Turner Falls Park

State: Oklahoma. Type: waterfall and city-owned park in the Arbuckle Mountains, about 6 miles south of Davis. Falls height: 77 feet, locally considered Oklahoma's tallest waterfall. Park size: roughly 1,500 acres. Owned by the City of Davis since 1919.

Turner Falls Park centers on a 77-foot waterfall on Honey Creek in the Arbuckle Mountains of south-central Oklahoma, a short drive south of the town of Davis. The falls take their name from Mazeppa Thomas Turner, a Scottish immigrant farmer married to a Chickasaw woman, Laura Johnson, who settled in the area in 1878 and is credited with discovering the falls, though recreational use of the site dates back to around or before 1868, when the area lay within the Chickasaw Nation's Pickens County. The City of Davis has owned the park since 1919, with a gap from 1950 to 1978 when it was leased to outside operators before the city resumed direct management. Spread across roughly 1,500 acres, the park combines the waterfall and its spring-fed creek with nature trails, caves, and other Arbuckle Mountain geological features, plus "Dr. Collings' Rock Castle," a stone structure built in the 1930s as a summer home for a University of Oklahoma professor. Wide-ranging overnight options, from tent camping to cabins, teepees and covered wagons, make it a popular multi-day destination as well as a day trip.

Turner Falls Park is located at I-35 & US Highway 77, Davis, OK 73030, roughly six miles south of Davis in the Arbuckle Mountains of south-central Oklahoma. The falls drop into Honey Creek within the park.

South-central Oklahoma has hot, humid summers and mild-to-cold winters, with spring known for active thunderstorm season. Because much of the park experience is outdoors around the creek and falls, weather and water levels can meaningfully affect a visit; check conditions before a trip in stormy periods.

Summer (May through September, per the park's posted summer hours) is the primary swimming season at the falls and creek, while the park also runs a winter trout-fishing program in the cooler months. Spring and fall offer milder hiking weather for those less focused on swimming.

Recreational use of the falls area dates to around or before 1868, when the site sat in Pickens County of the Chickasaw Nation, predating Oklahoma statehood. Mazeppa Thomas Turner, a Scottish immigrant farmer, settled in the area in 1878 and is credited with discovering the falls, later giving them his name. The City of Davis acquired the park in 1919, then leased it to other operators between 1950 and 1978 before resuming direct management. "Dr. Collings' Rock Castle," built in the 1930s as a summer home for a University of Oklahoma professor, remains one of the park's landmark structures alongside its caves and nature trails.

Swimming in the spring-fed creek below the 77-foot falls is the park's signature activity, alongside hiking its nature trails, exploring caves, and touring Dr. Collings' Rock Castle. A winter trout-fishing program runs in the cooler months. A tram or trolley service helps visitors move around the roughly 1,500-acre grounds, and picnic areas are available throughout the park.

The 77-foot Turner Falls itself and the pools below it, Dr. Collings' Rock Castle and its associated caves, and the park's network of nature trails through the Arbuckle Mountains landscape are the main draws.

The park sits directly at the intersection of I-35 and US Highway 77 near Davis, making it an easy stop for drivers traveling I-35 between Oklahoma City and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A personal vehicle is the practical way to reach the park; no airport or transit details were confirmed from the sources checked.

As of research: summer (May 1-Sept 30) park entry runs 7 a.m. to sunset with check-in until 9:30 p.m.; winter (Oct 1-April 30) entry runs 8 a.m. to sunset with check-in until 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The park is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Confirm current hours on the official site, since these can change.

The official park website did not list specific daily admission prices on the page checked; current rates should be confirmed directly via turnerfallspark.com before visiting.

A half day covers the falls, swimming area and a short hike; a full day or overnight stay lets visitors add the caves, Rock Castle tour and camping.

The park itself offers a wide range of overnight options across its roughly 1,500 acres, including tent camping, RV sites with hookups, cabins, bunkhouses, covered wagons, teepees, shelters and group pavilions. The nearby town of Davis offers additional lodging options for visitors who prefer to stay off-site.

The town of Davis, a few miles from the park entrance, offers casual dining options typical of a small Oklahoma highway town; specific restaurant names were not confirmed from the sources checked.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area, centered on the town of Sulphur, lies within a similar Arbuckle Mountains region and is a common pairing for visitors touring south-central Oklahoma's natural attractions.

The park is reached primarily by car via I-35 and US Highway 77; no nearby airport or public transit details were confirmed from the sources checked.

No pets are allowed in the park, and photo ID is required for entry, per the official site. The waterfall and creek carry real drowning risk; only experienced swimmers should swim there, per Wikipedia's summary of the site's history. Watch children closely near the water and rocks, and check current conditions before swimming after heavy rain.

Swimwear, water shoes, sunscreen and a towel for the creek and falls area; sturdy shoes for the nature trails and caves; and photo ID, which is required for park entry.

Because the park sits right off I-35, it's a popular stopover for travelers driving between Oklahoma City and Texas; arriving early in summer helps beat crowds at the swimming areas. If planning to camp, book overnight accommodations in advance given the range of options (cabins, teepees, covered wagons) that can fill up on summer weekends.

For any emergency, dial 911. For park information, the number listed on the official site is (580) 369-2988.

Turner Falls Park (City of Davis) - https://turnerfallspark.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.