The area around the town of Lake Aluma has an interesting history. Before it became a town in the 1920s, the area was popular among cultural elites in Oklahoma City as a peaceful retreat. It was mainly a hunting preserve designed to escape the hustle and bustle. About 15 minutes from downtown Oklahoma City, Lake Aluma still serves the same purpose as it did over 100 years ago. Houses are around the lake today and is still a retreat from the big city. “It’s a unique area with a government, including a mayor and a town council,” says Margie Cobb, a Realtor with Castles & Homes Real Estate with nearly 10 years of experience. “I owned property there, and once served as the town clerk."
The houses in Lake Aluma are shrouded in beautiful, tall oaks.
Small population near the lake
As of the 2020 census, only about 100 people lived in Lake Aluma, mainly around the lake itself, but the neighborhood encompasses more area than that. The private lake is man-made and covers about 100 acres, and most of the homes here are situated around the water. Because the lake is personal, it’s restricted to residents and their guests. Although some homes are under the $1 million mark near the water, plenty go above that threshold, including a four-bedroom Spanish-style house built in 1959 with back porch lake views on about an acre of land. "All the homes around the lake are all architecturally different. They're not cookie cutter," Cobb says. "Because the lake is small, there are no motorboats allowed. People usually have canoes, kayaks and paddleboats." Most of the homes are older with many of them built when the lake was a hunting retreat about 100 years ago. Most everybody in Lake Aluma owns their home. "Part of Lake Aluma's bylaws is that before houses in Lake Aluma go on the market, they are offered to friends and family first. That's why some homes never even make the market," Cobb adds.
Lake Aluma is marked by an entry sign.
Lake Aluma is one of Oklahoma City's best-kept secrets.
There are affordable home options in Lake Aluma.
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The family ice cream business
Operating in five states, the regional family owned Braum’s ice cream and fast-food restaurant, which has been in business with the family since the 1930s. The ice cream they serve is produced locally at a large dairy farm in Tuttle, Oklahoma, southwest of Oklahoma City. All the stores, including the one on 63rd Street in Lake Aluma, are within 330 miles of the dairy farm to ensure freshness and a farm-to-table process. Within the restaurant, Braum’s also operates a fresh market grocery store. They also sell their dairy and ice cream products as well as fresh produce.
Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Store is a local grocery store near Lake Aluma.
Reinvigorating the band program at Milwood High School
Students living in Lake Aluma can start at Milwood Elementary School. The school gets a D-plus overall grade on Niche with students attending through fifth grade. The Milwood Arts Academy Middle School has a 16-to-1 student-teacher ratio and overall C-minus grade. Milwood High School has rejuvenated its band program, which was in the doldrums a few years ago. The band has now grown to nearly 100 members and accepts students as young as fifth grade. The school has a C-minus grade on Niche. Langston University is located nearby and is the only historically Black university in Oklahoma. The OKC campus also has graduate programs.
Millwood High School has an athletics program.
Millwood Elementary is attended by many students from around the area.
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Not far from adventure
At the Interstates 35 and 44 intersection is what’s known as Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, which is not far away from the Lake Aluma area. Part of the adventure is the OKC Zoo and Botanical Garden. The zoo is home to nearly 2,000 animals and features specific exhibits, such as the collection of lions and tigers and the Children’s Zoo. The botanical garden is paired with the butterfly exhibit, which has more than 15,000 plants and an extensive range of butterflies. Remington Park Racing & Casino features a horse racing track with a quarter-horse season between March and June. The casino is always open with about 750 gaming machines. The Bricktown Brewery is just off the casino floor and features lunch and dinner items and various drinks. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum has over 28,000 artworks and artifacts and an extensive collection of American rodeo photographs.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is a great place for kids to learn about animals.
The Adventure District has a plethora of educational activities for residents of Lake Aluma.
Lake Aluma residents can learn about the west at The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
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Close to an intersection of interstates
Although Lake Aluma can seem like a retreat from hectic city life, it’s just off Interstate 35 and close to the intersection of Interstate 35 and 44. Southbound on Interstate 35 is less than 10 miles from downtown Oklahoma City. Interstate 44 goes south to Will Rogers World Airport, about 25 minutes away.
Lake Aluma is a lakefront community nestled in a quiet valley adjacent to the Deep Fork River.
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