Joshua Doyle has only worked at The Lumber Shack for about a year, but his experiences in Harrah are quite telling about the community. “I’ve never been part of a restaurant with so many big parties,” he says. “It’s all these families and their friends. It’s so obvious that family is important here. When they go out, they go out as a unit.” Situated along the North Canadian River, the city of Harrah is a rural hub 30 miles east of Oklahoma City.
Harrah’s ranch-style homes often feature brick exteriors, ranging in price between $200,000 and $400,000. Home buyers may find Dallas-style architecture or custom builds along Love Lane or Sally Circle Drive. Such homes can reach close to $1 million. Modern homes within the Brush Creek subdivision display square lawns and short, paved driveways. Similar streetscapes are found within the Padre Pio gated community, located on S Harrah Road. Outside of its subdivisions, Harrah remains a rural, two-lane country road kind of city. Many homes have butcheries or large multipurpose sheds on their property.
The Harrah School District is known as “A District of Champions,” receiving an overall B-minus on Niche. With only about 2,000 students enrolled in the district, student-teacher ratios remain starkly low. Virginia Smith Elementary School and Harrah Middle School each earn a B on Niche, while Harrah High School earns a C-plus. Both Harrah Middle School and High School place an emphasis on athletics, live-streaming games and wearing Panther pride. Parents can expect to drive student-athletes to neighboring cities for matches, games and invitationals.
Located about 30 miles west of Oklahoma City, residents rely on Kickapoo Turnpike and I-40 for their commute. The turnpike is a toll road leading north into Luther and connecting to I-40 in the south. There is no direct public transportation from Harrah to OKC, though buses are available closer to the city. Route 62, NE 23rd Street, heads west into Choctaw where folks can find an SSM Health Urgent Care or travel an additional 15 miles to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. As for airfare, Shawnee Regional Airport is 20 miles southeast of Harrah, while Will Rogers World Airport is 30 miles southwest.
Earl’s Nursery has been around since the 90s, selling everything from succulents to sweet potato vines. The grandfather-grandson duo famously tell guests “No charge for the stroll,” inviting them to peruse the grounds at their leisure. Just 7 miles south, Harp’s Food Stores is one of 14 locations in the state. Though Walmart Supercenter is frequented in Choctaw, off Route 62. As for grub, residents might recognize The Black Raven Pub or The Lumber Shack from Saturdays on Main, a city-wide block party on Main Street. The Black Raven Pub offers a traditional Irish pub atmosphere with a patio out front. Occupying the Davidson and Case Lumber Co. building, The Lumber Shack serves classic American fare under the glow of string lights. “The building started off as a church, and then it was a lumber shack, and then we revamped it,” Doyle says. “We reused everything, all the way down to the wood in the walls.”
The liveliest place in Harrah during the summer is Heritage Park, where playgrounds and walking trails accompany an amphitheater and splash pad for kids. Events are hosted here throughout the warmer months, welcoming folks to stroll along the lake or stop by the Fiesta Tacos food truck, located in the heart of the park. Just north, Horseshoe Lake offers 324 acres for fishing and swimming. Local recreation might mean joining the Harrah Soccer Club, providing teams for ages 4-18. But Lake Thunderbird State Park is by far the biggest hit, featuring marinas, boat ramps, campgrounds and trails.
Heritage Park’s many events include the Harrah Heritage Fest and farmer’s market. Locals can enjoy live music, a chili cook-off and a Chili Dog Fun Run during Heritage Fest, an annual celebration of the town. The farmer’s market occurs every Saturday from May to September, providing local produce, baked goods and a variety of artisans. Wind Drift Orchards is open for the summer, hosting guests to pick from their peach and nectarine orchards. And in the winter, residents can cut their own tree at Cross Timbers Christmas Tree Farm.
On average, homes in Harrah, OK sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 48 days. The median sale price for homes in Harrah, OK over the last 12 months is $235,858, down 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Jerri Shepherd
Legacy Three Realty Premier
(405) 353-9450
39 Total Sales
1 in Harrah
$139,900 Price
Jonathan Gregory
REAL Brokers LLC.
(405) 896-3822
260 Total Sales
5 in Harrah
$200K - $400K Price Range
Shellie Wall
Keller Williams-Green Meadow
(405) 759-8638
113 Total Sales
1 in Harrah
$288,900 Price
Shane Willard
CENTURY 21 Judge Fite Company
(405) 679-3177
587 Total Sales
43 in Harrah
$52K - $1M Price Range
Sheena Sigman
NextHome Central Real Estate
(405) 400-0607
215 Total Sales
3 in Harrah
$175K - $260K Price Range
Kathy Parker
eXp Realty, LLC
(405) 213-0182
215 Total Sales
1 in Harrah
$223,000 Price