On a recent episode of “The Real Housewives of Dallas,” the ladies took a weekend road trip in a small RV to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, where they rented a luxurious cabin in the lush forest. As a devoted Bravo-holic, I nearly shrieked with delight when I saw the same sign for “Hochatown” as recently featured on the television series.
Hochatown is a community in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, the second to hold the name after the first was flooded by the damming of the Moutnain Fork Riverto to create Broken Bow Lake. The city lies within the Little Dixie region of Oklahoma, an area originally settled largely by Southerners seeking a new start following the Civil War.
The land that would become Hochatown was owned by the Choctaw tribe, with twelve families moving into the area in the 1880s. Like Broken Bow, Hochatown grew around the Choctaw Lumber and Coal Company, (later named Dierks) gaining a post office in 1894 and becoming a bustling town by 1900. The lumber company built a railroad spur between Hochatown and the community of Eagle town, Oklahoma to facilitate the export of logs.
Hochatown State Park wraps around the shore of crystal clear Broken Bow Lake. Hochatown State Park was once an independent Oklahoma state park in far southeastern Oklahoma, north of the city of Broken Bow. It was combined into Beavers Bend State Park in 2017.
Broken Bow is a small city in southeastern Oklahoma that serves as a gateway to Beavers Bend State Park, home to black bears, bald eagles and pine forest trails. The park’s Forest Heritage Center Museum explores the role of forestry in local life. Broken Bow Lake has islands, beaches, boat ramps and fish such as largemouth bass. East of town, the 1884 Gardner Mansion & Museum features Native American and pioneer artifacts.
It’s easily understandable why Stephanie from “The Real Housewives of Dallas” decided to organize a fun trip to Oklahoma for her fellow housewives and the housewife added some very interesting activities to the itinerary such as going on a quest to find the legendary Bigfoot. She roped in a local Oklahoma resident, Charles Benton, who made headlines with his claims of having seen Bigfoot. When Charles came down to meet the ladies and told them about his experience of sighting Bigfoot, he shared his knowledge about the beast with the housewives.
Broken Bow city in Oklahoma has become a major tourist attraction thanks to rumors of the presence of Bigfoot in the area. For several decades generations of people grew up in Oklahoma hearing stories of Bigfoot and the terror that the beast is capable of causing. Charles made headlines a few years ago when he claimed that he spotted Bigfoot.
He explained to the ladies how a few years ago while hunting for turkeys during sunset he came face to face with the dreaded beast. “Behind me I could hear this moaning, this grunting. And I could feel it almost,” Charles explained. In an interview with State Impact Oklahoma, he described the experience, “I was on my all fours there for a minute. When I got back to my knees and was getting up — see the trees that make kind of a ‘V’? Right there. In between those two trees, down there in that creek.” He says the creature turned and looked right at him. “I ran up this hill, ran past my blind, my tent and all my camping stuff. Ran to my truck and never came back,” Charles claims.
While we didn’t experience the thrill of a Bigfoot sighting or bump into any housewives, we did manage to take in some of the natural beauty of the region. We traveled one of the best drives to enjoy in Broken Bow, within Beavers Bend State Park. Talimena National Scenic Byway (295A) has some of the most panoramic scenes of the Ouachita Mountain range. It goes on for a route of 56 miles and has some breathtaking backdrops. Do try to take in this drive within Beaver if you want be be impressed.
Friends and family in Louisiana and Texas had recommended that we include Broken Bow in our itinerary for our road trip north. Our friend Nannette said to be sure to try the Blue Rooster Restaurant in Hoachatown for “down home cooking all made from scratch.” Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed so we didn’t get to sample the fare, but do keep it in mind if you make the journey to Broken Bow/Hochatown.
Broken Bow is the water paradise of Oklahoma. The destination being set in the backdrop of the heavenly Ouachita Mountains draws many tourists to its heart. Broken Bow can be one of the best places to check out for a weekend destination offering a variety of outdoor activities, including fishing, boating, hiking, camping and horseback riding. There’s also many restaurants, wineries and casinos to round out the experience. Just watch out for Bigfoot!
World Traveler Pro 