Roman Nose State Park is a state park located in Blaine County, 7 miles (11 km) north of Watonga, Oklahoma.[3] Roman Nose State Park is one of the original seven Oklahoma state parks.[3] Sitting in a small canyon, recreation activities at this state park include a golf course, swimming pools, hiking trails, two lakes (Lake Watonga and Lake Boecher), trout fishing in season, canoeing, paddle boats, mountain biking, horse stables and hayrides.[4]

Roman Nose State Park

Roman Nose State Park
A photo of a stream in Roman Nose State Park
A stream in Roman Nose State Park
A map of Oklahoma showing the location of Roman Nose State Park
A map of Oklahoma showing the location of Roman Nose State Park
LocationBlaine County, Oklahoma, United States
Nearest cityWatonga, OK
Coordinates35°56′11″N 98°25′30″W / 35.9364298°N 98.425075°W / 35.9364298; -98.425075[1]
Established1937
Visitors297,630 (in 2021)[2]
Governing bodyOklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.6460

For lodging, the park has Roman Nose Lodge, built in 1956 and renovated in 2010, along with more than 90 campsites, almost equally split between RV and tent sites.[4]

History

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The state park was created in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal programs.[5]

The state park was named after the Cheyenne chief Henry Roman Nose, who died in the canyon in 1917.[6]

Wildlife

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Whitetail Deer are not uncommon to see while staying there.[6] The park is also home to more than 85 different species of birds, including wild turkeys, cardinals, robins, mourning doves, blue grosbeaks, and herons.[6] Some raptors are present including great horned owls, red-tailed hawks, and even bald eagles.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Roman Nose State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
  2. ^ "Evaluation of Oklahoma's State Parks". Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT). March 31, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Roman Nose State Park RV & Campground Guide". RVshare. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Roman Nose State Park in Watonga, Oklahoma". USA Today Travel Tips. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  5. ^ Wilson, Linda D. "Blaine County". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d "Roman Nose State Park Guide". Outdoorsy. Retrieved March 30, 2020.