This Oklahoma Welcome Center is located right off Interstate 35 going north and south in Thackerville, OK.
It's a terrific rest stop/welcome center for all those tourists needing info on where to go and what to explore when visiting Oklahoma.
And that was the case for me. I was coming to Oklahoma...specifically Oklahoma City and was interested in getting some insight into the worthwhile attractions and landmarks that Oklahoma is known for.
I really didn't preplan ahead of time for visiting Oklahoma. I just knew that I had never stepped foot inside the state and wanted to get a real feel experience for all the cool spots, hangouts, parks, museums...etc.
This Welcome Center had it! Any type of brochure, guide and map...this place was a one stop shop.
Inside the Welcome Center...all they ask for from you is to provide them with your home zip code which they write down for their own statistics.
Meanwhile...I was grabbing plenty of brochures for all the interesting sights and areas in Oklahoma City. I left with a bag full of information for my explorations! This place was the perfect introduction to Oklahoma. And it was here where I discovered Turner Falls Park, a pleasant waterfall setting located in Davis, OK about 47 miles straight north from here.
Obviously while at this welcome center, you might as well use the restroom. They have plenty of grassy area for walking your dog, even some picnic tables if you'd like to take time having lunch.
What really won me over about this rest stop was right at the front entrance section when driving in from the northern side of the highway, off to the right-hand side...there's a wonderful Welcome to Oklahoma Sign that is definitely picture worthy.
Especially, for me...I've been trying to visit every state in the USA and here at this welcome center, the sign for entering was shaped exactly like the state of Oklahoma, with the top part of the sign pointing towards the left...a replica of how you'd envision the state to appear. I absolutely recommend a getting a picture of this.
Plus, near the welcome center building was a bison sign again stating this is Oklahoma along with some interesting facts and history about what the state is known for.
Ultimately for myself, getting to be here at the border of Texas and Oklahoma was sort of a surreal moment. I'm just a random person who grew up in New York and after 42 years finally stepping foot in Oklahoma, (a place in my head that reminds me of the heartland of America)...it was pretty exciting!
Just some last facts about this Oklahoma Welcome Center...
- It's situated 83 miles north of Dallas, TX and 124 miles south of Oklahoma City, OK.
- They do feature little vending machines off to the side of the entrance building if you'd like to buy a snack or refreshment.
- There are gas stations located a couple of miles away to the north and south.
Overall, this Oklahoma Welcome Center situated right on the border with Texas is 5 stars as good as it gets in terms of being a quality rest stop and having all the amenities you could ask for. I'm grateful I pulled off to the side of Interstate 35 to take a break here. read more