sailboat bridge in oklahoma

Dr. Bruce Howell

The year 2015 brought the 75th Anniversary of the realization of Henry Holderman's vision for the Pensacola Dam and Grand Lake.

• Production Notes

The seventy-fifth anniversary of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is observed in 2015 thanks to a fourteen-year-old year old boy who had a vision of a dam while hauling lumber from Kansas to Spavinaw hills in Oklahoma. Henry Holderman pursued his dream for thirty-four years and it became a reality in 1940.

Construction began in 1938 on the Pensacola Dam as a Works Progress Administration project (also known as the WPA). The project’s chief engineer was W. R. Holway, who was also responsible for Tulsa’s Spavinaw water project. The architect of record for the Art Deco design of the dam and powerhouse was Tulsan John Duncan Forsyth.

The dam was completed in March 1940, creating the lake behind it. Between 1941 and 1946, the U.S. government took control of Pensacola Dam to divert power to the war effort. Control was returned to the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) by Congress and President Truman amid a local celebration in August 1946.

Pensacola Dam is claimed to be the longest multiple arch dam in the world, supporting a walkway and narrow two lane highway. Henry Holderman died in 1951 but lived to see his dream become the Pensacola Dam and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

Chapter 1—1:30 Introduction

Announcer: henry holderman, a member of the cherokee nation, was the first to dream of grand river as a source for hydroelectric power for the cherokee nation. prior to oklahoma statehood in 1907, holderman began building political support for such a project. a feasibility.

study by the Army Corps of Engineers attracted favorable attention in the Oklahoma legislature, leading to creation of the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), a state agency, in 1935.

Construction began in 1938 on the Pensacola Dam as a project of the Works Progress Adminstration, also known as the WPA. The dam was completed in March 1940, creating the lake behind it. Between 1941 and 1946, the U.S. government took control of Pensacola Dam to divert power to the war effort. Control was returned to the GRDA by the Congress and President Truman amid local celebration in August 1946.

Pensacola Dam is claimed to be the longest multiple arch dam in the world, supporting a walkway and a narrow two lane highway.

The project’s chief engineer was W. R. Holway (who was also responsible for Tulsa’s Spavinaw water project), while the architect of record for the Art Deco design of the dam and powerhouse was Tulsan John Duncan Forsyth.

Dr. Bruce Howell, who has become a historian for North Eastern Oklahoma, tells the story of the crown jewel of the state, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees on VoicesofOklahoma com.

Chapter 2—7:18 Henry Holderman

John erling: my name is john erling. today’s date is december 2, 2014. you might say it’s a 30-degree day, cold and cloudy, kind of gray day here at grand lake, but we like being, grand lake o’ the cherokees.

The year 2015 brought the 75th anniversary of the realization of Henry Holderman’s vision

for Pensacola Dam and Grand Lake.

here anyway. And joining me here at the lake is Dr. Bruce Howell, and we’re going to tell the story of the history of Grand Lake and how it came about.

Dr. Howell, you’ve been a teacher, a coach, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, professor and chair of the School of Educational Administration and Research at the University of Tulsa, forty-two years in education. Would that be accurate?

Bruce Howell: That’s correct.

Je: now you have become an historian of sorts for northeast oklahoma, having written and put out a book not too long ago, which was called, bh: echoes from the past , two volumes., je: and that was a series of articles that you had done about this area, bh: yes. and were published in area newspapers..

JE: You have become an historian because I don’t think anybody else has researched this as much as you have. And at this date, you are writing the history of this area, 1806 History of Northeast Oklahoma . That book, then, will be coming out and that will be different from your previous book?

BH: Yeah, that’s a chronological history dating from the time that the first explorer actually discovered Three Forks, down at Muskogee, the confluence of the Grand and Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers.

Je: and that first explorer was, bh: james wilkinson. james wilkinson started actually in kansas and followed the arkansas river on what he thought would be a two-week trip to new orleans on the arkansas river. and the arkansas river is so fickle. he started in late october, it froze, it drained out, it filled up, and it took him fifty-four days just to get to three forks..

So that’s the beginning of a long story.

JE: Well, we have a river here that became a lake as well, the Neosho River, also known as Grand River. We’ll get into the names later on. And then, of course, we have Grand Lake O the Cherokees, but those names came about after much discussion. We should say that Grand Lake O the Cherokees is part of the Mississippi River system, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. And then the lake follows the bed of the Neosho River.

Bh: neosho., je: but we start with the vision of a man by the name of henry holderman. and i believe he was sixteen when he had a vision. what can you tell us about him, bh: the family lived in chetopa, kansas. henry holderman’s dad would transport lumber down to spavinaw, down to the mill at spavinaw lynch’s mill. then they would return with ground gain of different kinds to chetopa. on his way, of course, he had to cross the grand river, basically near pensacola. at the age of sixteen, he began getting this vision, this idea of building a dam somewhere on this river. and, of course, as a sixteen-year-old kid he had.

no wherewithal, didn’t understand what he was doing, he had some kind of an altercation, I think at Muskogee, that caused him to flee the territory. He ended up in Africa.

I guess he went to India after that. But during his time in India he learned how to build mud dams. And so he had somewhat of a background. And when he returned at the age of eighteen, after three or four years, he and his older brother floated down on a raft the full length of the Neosho River, all the way to Three Forks, the confluence of Arkansas, the

Verdigris, and the Grand. He was looking for a place to locate a dam.

His brother had had some education as an engineer, a year or so, and so he had a little background. Believe it or not they almost picked the site where the Pensacola Dam was eventually located. Actually, the site they picked was about three hundred yards further south, on what was determined later became the Seneca Fault. Seneca Fault runs from Seneca, Missouri, to Prior. And when they considered building the dam there some of the workmen were losing their tools in this crevice. So as a result of that they moved the dam further north to its present location.

JE: I think by about three hundred yards.

Bh: three hundred yards., je: which is the reason, i understand, that langley, the main street doesn’t directly butt up and make sense. you might tell them., bh: highway 28 was designated to go through langley, and then directly across the dam. but langley main street was built and then they made this discovery. so now, of course, 28 turns off and passes in front of the grda building and crosses further north., je: now henry was real remarkable because, as you’ve stated, fourteen and then eighteen, and he spent actually most of his adult life and money pursuing this dream., bh: yes, his problem was that he didn’t have enough credibility with the banking industry or the money industry. and as a result of that, every time he would set up a corporation, for one reason or another, it would fail. it was cyrus avery actually that began the first effort to build a dam., je: he wasn’t a trained engineer. i guess that was his problem., bh: that was one of his problems. that’s true. another byline, the guy was also adventuresome. he also took part, for example, when they were looking for a couple of brothers who had shot and killed a deputy marshal, and he joined ike gilstrap, who was deputy marshal for judge parker. they were hunting these fellows down and then gilstrap got killed during that period and holderman was one of the posse..

He has a varied background, he always seemed to be in the center of things.

