Most People Have No Idea Oklahoma Has A Lost National Park…And It’s Stunning
In 1902, before Oklahoma was even a state, Platt National Park was established as the seventh National Park in the history of the U.S. through a contract with the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations and the federal government. Platt National Park was located at the foothills of the Arbuckle Mountains in Sulphur, Oklahoma, and in 1976 became Chickasaw National Recreation Area after merging with the Arbuckle Recreation Area.
Why would the national government take away its National Park status? It’s believed that the federal government thought it would bring in more visitors giving it a fresh name change. It’s hard to find evidence that Platt National Park once existed, but historic maps and old documents help us remember this piece of Oklahoma history.
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This photo was taken prior to 1910 at the area called "Little Niagra" in what was Platt National Park.
In the 1970s, Congress tried distinguishing some National Parks to make them more marketable. Because of the size of Platt, Congress decided it would be better suited as a recreation area instead of a national park.
Ashley has lived in Oklahoma for 25 years and is the Oklahoma staff writer for onlyinyourstate.com. When she isn't exploring Oklahoma, she enjoys visiting the beaches of California.
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