Mannford

In the late 19th century, T. E. Mann owned a pretty valuable piece of real estate: the bridge that allowed travelers to cross the Cimarron River. As was his prerogative, he named the area Mann’s Ford, and the area was home to a grocery store, a drug store and even a school. It was a full-fledged town at that point, but the surrounding area was growing rapidly and it was decided that the site of Mann’s Ford would have to be flooded in 1903. A group of residents banded together, moved everything a few miles to the southeast and, voila!, the town of Mannford, Oklahoma, came to be. And since that time, it’s blossomed into a fantastic place to live. Mannford is a town that feels rural, but still affords residents with all of the amenities of an urban center. Excellent schools, amazing amenities and easy highway access – not to mention its location just a 30-minute drive from downtown Tulsa – all come together to make Mannford an area that needs to be on your list of areas to check out if you’re looking for a new home in Oklahoma. “I’ve lived here all my life and I love it,” says Realtor Mac McIntire. “It’s an up-and-coming town that is just a great community.”

The median home price in Mannford hovers around $200,000, and buyers should expect to pay approximately $150 per square foot on average. A cozy two-bedroom/two-bathroom bungalow lists for as low as $88,000, while a more spacious three-bedroom/three-bathroom farmhouse-style home lists for $325,000. You can even find a four-bedroom/six-bathroom Gothic-inspired mansion with an 8-stall horse barn on 60 acres of land and an unobstructed view of Lake Keystone for around $1.45 million.

Area schools are highly regarded, as the Mannford School District earns an A- on Niche.com. Students in the area can attend Mannford Lower Elementary, Mannford Upper Elementary, Mannford Middle and Mannford High School. “The schools here are excellent,” says McIntire. “We’ve got some of the best schools in the state of Oklahoma.”

Arguably the premiere amenity in Mannford is the town’s access to Lake Keystone, which formed as a result of the flooding of the original townsite. “It’s a hidden gem,” McIntire says of the lake. The lake has gained a reputation among anglers, though, as “the striped bass capital of the United States.” The lake has also produced record-setting paddlefish catches, and plenty of largemouth bass, crappie and several species of catfish, too. Adjacent to the east side of Keystone Lake is the 714-acre Keystone State Park, offering visitors everything from campgrounds to RV hookups to cozy cabins. There are also multiple playgrounds and a hiking trail located in the park, as well as a grocery store. And because Highway 51 runs through the town, getting to Tulsa and the variety of amenities there is an easy 30-minute drive. McIntire says, “The fact that it’s so easy to get to Tulsa is a big selling point. If you can’t find it in Mannford, just jump on 51 and you’re in Tulsa.”

When you need to stock up on groceries, head to Phelps Market. Walmart Super Center is about 20 minutes away by car for all of those household necessities and other shopping. The Springs Village Shopping Center is also about 20 minutes away, where you’ll find everything from Daylight Donuts to Dollar Tree to Tractor Supply. And should hunger strike while you’re away from home – or if you’re at home and just don’t feel like cooking – Mannford has plenty of options from which to choose. Vallarta’s serves up authentic Mexican cuisine in a casual setting, and Simple Simone’s Pizza offers a full range of Italian classics. If you’re looking for a world-class setting, try out Harbor Grill, situated on Keystone Lake, where the burgers are both creative and amazing.

While everyone’s definition of a perfect place to live is different, Mannford does check a lot of the perfect boxes: superb schools, friendly community, world-class lake, easy highway access, close enough to the big city but still far enough away to be quiet and comfortable. If that sounds like your ideal place, give Mannford a look. You’ll be glad you did.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Justin Prokop

Video By

Alexander Wong