JE: I think he lost the land allotments given him and his wife and children by the Cherokees. He lost those, borrowed money from his friends, they didn’t want anything to do with him.

Bh: that’s correct., je: and then when he went out east, those wealthy capitalist, they didn’t want to do it once they learned the dam would be in indian territory where only indians could own land., bh: well, then he tried a scheme with some chicago financiers and found what they wanted to do was kite the bond payments. he, in turn, rejected that. so it was a two-way street. sometimes they rejected him. on at least one occasion he rejected an opportunity to possibly build the dam, although it was a long shot., je: henry holderman did see his dream come true after all, didn’t he, bh: oh yes, he finished the lake for ten years after it was formed. it was formed in march of 1940, it was filled the following november. he didn’t die for another ten or eleven years., je: i think he was seventy-seven when he died, but he died a pauper. and here’s a man with this dream—it may have happened without him sometime, but may not have happened when it did., bh: well, it was certainly through his constant effort and encouragement, at least to push it along., je: yeah, so we really have to give him full credit for it, we do., bh: absolutely. i think he and bill holway are the prime characters in this saga., chapter 3—3:45 why pensacola, john erling: about cyrus avery, he was instrumental with others in forming the grand river dam authority in 1907., bruce howell: true. it eventually faded, along with two or three other attempts by various entities, but he was one of the first. avery was an entrepreneur of the first water and he saw this as a great opportunity., je: and then we can point out the father of route 66., je: and as i understand it, route 66 comes through tulsa because he was instrumental in making sure it went through tulsa., bh: that’s my understanding., je: so henry holderman in 1911 had a plan, along with his wife, maude, and e. l. stegall, a banker from strang, incorporated the grand river power and electric company with capital stock of five million dollars, but the group did not obtain the necessary financing to proceed. and this led to many, many financial plans, which i think you’ve already alluded to., bh: they tried all sorts of plans. there was even an effort to build a canal across the two inlets on monkey island and develop something there that would create a mill. there was all kinds of schemes in this area., je: and then, this is about the time the stock market crashes, october 29, 1929, so you’ve got all that as a background., je: tough to get somebody to make a venture in an investment., bh: that’s right., je: there was a point here that the united states army corps of engineers conducted this study for the development of the grand river area. and concluded that such a project was not economically justified., bh: well, it was a time when their main interest was flood control, not hydraulic dams of one or another. so until roosevelt became president and eventually the tva, tennessee valley authority was developed there was really no federal effort to develop hydroelectric dams., je: the naming of the dam was pensacola, and why was that, bh: well, joe martin had a hundred thousand-acre ranch. his home base was at cabin creek, and he named it pensacola because the family had come from georgia originally, and apparently had done business in pensacola, florida. there was really kind of a hazy.

question about exactly why the wording “Pensacola,” but he had named his ranch Pensacola.

JE: So that’s why the town became that?

Bh: yes eventually the town became that. actually, pensacola was relocated four times, first at cabin creek, then richard, his son, later built a house, which by the way is still.

standing west of current Pensacola. And he had a trading post, if you will, on the military road there. And they started a Pensacola post office. And then further, after Richard shot his wife for infidelity and then shot himself, they moved the post office further north to a little community.

And then when Pensacola was organized, where the town is located now, the fellow that organized the town or developed the town convinced the merchant who had the post office at the little church community to move his business and the post office, which is what the guy really wanted, to the current Pensacola. So it has four sites, if you will, finally.

JE: But then naming the dam Pensacola came about—

Bh: because the corps of engineers’ common practice was to take a geographical point name of a town and use that as a point of reference, if you will., je: the towns of langley and disney did not exist at that time., bh: no, no, they came along afterwards., chapter 4—3:12 president roosevelt, john erling: but then something happened in washington, and you’ve alluded to it, that would benefit the pensacola project, and that is, the president franklin roosevelt proposed the tennessee valley authority act in may of 1933., bruce howell: yes., je: and what did that act call for, bh: well, it called for the development of a hydroelectric dam the first, and it set the precedent., je: so then if the federal government would help water power in the tennessee river area why wouldn’t they do it in other areas of the country as well so that was a big boon for us., bh: well, that was a breakthrough, yes., je: well, there is a point then when members of our state’s washington delegation, senators josh lee, elmer thomas, and wesley disney asked president roosevelt for funding of a survey through the war department in a meeting in july of 1935. but no action took place..

Then in 1936, something did happen when President Roosevelt traveled to Texas.

BH: Yes he went to Texas to a rally, and on his return, they returned on the Katy Line up through northeast Oklahoma. The Vinita town fathers had passed some ordnance that all sitting presidents must stop in Vinita on their way through. Which, of course, he didn’t have to do that but he honored it and did spend about ten or fifteen minutes on the

platform. And he was informed of the potential of the Pensacola Project. From there on it began to catch fire.

JE: They say a crowd of about five thousand gathered there at the M Katy Station in Vinita.

Can you imagine how excited everybody was, June 13, 1936?

BH: I can’t even imagine there were five thousand people in the region that could get there, but—

Je: mrs. roosevelt was with him on the train., je: in fact, i guess somebody snuck a string of catfish up to them., bh: well, there are all kinds of stories about what did or didn’t happen then., je: so then is it true that george shaffer, owner of the office supply store, shout from the crowd to the president, “mr. president, you’re now within twelve miles of the proposed site of the grand river dam and we want it built”, bh: yes, he initiated that conversation after roosevelt had made a few remarks. that caught roosevelt’s attention and he followed up and said that if it’s possible we’ll see that it gets done., je: so that was a key part of this whole story, bh: well, absolutely. i mean, if roosevelt hadn’t come through on the katy railroad the prospects of building it would be very slim, because you consider how close the dam was finished at the time the second word war began. had it been delayed another couple years the war would have started and all the resources that ordinarily government might have spent on infrastructure would have gone to the military. so there’s a very good possibility that if george hadn’t shouted out that the timing wouldn’t have worked out., je: i’m jumping ahead of ourselves but the power from the dam was used in the war effort., bh: that’s true. as a matter of fact, it was off limits to the public during the war and the government actually took the dam over and returned it in 1945., chapter 5—2:20 nay sayers, john erling: so $125,000 was appropriated to perform a survey. so now we had the federal government involved, and that was real key to this., bruce howell: yes. and wesley disney was also a catalyst to be sure that it kept coming., je: then there was an undersecretary of the interior, l. e. brulu, who became a strong friend of this proposal. and apparently had the president’s ear. he then was speaking to the president about it., bh: well, that kept it alive. and, of course, there have been other hydroelectric dams built as a result of that, those sequence of dams. but somebody had to keep the president informed. this wasn’t his only project., je: right. we had a war brewing. well, that was in ’37, i guess ’39 is when the germans invaded poland would be the beginning of that. so this was the lead-up to that..

And I understand the Tulsa World carried this quote from Henry Holderman, “Our work has just begun. We’ve got to unite the cities of Northeastern Oklahoma into making the paradise spot of the nation.” Certainly, I would imagine, through this area, whatever towns, there were the naysayers.

