Broken Bow with Kids: Mazes, Horseback Riding, and Beavers Bend Adventures

Just a few days after our challenging Black Mesa adventure, we headed to the complete opposite corner of Oklahoma—from the remote, isolated panhandle to the bustling tourist destination of Broken Bow. If Black Mesa was about solitude and stars, Broken Bow was about family activities, beautiful forests, and embracing the tourist vibe. Here's how our long weekend in southeastern Oklahoma went down.

The Journey: Small Town Oklahoma

We left Edmond around 10:00-10:30 AM on Thursday, March 20th, with plans to meet our friend Robbie for lunch in Tecumseh around 11:30 or noon. After our recent Black Mesa trip, packing came easily—we'd decided on sandwiches for lunches and going out for dinners, plus we loaded up on more snacks this time.

The drive took us through some charming small Oklahoma towns. At one point, Kelly spotted a massive traffic jam ahead and confidently took some side roads to bypass it, proudly declaring she can navigate anywhere within a 50-mile radius of OKC. (I plan to test this claim!)

The detour was actually a gift—we got to see quiet little towns that I find endlessly interesting. There's something about these small communities that makes me want to stop and explore.

Lunch at The Farmer's Daughter

We stopped at The Farmer's Daughter in Tecumseh, a cute little shop with baked goods and upscale sandwiches. This place deserves its own paragraph because of one sandwich: the brisket grilled cheese.

I'm not typically a grilled cheese person—the bread and cheese are usually nothing special. But this? Mind-blowing. Kelly said it was made with homemade sourdough bread, and the brisket was phenomenal. Kelly got a Reuben that was solid but nothing special. The kids shared desserts—Emmett got a personal peanut butter pie and Luna got coconut cake.

I made a huge mistake ordering Irish cream fudge (dyed green). In my head, I thought it was mint-flavored fudge. It wasn't. We all agreed it was pretty inedible.

Highly recommend: The brisket grilled cheese at The Farmer's Daughter. Worth the stop if you're passing through Tecumseh.

Arrival: More Touristy Than Expected

We aimed to arrive around 4:00 PM, and the timing got dicey toward the end. Kelly and Emmett were both antsy—they definitely feed off each other's energy—and everyone was ready to get out of the car.

Coming from Black Mesa's complete isolation, Broken Bow felt like a mini-Branson. Not as big, but definitely a tourist destination with limited roads in and out, and lots of visitors. It's a completely different vibe from the remote panhandle, but that doesn't mean it's not fun—just set your expectations accordingly.

Hoochatown Maze: Harder Than It Looks

We went straight to the Hoochatown Maze, and this turned out to be one of our favorite activities of the trip. The maze covers about 1-1.5 acres with wooden fencing, five towers, and 8-10 stamp stations scattered throughout.

The concept: collect all the stamps on your scorecard, then find the exit.

Cost: Around $75 for our family of four. I initially thought it was expensive, but we ended up spending nearly 2 hours there.

The Experience

I went in thinking the kids would split off and Kelly and I would do our own thing. Luna and Emmett loved this idea at first and ran off independently. After about 5 minutes, Emmett came back to get us. Ten minutes later, Luna rejoined the group too.

We collected all the stamps in maybe 45 minutes, taking turns letting different people lead. At this point, I thought we'd be done within the hour.

Then we had to find the exit.

This took another 30-45 minutes and nearly broke our brains. Kelly is excellent at mazes and directional challenges, and I like to think I'm reasonably smart, but we STRUGGLED. We went in circles multiple times in ways that still don't make sense to me.

Kelly and I were giggling and having the time of our lives, feeding off each other's confusion and determination. The kids? They were getting frustrated, hungry (it was approaching dinner time around 5:30), and tired of backtracking.

We eventually climbed to higher ground on one of the towers, mapped out where we needed to go, and—through trial and error—finally found the exit without cheating or asking for help.

Worth it? Absolutely. It's fun, challenging, and a great family bonding experience. Just bring patience and maybe a snack.

Dinner and Dessert Drama

Finding dinner proved tricky. Several promising spots had 50-100 cars in the parking lots. We stumbled upon Steven's Gap on a whim—a cheap diner with hardly any cars outside.

The food was very okay. Nothing memorable. But we didn't have to wait for a table, and sometimes that's what matters.

Kelly and I decided to get dessert to go (since my Irish cream fudge disaster earlier). Kelly got hummingbird cake and I got toasted coconut caramel cheesecake. Kelly liked hers; mine was really good but not actually cheesecake—more like a cream-based dessert. Still delicious!

The Mini Cabin: Cozy and Compact

Our accommodation was a mini cabin in Beavers Bend State Park—emphasis on "mini." Small but efficiently designed with:

• A bedroom on the first floor next to the bathroom
• Small sitting area and kitchen
• Upstairs loft for the kids (which they immediately dubbed "Kids Central")

The hot tub was significantly nicer than the one we'd used in Colorado the previous year. Even with all four of us in it, it maintained temperature perfectly.

