Watonga’s oil industry, casino and state park
Watonga is a small rural town roughly 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City. Founded in 1892, Watonga was originally a reservation for Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians and was named after a local chieftain whose name translates to “black coyote.” The population boomed in the 1940s thanks to the opening of the Watonga Cheese Factory and continued to grow when the Diamondback Correctional Facility brought over 300 jobs to the area in the 2000s. While nearly half of the community has left since the factory closed in 2007 and the prison closed in 2010, Watonga’s oil and gas industry keeps the town afloat while its state park and casino draw visitors throughout Blaine County. “You’ve got a lot of oil companies that have little satellite bases out there,” says Rhodes Real Estate agent Austin Rhodes, who also used to work in the oil fields. “Watonga is kind of in the heart of where they’re drilling right now.”
The Roman Nose State Park and Lucky Star Casino
The biggest recreational offering in Watonga is Roman Nose State Park, which sits in a small canyon about 7 miles north of downtown. The state park has amenities that include an 18-hole golf course, two swimming pools, hiking trails, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing and canoeing between two lakes and three natural springs. There are also 11 cabins and many more campsites where visitors can park their RVs or pitch their tents. Local wildlife includes whitetail deer and great blue herons.
The Lucky Star Casino is located on the southern end of town and offers free play on around 400 slot machines. The Huff-Lorang Park Complex has sports fields, a skate park and a splash pad that’s open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, while Legion Park has two playgrounds, softball fields and a basketball court. Former Oklahoma Gov. Thomas B. Ferguson’s family home was repurposed into a museum showcasing artifacts from Oklahoma’s early history, and Ferguson Chapel is a Presbyterian church from the early 1900s that’s used for weddings and small events.
Traditional homes, bungalows and RV parks
Most homes were built northeast of the main highway intersection during Watonga’s peak development period in the 1970s. Older vinyl homes less than 1,000 square feet are between $30,000 and $60,000, while brick bungalows range from $50,000 to $85,000. Traditional homes with gable roofs are most common and have two-car garages, wooden fences and lush green lawns with mature oak and cedar trees, costing $100,000 to $200,000. Larger 2,000-square-foot homes with three to four bedrooms and up to half-acre lots were recently built in the 2000s and range from $200,000 to $300,000. There are also a few RV parks, lofts and apartments around town to accommodate Watonga’s transient workforce population.
Three Watonga Public Schools
The Watonga Public Schools system earns a B-plus on Niche and has extracurricular activities including football, esports and FFA. Watonga Elementary has a preschool and a Gifted and Talented program, while Watonga Middle has a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Both schools have a B-plus. The B-rated Watonga High School offers advanced placement courses and has a 90% graduation rate.
The Cherokee Strip Transit and local highways to Oklahoma City
U.S. Route 270 and Oklahoma State Highway 8 both intersect in Watonga. The Cherokee Strip Transit has an office at the Blaine County Courthouse and offers round-trip services to the 24-hour Mercy Hospital in town and throughout the metro area. The Will Rogers International Airport is around 66 miles southeast in Oklahoma City.
Say “cheese” for the Watonga Cheese Festival
While the cheese factory has been shut down for almost two decades, the town keeps its dairy spirit alive through the annual Cheese Festival in October. In addition to its cheesy treats, the yearly festival also has a rat race, live music and a wine competition. “They have food demonstrations, dance exhibitions, quilt and art shows and a parade,” says lifelong resident Tammy Melott. “It’s a big deal for the town.”
The original Love’s Travel Stop and limited retail options
The very first Love’s Travel Stop opened in Watonga in 1964 and still sits on the southeastern corner of town. The Rez Restaurant inside the casino has breakfast, lunch and dinner options, including a 16-ounce ribeye and a crispy chicken honey bacon sandwich. Outside of the casino, Eagle’s Nest Restaurant offers American fare such as burgers, club wraps and curly fries, while The Hotdog Joint serves sloppy joes, Mesquite-grilled chicken and homemade tamales. Limited retail options include a few hardware stores, a floral and gift shop and a Tractor Supply, and groceries are available at Doc’s Apple Market, Dollar General and Family Dollar.
Tropical storms in Tornado Alley
Watonga is located in the heart of Tornado Alley. Strong winds and heavy rainfall can threaten lives and property. Tropical Storm Erin churned through the area in 2007, destroying the cheese factory. Many homes have storm shelters, and the Watonga Emergency Response Center is on the south end of town.