BH: Well, the naysayers could not understand why you would want to antedate perfectly good farmland, probably the best farmland in the region because it was river farmland. So there were those that were opposed to it, obviously, and those who were for it.

I think Ray McNaughton’s speech that he made. Ray McNaughton became chairman eventually of the GRDA, lawyer. He made comment that this was employing as many at that time as five hundred people and would possibly employ over two thousand. Well, that

was music to the ears of poverty-stricken people in the ‘30s. That was another turning point. There were arguments pro and con, but the job’s argument, as it is today, would be a strong one.

JE: Right. Then many of these people were without electricity, so the promise too of electricity to these towns and rural areas had to be a strong argument.

Bh: well, you have to know that mostly only towns had electricity. very frequently the electricity was shut off so that power could be rebuilt. it was shut off at nine o’clock at night. so whatever you wanted to do with electric power you did before nine, after that it was lamps., chapter 6—6:14, w. r. holway, john erling: then enters the man you’ve referenced, w. r. holway. he too was very young as he began to become interested in the construction of dams. i believe he was fourteen years old., bruce howell: actually it was a canal., bh: in the northeast, around cape cod. he grew up in that area and eventually received his degree, i believe, at mit. shortly thereafter matriculated to tulsa., je: an interesting thing about him is that he fell in love with his high school teacher., bh: hope was seven years older than he was and she was a high school teacher and she might have been even principal of the school. she also played in a local dance band; i think one of his brothers or sisters was involved. so he would, as a kid, go to the dances and he would get the last dance with hope. this, of course, wasn’t going to work out at the time, so after he graduated from college he returned home, proposed to hope, she accepted, and they were married. and that was a very happy relationship., je: and she was frances hope kerr. by the way, we should point out, he probably came back here to this area and to tulsa only because of hope., bh: possibly., je: this man contributed so much to our area, but because of his love for this woman that he came back., je: what was interesting about mr. holway is he was an agnostic, became the second president of the unitarian church in tulsa., bh: and, of course, hope was honored with having a second unitarian church named there in her honor., je: right. they were founders of all souls unitarian and then hope unitarian is named in honor of her., je: is it true then that mr. holway came to tulsa in 1918 to take charge of the water filtration system, bh: yeah, the arkansas. je: of the arkansas river bh: right., je: and that’s when he then began to design a new water supply system for tulsa., bh: yes. he also gained a reputation internationally; he did work out of the country as well..

He was quite an exceptional individual as far as his knowledge of water resources and the dams and things of that nature.

Then he came back, they had a need for a water supply. The town fathers in Tulsa were well aware that if their city was going to grow they had to find more water than they had access to at the time. And his idea seemed laughable at the time.

JE: And that idea was?

Bh: it was gravity flow. he contended that there was a water source, the spavinaw creek in eastern oklahoma, that could be dammed. originally people didn’t think that was.

possible, but eventually he convinced enough of the power structure that it could be done. A fifty-four-mile, I believe, channel was developed gravity flow by 1924.

JE: Let’s point out that Tulsa was getting their water from the Arkansas River.

Bh: which was salty., je: yeah. it was not very good., bh: no, well, it was right out of the cimarron, if you will, in all—, bh: right out of the western part of kansas and all of those points west. yeah., je: and, of course, members of the tulsa water commission doubted that the water would actually flow that far from spavinaw to tulsa., bh: but, fortunately, it did. there are other all kinds of stories about calvin coolidge pushing the button that started the water-flow. whether that actually happened or not is questionable because actually i think the button was pushed at the spavinaw. but nevertheless, some politician convinced the president that he needed to be involved in this., je: as chamber of commerce people might do this was a publicity stunt by this man by the name of charles border. he wanted national publicity and he asked w. r. holway to put.

his fifteen thousand dollar check in a waterproof container, let it flow through the gravity line to Tulsa.

BH: He dropped it in at the last well spot before it popped up in Lake Yahola.

Je: and then he asked president calvin coolidge to press this button. well, that was just the stunt because you’re right, the gates were hand-operated. they placed the box in the mohawk reservoir and then twentieth century fox newsreel comes along and films all this and the publicity stunt let them believe that that actually happened, but it didn’t., bh: anyway, tulsa got its water, and that was the main objective. and that did bear fruit., je: it’s interesting for tulsans to know that, but the experience that mr. holway gained from that helped them then for the pensacola dam., bh: yes. of course, he not only built a dam eventually, but i think another remarkable experiment, i believe there was only one other pump back in the united states. pump backs were familiar to europeans, that is, when the water-flow diminishes at the dam, why you have a reservoir by previously pumping water to a higher level..

And so, later when he constructed Kerr Dam and built Lake Hudson he built what was called the Salina Pump Back. The W. R. Holway Lake is a reservoir for the times when the water gets low in the dam, they can release that water from a higher level and generate electricity that way.

So the man was brilliant in many respects.

JE: I understand members of the Klu Klux Klan wanted him to fire some of the engineers because they attended the Roman Catholic Church.

Bh: well, he obviously ignored that. as a matter of fact, holway ignored everyone’s advice but his own. he started from that premise, and for the most part, he was usually right. that just strengthened his resolve, and, of course, he booed the klu klux klan off and they didn’t succeed in their demands at all..

But I might say as an aside, at that time they were a very powerful entity in Oklahoma. They ruled the roost in many communities and I guess they thought at the time they were going to rule Holway. No one did.

Chapter 7—2:55 GRDA

John erling: we talk about people coming up from mexico, laborers didn’t want to do the cement work on the dam, but they protested and they ran off the mexican workers that were brought in to do the work., bruce howell: as i say, there are all kinds of sidebars here. people were supposed to have fallen in the cement and died and things like that. it’s sometimes hard to separate fact from fiction., je: yeah. i think you’ve alluded to this already, but i’m going to cover it anyway. they were taking core samples at the site for the dam, proposed by the army corps of engineers, and that’s when the drillers found their tools slipping away into the ground., bh: in the seneca fault, yes., je: and it actually penetrated the roof of a cave, which was as large as a good-size storeroom and was very close to the seneca fault line., bh: yeah. it certainly gave them cause for pause to say, “well, i don’t think we want to build a heavy dam over this fault. and so that’s when they moved it., je: three hundred yards north of the original site..

There’s a lot of yin and yang that we’re not getting into here, GRDA and arguments and fights and so forth, which maybe would be boring, but it probably didn’t go slowly as we’re talking about. Many hurdles of ownership, finally the GRDA was considered owner, a legal state agency.

BH: Um-hmm (affirmative).

Je: this went to the state supreme court, you had all that fighting going on., bh: there was obviously a tug and pull between the private corporations, private electric corporations, and the possibility of having a public entity that would generate electricity. and so, as usual in politics, what you see isn’t what you’re getting. what you see is people obstructing the efforts of other people. but the real rationale isn’t known, and the real rationale here was simply that this was going to cut into the profits of private electrical companies..