After hot tubbing, Kelly and I went outside for stargazing. Initially, it didn't look special, but as we lay in the nearly-horizontal folding chairs, more and more stars appeared. Not as impressive as Black Mesa, but still better than back home.

One major downside: Zero insulation between our bedroom and the kids' loft upstairs. The kids had to shush us multiple times. This led to a disappointingly lack of nighttime activities, if you know what I mean.

Beavers Bend Hiking: Beautiful Rock Formations

Friday morning we headed out for a hike at Beavers Bend. We drove past the ranger station (which had a gift shop, museum, and courtyard with statues) but I was anxious to get on the trail, so we didn't explore much. Kelly wanted to look around more, but I grabbed a map, took a couple photos, and kept us moving.

The Friendly Trail

The countryside reminded me of Missouri—pretty hilly with tall trees, very different from the prairie landscape of Black Mesa. The trailhead parking lot already had many cars, which made me worry the trail would be too tame.

Thankfully, despite being fairly wide (3-4 feet), it still felt natural—just dirt, gravel, and rocks that looked like they belonged there, not like someone had hauled in materials to make a path.

The River and Rocks

After about half a mile, we reached a small river, maybe 30-40 feet wide. It had white water rapids in some sections and calmer pools in others. The rocks along the shore were incredible—super layered, flaky pieces that reminded me of mica. You could see compressed layers that had been pushed up, creating little divots and raised portions with veins of white quartz running throughout.

We spent significant time throwing rocks, skipping stones, and trying to see how far out we could get. There was a trail on the opposite bank that I kept wanting to cross to, and the kids wanted to as well, but we could never find a safe way across. We'd get halfway or a bit farther, but there was always a gap we couldn't manage.

The Full Loop

The whole loop was only 1.5 miles, though we might have made it longer by choosing the longer path at decision points. By the time we completed the loop, tons more cars had filled the parking lot.

Near the end, we spotted a road bridge and used it to access the other side of the river for another 10 minutes of exploration. I slipped several times on the smooth rocks and smacked my hand pretty good.

Picnic Area and Cliff Climbing

We walked back about a mile to a picnic area with a gated swimming section. The area had barriers in the water and signs saying "no fishing" (though we saw people doing it anyway). Lots of water sports were happening—canoes, rafts, paddle boards.

We broke out our packed sandwiches and ate while watching the activity.

Next to the parking lot was a cliff face going upward. Luna wanted to climb to the top, so I started up with her. We made it about halfway before I got nervous. The climbing itself wasn't super difficult, but there were so many loose rocks and unstable surfaces that I worried about her safety.

Around halfway up, we talked about the descent, and Luna wisely decided this was good enough. I was really proud of her for attempting it—it was pretty steep and challenging.

Killing Time Before Horseback Riding

We had an hour or hour-and-a-half to kill before our horseback riding reservation. Since it was such a short window, we decided to just head to the area and hang out.

The location had a playground, river access, a gift shop, train rides, and the horseback riding operation. The train was hilariously inefficient—one conductor operating two trains, so people would load up, ride, then sit and wait for the conductor to come back and take the next group. The line was extremely long.

Emmett and I broke off to the playground and river. Luna used this time to get her trip souvenir—a necklace with a white clear stone surrounded by little plastic gemstones.

Horseback Riding: An Unexpected Highlight

There were probably 20 of us on the ride. The instruction was very brief—they basically told us the basics of controlling the horses and that was it.

Then they picked Kelly first to get on her horse, which was hysterical. She made a nice joke of it, but I could tell this wasn't her favorite part of the trip.

Our horses:

• Kelly rode Sox
• Emmett rode Zach
• Luna rode Shirley
• I rode Rocky

The guide told us they don't remember people's names but they know all the horses' names, so remember your horse's name in case they need to help or correct you.

The Ride

The kids did great! Kelly was at the front of the line chatting with one of the workers the entire time. Emmett and Luna really enjoyed riding around, though Luna struggled a bit with turning—she kept yanking on the reins instead of gently guiding.

The 2-mile loop took us through flat, wooded trails. Emmett spotted a stuffed animal skunk in a hollowed tree trunk (I'm not sure he realized it was stuffed). We saw the train go by once and spotted a few deer.

The workers were super nice—good old boys who joked with the kids about Bigfoot and feeding it pizza so it wouldn't eat the kids.

Kelly's verdict? A sore butt the next day. She talked about it repeatedly!

After the ride, we stopped back at the ranger station so Emmett could get his souvenir—a stuffed buffalo he named Buffy.

Dinner at Grateful Head Pizza

We tried to beat the dinner rush by going around 4:00 PM, but there was still heavy traffic. Grateful Head Pizza was a pizzeria/micro brewery with local beers on tap.

