Durant: local rooms, events and more

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Town and around · Oklahoma · 50k people

Durant

Locals say Texoma

Where the lake meets the Choctaw spirit

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Welcome to Texoma, where the lake is big and the people are friendly. Whether you're here for fishing, football, or just the quiet pace, you'll find a home. Come join the chat and share what makes this corner of Oklahoma special.

Clubs for Durant

No clubs for Durant yet.

The room

Durant Quiet now Where the lake meets the Choctaw spirit

One room for everyone around Durant. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Durant. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Lake Texoma Massive reservoir on the Red River, famous for striper fishing and boating.
Choctaw Nation Headquarters Administrative hub of the Choctaw Nation in Durant.
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Home of the Savage Storm, with a classic Oklahoma college feel.
Murray State College Community college in Tishomingo, known for agriculture and nursing programs.
Choctaw Cultural Center Showcases Choctaw history, language, and art.
Lake Texoma State Park Camping, hiking, and lake access on the Oklahoma side.

Outdoors Striper fishing on Lake Texoma
Outdoors Boating and water skiing
With kids Choctaw Cultural Center
With kids Lake Texoma beaches
Evenings Casino shows and gaming
Evenings Live music at downtown Durant bars
Locals love Lake marinas
Locals love Catfish houses

Through the year

Bryan County Free Fair September County fair with livestock, rides, and food.
Lake Texoma Striper Festival April Fishing tournament and cook-off celebrating striped bass.
Southeastern Oklahoma State Homecoming October Savage Storm football game and campus festivities.
Tishomingo Rodeo July Annual rodeo with bull riding and barrel racing.
Atoka Bluegrass Festival June Weekend of bluegrass performances in the park.

Hot, humid summers and mild winters. Spring and fall are the best times to be outside; summer is for the lake, winter is quiet. Best: Spring and fall are perfect for outdoor activities; summer is hot and humid, winter is mild with occasional ice.

Talk like a local

“Texoma”: The region around Lake Texoma.
“the lake”: Lake Texoma, always understood.
“striper”: Striped bass, the prized catch.
“Savage Storm”: Southeastern Oklahoma State athletic teams.

Getaways

Sherman, TX Shopping, dining, and the Sherman Museum.
Ardmore, OK Turner Falls and the Arbuckle Mountains nearby.
Paris, TX See the Eiffel Tower replica and historic downtown.
Gainesville, TX Frank Buck Zoo and the Leonard Park.

Local flavour

Teams

Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm NCAA Division II

Eat and drink

Choctaw fry bread A staple of Choctaw cuisine, often served with honey or as tacos
Fried catfish Local lakes (Lake Texoma) supply catfish; often served with hushpuppies
Chicken fried steak A Southern comfort classic popular across Oklahoma
Pecan pie Pecans are grown in the region; pie is a common dessert
Braum's An Oklahoma-based dairy chain with burgers and ice cream, found in Durant

Where people go

Lake Texoma One of the largest reservoirs in the US, a hub for boating, fishing, and camping
Choctaw Nation Headquarters
Choctaw Casinos & Resorts
Southeastern Oklahoma State University The local university, home of the Savage Storm and a cultural hub
Tishomingo The historic Choctaw capital, with the Chickasaw Council House and cultural sites

Heritage and traditions

Durant and the Texoma region are proud of their deep Native American heritage, especially the Choctaw Nation, and the outdoor playground of Lake Texoma.

This time of year in Durant

Striper fishing Spring and fall Lake Texoma's striped bass run in spring and fall.
Deer hunting season Fall A major autumn activity for many locals.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to

Festivals

Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival September (Labor Day weekend) Celebrates Choctaw culture with powwows, traditional food, and games.

Landmarks with a story

Chickasaw Council House Museum Historic Chickasaw government building in Tishomingo.
Fort Washita A military outpost from 1842, now a historic site near Durant.
Choctaw Capitol Building Seat of Choctaw government in the 19th century, located in Tishomingo.

Food traditions

Indian tacos Fry bread topped with taco fixings, a Choctaw staple.
Pashofa A traditional Choctaw stew made with hominy and pork.
Sofkee A corn-based drink, often fermented, from Choctaw tradition.
Wild onion dinners Spring tradition of gathering wild onions and cooking them with eggs and bacon.

Music and arts

Choctaw traditional music Drumming, flute, and songs passed down through generations.
Basket weaving A Choctaw craft using river cane and other natural materials.
Beadwork Traditional Choctaw and Chickasaw beadwork patterns.
Bluegrass and country music scene Local musicians perform at festivals and community events.

A little history

1830s Trail of Tears
1830s Establishment of the Choctaw Nation
1850s Establishment of the Chickasaw Nation
1870s Arrival of the railroad
1920s Oil boom

Rivalries

Southeastern vs. East Central Football rivalry in the Great American Conference.
Durant vs. Madill High school football and basketball rivalry.
Southeastern vs. Northeastern State Basketball rivalry with Tahlequah.
Tishomingo vs. Kingston Small-town high school rivalry.

Game day Friday night lights
Game day Savage Storm basketball
Outdoors Deer hunting
Outdoors Turkey hunting
With kids Visiting the Chickasaw Council House Museum
With kids Exploring Fort Washita

Locals speak with a Southern-Oklahoma accent, often using 'y'all' and phrases like 'fixin' to.' Some Choctaw words like 'okla' (people) and 'chukka' (house) may be heard in the region.

Only here

Tishomingo served as the capital for both the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations at different times.
Lake Texoma is one of the few places where you can catch striped bass year-round.
The Choctaw Nation's headquarters is in Durant, making it a hub of tribal government.

New here? A few tips

Bring sunscreen and a hat for the hot summers.
Learn about the Choctaw Nation and its history—it's central to the region.
Try a Choctaw taco from a local food truck.
Pronounce Tishomingo as TISH-uh-MING-go.
Lake Texoma is a big deal—get a fishing license and try for stripers.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Part of North Texas

Nearby

Every area

Lake TexomaOklahomaWhere the lake meets the prairie, and everyone knows your name.Sherman–DenisonTexasRed River roots, Texas heart AtokaOklahomaRed earth, tall pines, and a slow pace.BonhamTexasSmall-town heart, wide-open skies.ArdmoreOklahomaWhere the plains meet the pines, and the lakes welcome you home.GainesvilleTexasWhere Texas meets the Red River with small-town warmth.ParisTexasA little French flair in the heart of Texas AdaOklahomaLocal rooms for Ada.

Durant, OK. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.