So the governor and others became involved in this.

JE: And, consequently, some of the governors then perhaps, their campaigns had been contributed to by some of these electric companies?

Bh: some things never change, john., je: no they don’t. they— bh: they never change. je: no they don’t. so—, bh: they’re bought and paid for and they have to produce—, bh: …or they leave office., je: governor philips, i think, was one of those that was against it., je: but once it was decided that it was a legal state agency then that kicked off a huge celebration in vinita and in ketchum and in disney., bh: well, certainly. by this time, the locals had caught the vision; the jobs, the potential, the recreational center here in northeast oklahoma, in addition to the electricity, of course. i always hie back to something that j. howard langley wrote. he said he would rather buy his cotton socks from mills in oklahoma than massachusetts..

And, of course, J. Howard was the first chairman, briefly, of the GRDA.

Chapter 8—3:04

January 13, 1938, john erling: all told then, the pensacola project included the dam, the main spillway, two auxiliary spillways, a powerhouse, a switchyard, and an observation house. the dam was 150 feet high., bruce howell: and a mile long., je: and a mile long, right., bh: it was patterned after the buchanan dam in texas, which is kind of unique. you can see the uniqueness, it’s not as you would assume any dam would like, with the bubbles on the back and on the downside of the dam., je: wasn’t it known that it’s the longest multiple-arch dam that was built in the united states, bh: that’s correct, yes. but it was patterned after the buchanan dam., je: so then the first dirt for the excavation was moved on january 13, 1938., bh: and the dam was opened, that is, the spillway was closed on march of 1940. and believe it or not, they had two years of drought in kansas, where there was hardly any rainfall during that whole period. so that they could proceed with clearing the land the water would cover. also it expedited the building of the dam, which was, by the way, on a twenty-four/ seven basis..

Things went well and the spring that the dam gate was finally closed, March, became one of the heaviest rainfalls in Kansas and Missouri.

BH: And the lake was filled by the following December.

Je: following a timeline, by the end of november ’39, concrete had been poured in 77 percent of the main dam. all of the main spillways, twenty-seven buttresses and twenty-two arches, 453,000 cubic yards of concrete had been poured through december of ’39. and then.

the hydraulic turbines, governor’s valves, and generators were installed at the powerhouse by January 26 of 1940. And then, as you said, the final openings in the dam were closed March 21 of 1940.

BH: You know, there’s a little byline story on that between Philips and Holway.

Je: governor philips that we referred to., bh: yes, red philips. apparently ray mcnaughton and philips had an agreement that philips would be notified when the final gate was to be closed. apparently, w. r..

Holway was concerned that Philips was going to in some way delay the opening

because he was still not happy with the payment that the government had made for the roads and bridges. As a matter of fact, he had sued the government for eight hundred thousand dollars, in addition to whatever amount they had already given. So Holway was fearful that Philips would in some way delay it. So he ordered the dam to be closed.

When Philips heard about this he made the remark that Holway snuck down and closed the gates without permission. That he had specifically talked to Ray McNaughton about this.

Holway said he had talked to McNaughton, but he hadn’t talked to me.

JE: Right. As we’ve already said, nothing changes.

Chapter 9—7:47 clearing of the land, john erling: so then, mr. holway reported august 13, 1940, to the grda board that the dam was completed. at that time the lake elevation was 713.3 feet above sea level. twenty-one thousand acres north of the dam were covered by water, and by the end of 1940, 27,000 of the eventual 46,500 officially then built october 23, 1940., bruce howell: that’s right., je: there still were issues at the grda that needed to be worked out before the water could come in. land had to be acquired and towns were flooded..

Let’s talk about the acquiring and clearing of the land.

BH: Of course, the pushback against the clearing of the land was the value of the land. There isn’t question that it was fertile soil, so the farmers, as anyone would do, thought their land was worth much more than the GRDA thought it was worth. Eventually the GRDA would win those battles.

There was also the issue of exhuming bodies from cemeteries, moving them. The two towns that were inundated were Old Bernice and Echo. Echo is underneath what is now Echo Bay, as you’re approaching Monkey Island on the left. And Old Bernice, in the low water in the fall you can still see some of the foundation from Old Bernice.

Now Old Bernice, interestingly enough, had been the Needmore. Needmore was roughly a mile east of the Baptist church on Monkey Island. It was a small community. And then when the railroad was built in 1912, Bernice was founded, Old Bernice was founded, and the people from Needmore matriculated the mile or so over to Old Bernice.

Then when the lake was inundated, they moved Old Bernice to Bernice as we know it today, New Bernice, I guess we’d call it. The MOG railroad track, which is now part of the highway that runs through Bernice was the original railroad track after it had been moved. The railroad tracks runs then on down to Littlefield’s Corner and on beyond over to Copeland Switch.

So those two towns were inundated. I guess the one thing that we lost in that inundation was in Bernice when the original Highway 59 went on both sides of the town pump in Old Bernice. So we lost that feature when it was inundated.

JE: Um-hmm (affirmative). Oil pipelines had to be moved. There was an Ajax pipeline and Shell pipeline near Wyandotte, across the Grand River Valley had to be relocated.

Bh: those had to be relocated because of the spring and the neosho rivers just south of there where those rivers join and form what we call the grand river. obviously it inundated that area and they had to move those., je: telephone lines obviously had to be inundated. the grda provided a new intake pumping station and filter plant for grove. which brings up an interesting story because as this whole project was developing they needed a bridge to be built at grove., bh: well, before the sailboat bridge, is what you’re referring to was built, it was a long haul around the lake, either to go east almost through arkansas, or west, which of course, would be all the way to pensacola almost. so the construction of the bridge, which the governor laughingly called sailboat bridge because of the arch. and it was built, as a matter of fact, so boats could get under it..

What most people weren’t aware of was that after the bridge was constructed the state government was supposed to build the approaches to the bridge, which Philips kept delaying and delaying and delaying. So here sat this bridge without any approaches, until finally the good citizens of Grove filled it in themselves so they could get across on the shortcut to Copeland Switch. That’s the way they finally got connected to the rest of the world.

JE: Pointing out again that Sailboat Bridge was named in a derogatory manner by Governor Philips.

Bh: oh absolutely., je: and it stuck., bh: yes. he was not a fan of the whole project..

JE: So then when we think about inundating this area we’ve got all these trees and underbrush, and you might have thought, That’s no big deal, we don’t have to move these trees, we can just flood them. But that was not to be.

BH: That was not to be. And that’s different, interestingly enough, than we’ll say Keystone Lake, where they didn’t cut the trees to the bottom. A lot of those logs continue to float up

from time to time as they rot away. Certainly I’ve sailed on Keystone Lake enough with my rudder down to know that there are logs under there in Salt Creek and other places.

Here they burned, they cut trees, they used equipment to clear out the land and did a good job of clearing the brush, burning the brush, and so forth. They were working on that, literally, up until the gates were closed.

JE: Hmm. And then you’d see the smoke in this area for a long, long time. One person said the air smoky for two or three years.

