa — the perfect excuse to slow down and soak in the season before heading back out
- A scenic drive to Sulphur Falls, stringing together charming small towns and fall color along the way
- Ardmore Fall Festival — a small-town arts and crafts fair with handmade goods, Amish-baked treats and enough vendors to fill an afternoon
- Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival — a lantern-lit Día de los Muertos celebration with a parade, live music and family activities
Fall doesn’t last long around here. With this much within a short drive of WinStar, there are many great nearby excursions to add to your trip.
Dine In or Stay the Night
After a day out in the fall air, WinStar makes it easy to keep the trip going. With dining options for every taste, sticking around is easy. Grab a bite at Mickey Mantle’s Lounge or Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse for something upscale. Prefer casual? Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and the Gran Via Buffet have you covered. Either way, there’s a seat with your name on it.
When one day isn’t enough, WinStar has accommodations to match. Choose the WinStar World Casino Hotel or The Inn at WinStar for a comfortable stay. Rolling in with an RV? Fun Town RV Park at WinStar has you covered. Fall is the perfect season to turn a visit into a getaway.
Make WinStar Your Home Base This Fall
Between the concerts, the trails, and the small towns nearby, this season gives you plenty of reasons to come back. WinStar is a great place to start and end the day, no matter how you spend the hours in between. Book your stay and let the fall weather do the rest.
