Woods County, Oklahoma was settled in 1893 after the opening of the Cherokee Strip by Land-Run on September 16th of that year. Families and individuals from all walks of life found a new start on the prairies of northwest Oklahoma. Early day settlers were farmers and merchants, doctors, lawyers, bankers, and teachers.
The community of Waynoka was founded shortly after the Cherokee Strip Land Run and quickly became a hub for commerce and trading. The Santa Fe Railroad established Waynoka as a Rail Center and the Depot remains today as a historical museum. The Depot and adjacent Harvey House have been restored and a “section house” has been added to the complex. Waynoka is also home to Little Sahara State Park, the “must see” destination for off roading recreation. “Duners” come from throughout the United States to enjoy the hundreds of acres of sand which are the remains of a great inland sea in prehistoric times.
Freedom, in the far western region of Woods County, is a quaint, little “cowtown” with a Wild West Main Street! Its local museum also houses the artifacts of the Burnham Site Archaeological Dig which unearthed pre-historic fossils, bones, and evidence of early humans in the region—long before scientists had determined existed. Stop in and see the Burnham Dig Exhibit!
Alva is the ‘go to’ community for arts and cultural events in the county. With a downtown square reminiscent of ‘days gone by’, an emerging arts district and shopping venues Alva is the place to go for athletic events, concerts, and art! Northwestern Oklahoma State University is based in Alva, the county-seat of Woods County. What began as a Teachers Normal School in 1897 continues to serve the citizens of northwest Oklahoma today as a four-year regional state supported institution of higher education. Alva is also home to the Cherokee Strip Museum and the NWOSU Natural History museum, so be sure to include these stops on your visit.
Avard and Dacoma also are located in Woods County and provide annual events you won’t want to miss such as the Avard Fall Festival and the Dacoma Third of July celebration.
These communities and the state parks surrounding Woods County all offer the visitor to Woods County plenty of things to do, see and experience. From our heritage museums, to our athletic events, to the wide variety of outdoor venues we have to offer, we invite you to make Woods County your travel destination! Give us a call and we will make your visit a trip to remember! For more tourism information, contact us at 580-327-2150! For event dates and locations, check out the events calendar on this website.