Bh: well, of course, because they were burning thousands of acres of timber..

I know as I stand on the overlook where I live and look at Grand Lake and try to envision where the river actually flowed and where the meadows would have been in that area, and you consider as you look at the trees surrounding the lake that the same was occurring right up to the river itself. And all those had to be cut. And all the brush had

to be cleared. It was an enormous task. Building the dam was the premiere objective but clearing the land was certainly an enormous accomplishment.

JE: Most of 48,780 acres in four counties involve private properties owned, obviously by individuals. Most of that land is where we are right now in Delaware County.

Bh: yes. and, of course, there’s still the complaint at miami about the backup and the potential flooding as a result of the lake being built. and that contention is still going on. it started then and it continues today., je: wow. some eight hundred graves, as we talked about, had to be relocated. two thousand separate settlements, many of them taken to court., bh: well, another byline on the graves is the effort by the university of oklahoma to excavate prehistoric sites. one in woodward hollow was of particular interest because apparently during prehistoric times the gatherers would come up from the southern part of the state and spend the summers here gathering berries and whatever else. in many cases they housed themselves in caves at woodward hollow. woodward hollow turned out to be a treasure trove, unbeknownst to folks until the time came to almost antedate the lake, and so they frantically cleared out hundreds of skeletons and other artifacts that would be inundated shortly by the river., je: um-hmm (affirmative)., bh: those are housed right now at the museum of natural history at norman., je: you talked about the farmers, they weren’t getting the price they wanted, they were getting $35 to $85 an acre. but many could not buy land at that price, so this didn’t always work for everybody., bh: no. it wasn’t a smooth road, let’s put it that way., chapter 10—2:10 groveport, john erling: but then there was a man who had a vision to put a port there., bruce howell: yeah, this is an interesting kind of a byline. of course, everybody began to see this as a recreational venue for the whole midwest. and so, walter eaton developed what he called groveport, which was on the south side of the current sailboat bridge..

Groveport was also to be a port where large planes, seagoing planes could land.

The Chinese Clipper was popular in those days as it went across the Pacific. And his vision was at the time, and this was, of course, before the Second World War, that this could be a transcontinental stop for large flying boats, as well as other planes with the capacity to land on water. He thought it could be a military coup, if you will.

So he built Groveport with the idea that it would be a recreational spot, but also it could serve these other capacities. And in so doing he thought he would embellish the place by building a sand beach around Groveport, which promptly disappeared the following spring during the first flood and ended up somewhere north of the dam. So

the whole project never came to fruition because about this time the Second World War began and, of course, the military didn’t use flying boats.

JE: Yeah, not all dreams come true, do they? Just the ones that apparently they’re well thought out.

Bh: eaton’s dream didn’t come true. he had no idea that the japanese were going to attack pearl harbor., je: right. and then relocating railroads too and highways was a practi—, bh: well, that was burr under the governor’s saddle, that they weren’t paying enough for those accoutrements that had been built by the state and funded by the state. so he wanted more money and, as a matter of fact, sued the federal government for eight hundred thousand dollars and, ironically, shortly after philips died the government paid up eight hundred thousand dollars to the state of oklahoma, in addition to whatever they had paid in the past., chapter 11—0:58 lives lost, john erling: about workers, i understand there were thirteen workers that were killed during the construction of the dam., bruce howell: yes. most of them they fell or were crushed. you know, the guy did it, they fell in the dam, never materialized., je: yeah there was that old wives’ tale that they fell into the wet concrete, which wasn’t true..

But one was killed by a tree falling on him. Another one killed on a conveyor. Another a truck drove over him. The boom of a crane dropped on him, and others slipped and fell from a construction trestle.

BH: Well, you know, there were over two thousand workers on the dam. They were working on the dam twenty-four hours a day. It was probably one of the first lighted projects where they worked all night long. And obviously those accidents would occasionally occur.

Je: so the dam itself took how long, bh: well, the dam itself too two years, and the twenty million dollars, which is a laughable figure in today’s terms., chapter 12—4:35 the name game, john erling: selection of the name grand lake, official name is grand lake o the cherokees..

I understand Henry Holderman, whose dream it was for the lake to happen, suggested Lake Marian in honor of his father.

Bruce Howell: Well, there were, of course, a lot of names suggested, but since this was Cherokee country it seemed logical to honor the Cherokees in that respect.

JE: Indian Lake was thought of as Langley Lake, Will Rogers Lake, Wiley Post Lake. The Tulsa Tribune and the Vinita Daily Journal conducted a contest for names. Six hundred entries came in on March 22, 1940. Then we had Margaret Buffington Warner, the forty-seven- year-old medical secretary from Vinita.

BH: Named the lake O the Cherokees.

JE: Right. No one seems to know what she meant by the abbreviation “O.” Might have been Lake of the Cherokees. And she never came real clear, I don’t think, on that.

BH: I think that’s for scholars to debate.

Je: some believe the name meant lake over the cherokees. the lake is likely over some cherokees graves that were not identified. the lake was located in the heart of the cherokee nation allotment, so it’s where the name came from., bh: again, it’s one of those things that you can discuss when you don’t have absolutely anything else to talk about., je: and then the lake became better known as grand lake. however, the official name of the river is not grand river., bh: that’s true, it’s neosho., je: neosho river., bh: by the way, neosho itself had something in the neighborhood of twelve names by various french, spanish, and indian tribes. they named the bull river, six bulls., je: before it was officially named neosho, bh: yes. neosho, i believe, is an osage word., je: i understand it means “clear” or “bright water.”, bh: um-hmm (affirmative). this was osage country originally. the osage were in this part of the world from roughly 1300 and absolutely owned everything from the missouri river to the red river, essentially from the mississippi to the rocky mountains. and these osage tribesmen were fierce fighters, six to seven feet tall. if looking at them wouldn’t scare the opponents to death the fighting would be something else..

They absolutely owned the territory, but when the United States government started inundating them with Western Cherokees, Eastern Cherokees, the other civilized tribes, and white people, finally, they were just overwhelmed by numbers. But a lot of these names that we have are Osage oriented.

JE: And then Grand may have come from the French word—

Je: …meaning big, great, or large., bh: right. as a matter of fact, i think jean shoto would call it “la river grande.”, bh: la river grande., je: all right., bh: he was one of the first., je: but then the osages, were they pushed then we have osage county and the osages were dominant in that area of oklahoma., bh: in 1836, the government formally treated with them to move them to kansas because they had just literally been run out. they hadn’t fought back and there had been all kinds of clashes between the cherokee and the other tribes. but by 1836, they agreed to move to kansas, and then some way they ended back up in osage county., je: there’s still controversy about the name grand lake o the cherokees, or grand lake, so finally, in an effort to resolve, now we’re getting into modern time. the issue, the oklahoma board of geographic names recommended grand lake o the.

Cherokees as the official name. I notice they made a capital “O” and Ms. Warner had a small “o,” which is a small thing that we can discuss later at another time. But it’s something I noticed.