The wait to sit down: 45 minutes. After hesitating and walking around, we decided to order takeout. Kelly had run into someone in the bathroom who'd been waiting 45 minutes to sit PLUS over 30 minutes for their pizza—we weren't up for that kind of wait.

Since our pizza would take about an hour, Kelly volunteered to go back out for it later while the kids and I returned to the cabin.

The Gift Shop Situation

Attached to the pizza place was possibly the strangest gift shop I've ever seen. It was filled with cheap knick-knacks, but most of them were broken. Chinese finger traps? Shredded. Music boxes? Almost all broken.

It felt less like a gift shop and more like a free-play area for kids waiting on pizza. I don't know if that was intentional, but it certainly felt that way.

The Pizza Verdict

Kelly picked up the pizza while the kids and I enjoyed the hot tub. We'd ordered half supreme, half pineapple-sausage-olive, plus cheesy bread (basically pizza dough with cheese).

The pizza was a B or B-minus. Fine but not amazing. The supreme had whole black olives, which both Kelly and I found weird—every other pizza place slices their olives. Emmett seemed to like it though. The whole experience was decent but nothing to write home about.

Cost: Expect to spend $30-40 for pizza for a family of four, plus drinks.

Final Evening: Hot Tub and Possums

After pizza and some TV, the kids went to bed and Kelly and I headed outside for more stargazing. It was slightly warmer than the previous night, and I'd smartly worn a heavy coat this time.

We kept hearing things walking through the forest. Kelly claimed she saw a deer. When she went inside first, I started looking around with the flashlight.

There was a little possum just 5-6 feet away from me, down the stairs from the balcony. I made noises trying to scare it off, but it didn't seem to care at all. It was actually kind of cute, just sitting there looking at me. It might have been a bit blinded by my flashlight (I definitely shot it right in the face), but it didn't make any aggressive sounds and eventually scurried away on its own.

A perfect, weird end to our Broken Bow adventure.

Practical Information

Getting There:

• About 3.5-4 hours from OKC/Edmond area
• Mostly state routes through small towns
• Stop at The Farmer's Daughter in Tecumseh for lunch!

Accommodation:

• We stayed in a mini cabin at Beavers Bend State Park
• Small but efficient layout with hot tub
• "Kids Central" loft upstairs is a hit with children
• Poor sound insulation between floors
• Expect $150-250/night depending on season

Activities & Costs:

• Hoochatown Maze: ~$75 for family of four, allow 1.5-2 hours
• Beavers Bend hiking: Free, beautiful rock formations along the river
• Horseback riding: ~$40-60 per person for 2-mile guided trail ride
• Ranger station: Small fee for entry, gift shop available

Dining:

• The Farmer's Daughter (Tecumseh): Amazing brisket grilled cheese
• Grateful Head Pizza: Okay pizza, long waits, weird gift shop
• Steven's Gap: Cheap diner food, no wait
• Expect most restaurants to be busy, especially on weekends

What to Bring:

• Comfortable hiking shoes (trail is easy but rocky)
• Swimsuit for hot tub and river play
• Layers (mornings are cool, afternoons warm)
• Snacks for activities like the maze
• Patience for crowds and waits

Best For:

• Families who want activities and amenities
• People who don't mind touristy destinations
• Those looking for easier hiking than Black Mesa
• Anyone wanting horseback riding and adventure activities

Black Mesa vs Broken Bow: Which Should You Choose?

Having done both trips back-to-back, here's my take:

Choose Black Mesa if you want:

• Solitude and incredible stargazing
• Challenging hiking
• Remote, untouched nature
• Minimal crowds

Choose Broken Bow if you want:

• Family-friendly activities
• Easier hiking with beautiful scenery
• Dining and shopping options
• More amenities and convenience

Honestly? Do both. They're completely different experiences, and seeing opposite corners of Oklahoma in one month really showcased how diverse our state is.

Final Thoughts

Broken Bow surprised us. After the isolation of Black Mesa, we initially balked at the tourist crowds and busy restaurants. But once we embraced it for what it was—a family-friendly destination with fun activities—we had a great time.

The Hoochatown Maze challenged us in ways we didn't expect. The Beavers Bend hiking was gorgeous even if it wasn't as dramatic as Black Mesa. The horseback riding gave the kids confidence and Kelly a sore butt. And that weird possum encounter? We'll be laughing about that for years.

Luna got her necklace, Emmett got Buffy the buffalo, and Kelly and I got some quality hot tub time (even if we had to be quiet about it).

Would we go back? Absolutely. Next time we'll skip Grateful Head Pizza, spend more time at the ranger station, and maybe brave that climb to the top of the cliff.

Have you been to Broken Bow? What activities would you recommend? Drop a comment below!