McAlester
Around McAlester
Photo: Michael Allen from St. Louis, Missouri, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Oklahoma · 43k people
McAlester
“Coal Capital”
Where coal history meets lake life
Oklahoma Crimson
Welcome to McAlester, where the lake is big and the Italian food is even bigger. Whether you're here for the fishing or the fried catfish, you'll find a friendly town with a lot of heart.
Clubs for McAlester
No clubs for McAlester yet.
The room
One room for everyone around McAlester. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA 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 McAlester. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Lake Eufaula One of Oklahoma's largest reservoirs, great for boating and fishing.
- Robbers Cave State Park Scenic park with hiking, rock climbing, and cave exploration.
- Historic Downtown McAlester Preserved early 20th-century commercial district with local shops.
- Krebs Historic town known for its Italian-American community and restaurants.
- Eufaula Dam Hydroelectric dam on the Canadian River that created Lake Eufaula.
- McAlester Expo Center Event venue hosting rodeos, fairs, and concerts.
- Outdoors Fishing on Lake Eufaula
- Outdoors Boating and water skiing on Lake Eufaula
- With kids Spend a day swimming and picnicking at Lake Eufaula
- With kids Explore the caves and trails at Robbers Cave State Park
- Evenings Live music at Krebs restaurants
- Evenings Bar hopping in downtown McAlester
- Locals love Fishing camps and marinas
- Locals love Italian restaurants in Krebs
Through the year
- Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo May Unique rodeo held at the prison, featuring inmate contestants.
- Pittsburg County Free Fair September County fair with livestock, carnival rides, and local exhibits.
McAlester has a classic Oklahoma climate—hot, humid summers and chilly winters, with spring bringing severe weather. The best times to be outside are late spring and early fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—mild temperatures and fewer storms.
Talk like a local
- “the lake”
- Refers to Lake Eufaula, the go-to spot for recreation.
- “down to Krebs”
- Going to the Italian restaurants in Krebs.
Getaways
- Tulsa Big city attractions, museums, and nightlife.
- Fort Smith Historic river town with a national historic site.
- Tahlequah Home of Northeastern State University and scenic Illinois River.
- Durant College town with Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Local flavour
Rooting for Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA), Oklahoma Sooners (NCAA), Oklahoma State Cowboys (NCAA), Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
Eat and drink
- Chicken Fried Steak Classic Oklahoma comfort food, served in diners across the area.
- Fried Catfish Popular around Lake Eufaula and local fish camps.
- Krebs-Style Italian Sausage
- Lamb Fries A delicacy in Krebs's Italian restaurants, though not widely known.
- Fried Okra Southern staple commonly found on menus.
Where people go
- Lake Eufaula One of Oklahoma's largest lakes, offering fishing, boating, and camping.
- Italian-American restaurants in Krebs
- Historic downtown McAlester Brick streets, old storefronts, and a classic Oklahoma town square.
- Fishing camps and marinas Along Lake Eufaula and other waterways, central to local recreation.
Heritage and traditions
McAlester is proud of its coal mining and railroad heritage, its tight-knit Italian-American community in Krebs, and its famous prison rodeo—a one-of-a-kind tradition that draws visitors from across the country.
This time of year in McAlester
- Fall Hunting Season October–November Deer and turkey seasons draw hunters to the woods and fields.
- Coalgate Coal Festival October A small-town celebration of the area's coal mining heritage with food and crafts.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — getting ready to
Festivals
- Krebs Italian Festival May Celebrates the town's Italian-American roots with food, music, and family fun.
- Robbers Cave Bluegrass Festival September Bluegrass bands perform at the scenic state park.
- Coalgate Coal Festival October A small-town celebration of the area's coal mining heritage with food and crafts.
Landmarks with a story
- Scottish Rite Temple A grand Masonic building in downtown McAlester, a landmark of early 20th-century architecture.
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church The historic church at the heart of Krebs' Italian community, built by coal-mining families.
- Coal Miners' Memorial Commemorates the miners who worked the area's coal seams.
- Oklahoma State Penitentiary Opened in 1908, this prison is a local landmark and hosts the famous rodeo.
- Old McAlester Commercial District A collection of late-1800s buildings in the downtown area.
Food traditions
- Italian Sunday dinners in Krebs Descendants of Italian coal miners gather for multi-course meals featuring homemade ravioli, sausage, and spaghetti.
- Krebs-style Italian sausage A spicy, fennel-seasoned sausage that's a local specialty, often served on sandwiches.
- Chicken fried steak with cream gravy A Southern staple that's a diner favorite across the region.
- Fried catfish and hushpuppies Lake Eufaula's catch is a weekend tradition at many local restaurants.
- Lamb fries A frontier-era delicacy still served in some local steakhouses.
Music and arts
- Country and western music Local honky-tonks and the prison rodeo feature live country acts.
- Bluegrass Bluegrass festivals and jam sessions are popular in the region.
- Italian folk music Krebs' Italian community preserves songs and dances from the old country.
- Native American heritage arts Nearby Choctaw and Creek influences appear in local crafts and storytelling.
A little history
- 1870s Coal mining boom begins
- late 1800s Italian immigrants settle in Krebs to work the mines
- 1908 Oklahoma State Penitentiary opens
- 1940 First prison rodeo held
- mid-1900s Coal mining declines, economy shifts to services and tourism
- Game day Prison Rodeo
- Game day High school football
- Outdoors Fishing on Lake Eufaula
- Outdoors Boating and water skiing on Lake Eufaula
- With kids Krebs Italian Festival
- With kids Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo
Locals speak with a Southern-Oklahoma drawl, stretching vowels and using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' The accent is more pronounced in rural areas, with a laid-back, friendly tone.
Only here
- The Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo is one of the few prison rodeos in the U.S.
- Krebs is the only Italian-American community in Oklahoma with deep coal-mining roots.
- The phrase 'Krebs-style' refers to a distinctive Italian sausage recipe found nowhere else.
- McAlester is home to the world's largest... actually, it's known for its coal mining heritage and the prison rodeo.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'McAlester' as 'mack-AL-ester' with the stress on the second syllable.
- Summers are hot and humid; spring brings severe weather and tornadoes—have a plan.
- Try the Italian sausage in Krebs—it's a local legend.
- The prison rodeo in September is a big deal; buy tickets early.
- Lake Eufaula is the place for boating and fishing; get a fishing license.
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Nearby
Every areaLake EufaulaOklahomaWhere the lake meets the prairieAtokaOklahomaRed earth, tall pines, and a slow pace.AdaOklahomaLocal rooms for Ada.SeminoleOklahomaWhere the prairie meets the oil patchMuskogeeOklahomaWhere azaleas bloom and the river runs wide.PoteauOklahomaWhere the pines meet the sky and the rivers run quiet.ShawneeOklahomaSmall-town heart, Oklahoma soul.DurantOklahomaWhere the lake meets the Choctaw spirit
McAlester, 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.