But anyway, they make it the Cherokee as the official name.

BH: Discuss that over drinks.

Je: they suggested that grand lake be the recommended version of the name to be used on maps and publications. so this is interesting, it was in 1995 that the secretary of the interior bruce babbitt officially informed oklahoma governor frank keating that the federal government had accepted the name change as recommended by the state board. and so in ’95, the whole thing that is completed., bh: well, we’re pleased to see once again that the government moves slowly but accurately., chapter 13—5:12, the land becomes a lake, john erling: then overall we should point out that the project was a major economic boon to northeastern oklahoma, and it changed the lives of many citizens., bruce howell: absolutely. consider all the jobs it has created as a result of the tourism influx and recreations. right now i think one of the big problems is getting out-of-state tourists to understand that grand lake is here as they drive down i-44. and hopefully this new venue over in vinita, the glass house renovation, will acquaint these people..

I understand twenty thousand cars or trucks pass under that venue every day, six thousand stop. Surely if more effort would be made to get visibility for the Grand Lake area there it would encourage more of them to come over and see it.

JE: Um-hmm (affirmative). Many of us who use the lake for water and all, we think they did it for recreation, and they didn’t. It was for generating power.

Je: that was number one. and then flood control. and recreation was the least of what they were trying to provide., bh: well, the grand river dam authority and the corps actually share responsibility for the dam and the lake level. if the lake level reach flood proportion it becomes the authority of the major organization. and otherwise it belongs to grand river dam authority., je: so the day finally arrives, october 3, 1940, and grda board chairman ray mcnaughton of miami flips the handle on a small master switch at the power plant below the dam. and that’s when all the volts of energy surged into the big, four, giant transformers of the dam. and the first hydroelectric facility of its type in oklahoma was operational. so reasonably priced electric power was available in northeastern oklahoma., bh: that’s the story and it didn’t change until the coal facility was built down by prior and shoto. and now a majority of the electricity is generated there., je: the grda, they have to deal with recreational issues, but nobody realized when the grda was formed how much the recreation was going to be a part of the grda board., bh: or residences on the lake, you know. there’s still a daily dispute, arguments about who can build what, where, in terms of the grda requirements and the corps requirements. so it’s residences as well as recreation that is a whole venue that the original board didn’t even think about., je: right. nearly two months earlier before october 30, 1940, the road across the dam had been opened and hundreds crossed the dam on the afternoon of august 13, 1940. it created a major, major celebration when that happened. the entire pensacola project was completed in three years, four months, twenty-six days, if you consider the start of the project to be september 16, 1937, when president roosevelt signed the twenty million dollar appropriation bill. and the finish of the project, march 14, 1941, when the contract for the observation house was completed, that’s the span of time., bh: and then shortly thereafter the government took it over because of the second world war., je: so on may 10, 1947, the official dedication ceremony, the greatest massing, they say, of watercraft ever conducted in oklahoma. an estimated fifty expensive cabin cruisers maneuvered near the dam and control station., bh: it was probably a marvelous sight of old boats, classic boats, and i would have liked to have been there., je: i would too. you’re a classic old boat fan, i know., bh: former., je: former and i’m former too, by the way. i had one, probably not as classic as what they’re talking about. but right now we get hundreds of boats in duck creek for the fireworks..

That’s a massive picture, a very impressive picture. They’re not all expensive boats, but from the smallest to the largest we gather for the Duck Creek fireworks celebration.

BH: I’m constantly amazed that somebody doesn’t get killed—

Bh: …in that melee when they leave., je: when they leave. but somehow everything slows down and everybody is so respectful., bh: i think it’s out of fear., je: right. yeah, you’re right, exactly, you’re protecting yourself..

So there’s the story of this part of the country. You came out of the Midwest.

BH: I came out of Iowa, yes.

Je: and i came out of north dakota. i guess they’re pretty much landlocked and we didn’t have many lakes up there., bh: we had one of importance, lake okoboji., bh: which is a blue water lake, by the way., je: and i sampled some lakes in minnesota. so we gravitated here to this part in northeastern oklahoma, it’s called green country. there was a purpose for it because the rest of the state is not as green as we are over here. now does the western part of the state, they have lakes, but they certainly don’t have what we have here in grand lake., bh: no, this is a remarkable corner of the universe, as far as i’m concerned., chapter 14—2:40 they never gave up, john erling: so can we give credit here, as we wrap up our discussion, to henry holderman, bruce howell: and w. r. holway., bh: i think those two men had the foresight, and in one case the ability and the other to create something that is everlasting for generations., je: and they withstood controversy, naysayers, they kept their eye on their vision and didn’t sway one bit., bh: that’s correct. it’s amazing as you look back and consider the tenacity that holderman had and the ability that holway had and they didn’t even know each other at the time., je: yeah. there ought to be a place you put up statues of these men somewhere., bh: yeah. are you familiar with holway point, je: i’m not., bh: you just go up here past duck creek and on your right, as you’re heading to drowning creek is holway point., bh: he bought, i don’t know, a hundred acres there before the lake was filled, or during the time. they have a home over there. polly was there. her husband, donald. she invited me to her home in tulsa. donald died and she had this book that hope had written on the history of the family. and i’ve got a copy, she gave it to me., bh: it’s really fascinating., bh: because it goes into the details of their life on cape cod. it details about how they met and so forth., bh: but you probably looked at the volume that she wrote on grand lake that he has authored. she actually did a lot of the work on that book..

JE: And then we should give credit here to the book, Grand Lake, the Crown Jewel of Oklahoma that was written by Jim Weeks. You knew Jim Weeks and, in fact, you were involved in some of this book.

BH: To the extent that we were trying to promote it after Jim’s death, Mickey, his wife, and

I. And finally succeeded in getting that done. It’s a story that needed to be told, and it needed to be told only the way Jim Weeks could tell it.

JE: Yeah. If you go to our bookstore or on our website, voicesofoklahoma.com, you’ll see this book there. It’ll show you how that book may be obtained.

Bruce, I want to thank you for helping us tell this story. You told this story, I think I’m going to officially proclaim you an historian. I know that wasn’t your field. You shy away from that because you say you just read and talk about it. Well, so do all historians, I believe.

Thank you. It was a delight and I appreciate your comments today.

BH: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to chat with you.

Je: thank you., chapter 15—0:33 conclusion, announcer: this oral history presentation is made possible through the support of our generous foundation-funders. we encourage you to join them by making your donation, which will allow us to record future stories. students, teachers, and librarians are using this website for research and the general public is listening everyday to these great oklahoman’s share their life experience. thank you for your support as we preserve oklahoma’s legacy one voice at a time on voicesofoklahoma.com..

Interview with Dr. Bruce Howell

Program Credits: Dr. Bruce Howell— Interviewee John Erling — Interviewer Mel Myers — Announcer

Honest Media Mel Myers — Audio Editor [email protected]

Müllerhaus Legacy Website Team http://www.MullerhausLegacy.com Douglas Miller — Art Director Mark DeMoss — Webmaster Laura Hyde — Upload Coordinator

Date Created: December 2, 2014

Date Published: July 31, 2015

Notes: Recorded by John Erling in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Digital Audio Sound Recording, Non-Music.

Tags: President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), Pensacola Dam, Wesley Disney, President Calvin Coolidge, Cherokees, Osage, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA), Works Progress Administration (WPA), Governor Leon “Red” Phillips, Henry Holderman, W.R. Holway, John Duncan Forsyth

Grove, Oklahoma: Your Go-To Guide To Shop, Dine, Stay and Explore!

Are you looking for information about Grove, Oklahoma, the commercial hub of the Grand Lake area? Excellent. Welcome… and read on to find the information you need to make the most of your time in Grove.

• Places to Stay
• Where to Eat
• Where to Shop
• Boating and Marine-Related Businesses

Professional Services

Health care and wellness.

• Local Attractions and Upcoming Events

Nestled along the shores of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees, the Town of Grove has long been the economic and cultural hub of the Grand Lake region, attracting visitors year-round for Grand Lake fun like fishing, boating, and relaxing at the lake.

Most people know of Grove for the fishing, as Grove has hosted multiple BASSMASTER Classics (and it’s coming back in 2024!) and is home to the world-class Wolf Creek Park, which is widely regarded as the #1 fishing facility and tournament launch site in the country.

*Visit the Fishing page of this website to learn more about fishing at Grand Lake

In recent years, Grove has become a shopping and dining destination in its own right, with a quaint downtown area full of unique shops and restaurants, as well as a growing number of art galleries and boutiques.

Visitors can find everything from handcrafted gifts and home decor to one-of-a-kind clothing and jewelry, and, of course, lots of great Grand Lake gifts and souvenirs.

Grove is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate.

But, Grove also continues to attract new residents, whether that be retirees looking to enjoy the relaxed pace of life, or younger families looking to embrace the Grand Lake Living lifestyle while enjoying the small-town life for raising a family.

Couple that with the great job the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Lake Association continue to do to bring events, new businesses, and people to Grove and the Grand Lake region, and you have a recipe for great things happening in and around Grove.

Let’s take a look at some of the best that the Grove area has to offer.

Where to Stay in Grove OK

If you are looking for a place to stay in Grove, you’ve got options.

Now, understand when we say “in Grove” it might not necessarily be in the city limits, but certainly within easy access to all that Grove has to offer.

You will find everything from lakeside resorts and cabins to locally owned and operated hotels to beautiful vacation rental properties.

You will know best what you are looking for when you come to Grove as what you are coming to do will have a big impact on where you want to stay.

Different lodging options will have different amenities and appeal – some will offer quiet and privacy, others will provide plenty of room for boat and trailer parking, and still others will include all of the amenities to make it a complete resort vacation – a pool, boat rentals, etc.

Start your search here to find the perfect spot for your Grove getaway:

Long’s Resort on Grand Lake

You are invited to come to take a look at Long’s Resort, situated on a deep water cove on the beautiful Honey Creek arm of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees and centrally located in the Town of Grove.

The property featureds a duplex with two 2-bedroom cabins, a 3-bedroom cabin, and a brand new in 2022 King Suite Cabin.

Plus a new in 2023 covered boat dock with slips, electricity, and even lights for some fishing at night. AWESOME!

Check out the website HERE .

For reservations or more information, call  (918) 786-2332 .

1806 Longs Drive Grove OK 74344

Lake Point Cottages and RV on Grand Lake

Lake Point Cottages is a beautifully landscaped resort that has lake views, and a spring-fed creek and is only a block from a boat ramp with parking and beach access.

This pristine lake village on a beautiful hillside offers a getaway different than any other place on Grand with several cottages to choose from to make the most of your stay.

Use the links above to book, or you can get more details and book directly by calling (918) 314-3476.

25980 S. 667 Rd Grove OK 74344

Grand Valley RV Community

Grand Valley RV Community is now open just off Highway 10 near Grove, Oklahoma.If you have an RV and need a place to stay, come stay with us. We offer monthly ($400 plus electric), weekly ($225 total) and daily ($45 total) rates.

We are a new RV community with 24 spots sitting on around 12 acres. Amenities include: dog park, walking trails, storm shelters, fire pits, full hookups (50/30/20 amp), trash service, laundry facilities (almost ready), and WiFi (will be here in January).

Sites range from 30-40 feet wide and 55-75 feet long.

Grand Valley RV Community is around 10 minutes to downtown Grove and less than 5 minutes to Cowskin Bridge and Grand Lake Casino.

Call or message today!

25481 S. 646 Rd Grove OK 74344

The Lake Lodge at Grand Lake

The Lake Lodge at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is an affordable, angler-friendly lodging facility, where you can take full advantage of covered, lighted, electrical hookups with pull-through boat parking for each room, or reserve one of the spacious RV spots.

It’s an easy 7-minute drive to the Wolf Creek Tournament Facility and a 1-minute drive to the casino and convenience store!

There are 10 guest rooms, each having 2 full beds, 42″ Smart TV, Mini Fridge, and microwave. Each room comes with lighted, covered, pull-through boat parking, wifi, and two bags of ice each day. There are even grills if you want to cook out!

Book online now at http://www.thelakelodgegrandlake.com or call 918-314-9968.

24060 S. 580 Rd Grove OK 74344

Summerhill Ranch at Grand Lake

Summerhill Ranch is the luxurious private getaway at Grand Lake that you’ve been looking for and is perfect for larger families, family reunions, corporate retreats, friend get-a-ways, or small groups.

The three guest houses are spacious and charming and situated throughout the ranch. There is a total of 8 guest rooms and 10 bathrooms.

Generous floor plans offer sunny, comfortable rooms with plenty of closet space.

There is a workout facility and pool for guest convenience. The pool is open from M emorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend and hours are from 8am-10pm.

Summerhill Ranch has a warm, welcoming atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. You’ll have the entire property to yourselves.

Summerhill Ranch is also Grand Lake’s premier wedding location.

With a sprawling lakeside 31 acre ranch, you will find outdoor and indoor options for your ceremony You are sure to find an unforgettable backdrop for your special day. The indoor location seats up to 150 guests.

Visit the webste at https://www.mysummerhillretreat.com/ to see everything that Summerhill Ranch has to offer!

31761 S. 605 Rd Grove OK 74344

Hilltop Inn & Suites

The newly remodeled Hilltop Inn & Suites has breathed fresh life into a once outdated but historic hotel near Grove and Grand Lake. The 32 fully revamped guest rooms feature custom furnishings and stunning local artwork, with varied layouts to suit different travelers’ needs.

Yet the updates don’t end there. Exciting new amenities with fishing enthusiasts in mind are being added to the inn. An additional 26 parking spaces with electric hookups for customers towing boats, catering especially to anglers, will be ready in December of 2023. With easy access and power for charging their gear, Hilltop Inn & Suites aims to be the premier lodging choice for Lake Grand fishermen.

The renovations also retain elements of the inn’s rich history amidst modernizing. The owners wanted to transform the dated property into an evolving, ever-improving vacation venue for all. More amenities and renovations are in progress, but the new fisherman-focused parking and electric charging will be fully operational by mid-December 2023.

Hilltop Inn & Suites offers a comfortable Grove and Grand Lake home base whether visitors are seeking relaxation, adventure, or a perfect spot for family memory-making.

Visit the website at https://www.hilltopinngrove.com/ for more info and to book your stay today!

61991 E. 315 Road Grove OK 74344

Serenity Point Vacation Rentals

Two beautiful properties just steps away from the iconic Serenity Point Marina on the stunning Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Take a tour of each property below to get an idea of the array of amenities included with each.

Our 2 Bedroom “The Peak” is a romantic getaway favorite. Enjoy a beautiful view of the lake from inside the home or the large covered porch. The home has a fully equipped kitchen with electric stove and cooktop, microwave, double sink, refrigerator/freezer, bar top, small dining area, AND a hot tub! With a queen-sized bed in each bedroom and a day bed with trundle in the living room, there is plenty of room for a party of 6 to comfortably enjoy their stay. The bathroom offers a full-sized shower/tub, with an attached laundry room available for your use. There is a large yard to play games, a gas grill is included for barbecuing.

Our spacious 7 bedroom “The Pines”, offers 3 full baths, 2 separate living areas, both equipped with flat screen TVs, Dish Network, DVD players, and Free WIFI, 2 fully equipped kitchens with stove, full size refrigerators, microwave, dish washers, coffee pots, dishes etc. 15 total beds, 3 of which are king sized. Bathrooms are fully equipped with showers and bath tubs, towels provided. Laundry room with washer and dryer located in the home. Large sitting room with a full view of the lake, 2 dining tables makes it a great area for dining, gathering, game playing, or just enjoying the views. Fire pit and BBQ grill. 850 ft of shoreline with lake access for those who would to cast a line or just relax at the waters edge.Several sitting areas with stunning lake views are available including a sitting area featuring a small pond with waterfall overlooking Grand Lake. Marina and ships store are located adjacent to the property for your use. The marina in fully stocked with snacks, drinks, supplies, and you cannot leave without checking out the largest selection of Grand Lake apparel on the lake! This home is great for large groups, family reunions, and corporate trips.

Cozy Cottage Near Grove

This new, custom-designed, lakefront studio cottage is a beautiful place to spend a relaxing getaway or as a work space with a view!

Quiet country setting. 150ft away from the enclosed boat dock/swim deck. Launch ramp nearby. The large patio is perfect for quiet morning coffee or al fresco dinners with an amazing sunset.

Located near the Mouth of the Buffalo on the Elk River Arm of Grand Lake-a prime fishing spot. 13min from Grove.

For additional space, see The Cale House on Grand Lake – located next door, on AirBnB HERE .

Direct bookings are encouraged, so call today at (918) 314-6507 to check on availability and book your stay today!

Approximate Grove OK 74344

Angler’s Inn

Welcome to Angler’s Inn, your premier tournament and weekend angler destination just across from world-famous Wolf Creek Park, the country’s premier tournament-fishing facility, on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma.

With 9 rooms, you’ll enjoy the attention that only comes with a locally-owned inn. We speak your lingo, focus our amenities and hospitality specifically on traveling fishermen, and aim for a home-away-from-home vibe all week and every tourney season long.

Trailer and truck parking? Covered, with outlets that simplify prep. We also offer free daily coffee, snacks, and community spaces so you can fuel up between days on the water. Our rooms feature comfy beds, flat screens, and kitchenettes to store leftovers and heat up meals.

Minutes from historic downtown Grove and the best fishing action in Oklahoma, think of Angler’s Inn as your base camp – a launch point for great times on and off Grand Lake. We can’t wait to welcome new friends while taking care of those already part of our fishing family!

430 N. 21st Street Grove OK 74344

Golden Kettle Cottage – Book Direct!

You owe it to yourself to check out this secluded Grand Lake vacation rental located in the Zena area, about 15 minutes away from the Town of Grove, a hub for entertainment and dining in the Grand Lake area.

The home sleeps 8 and comes fully loaded with EVERYTHING you need for a comfortable stay, plus the added bonuses of serene woods, a calming lake view, swimming, kayaking, and more – the host even provides a couple of kayaks!

The quiet neighborhood is perfect for the rejuvenating Grand Lake getaway.

To get more details and book directly for the best price, visit their website here: https://www.goldenkettlecottage.com/ .

Or you can certainly book through VRBO or AirBnB. The links to those are above.

Location Approximate Grove/Jay OK

The Lodge at Grove

Looking for a perfect place to relax? Here is the perfect opportunity to grab your spots! Don’t wait too long! It gets full quickly into the year.

Welcome to waterfront’s “The Lodge at Grove”, with the best open water view on the lake AND a private DOCK to fish/swim!

With floor-to-ceiling windows for a panoramic view of the lake, this lodge-like home is beautifully appointed in very high-end lodge decor including log beds, bedroom furniture, and log dining table/chairs. Expansive deck for outdoor dining. Outdoor fire-pit is a great gathering time at night.

You will be able to relax in this stress-free lodge, which is appointed with a lodge-like feel with a huge bison head over the massive wood-burning fireplace, deer, ram, peacock, and bears.

This lodge will remind you of the mountains in Utah or Colorado during summer and winter while overlooking Grand Lake.

NO parties, please. Located in a beautifully manicured, upscale neighborhood. Let the vacation begin!

See all the pictures and check availability on AirBnB HERE or on VRBO HERE .

Location Approximate Grove OK 74344

Candlewyck Cove Resort

Whether you’re just looking for a little quiet time away to spend with that special someone or you wish to develop lasting memories with your family or family reunion, you will enjoy your stay at Candlewyck Cove Resort on beautiful Grand Lake, Oklahoma.

You have your choice of 1 & 2-bedroom cabins, a romantic lakeside cabin, luxury homes, townhouses, king suites, and the award-winning hotel, all just minutes from great restaurants and shopping in the Town of Grove.

This seven-acre private resort is nestled among the trees and hidden on one of the distinguished deep water coves of Grand Lake. You can bring your own boat or personal watercraft as Candlewyck Cove offers access to over 450 ft of majestic waterfront and private boat docks. A large swimming pool is available to all guests.

Candlewyck Cove Resort offers a large tree-covered park area with a basketball court, tether ball, volleyball, play gym, and picnic tables. There is also complimentary Wireless Internet and daily pontoon, jet ski, and ski boat rentals are available on-site through H2O Sports Rental.

59800 East 307 Lane Grove OK 74344

Historic Elk River Home

The Cale House is a historic, newly renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on the Elk River Arm of Grand Lake that can accommodate up to 6 guests.

The home’s native stone was barged up the river when built in 1938.

The property is lakefront with a huge 3.5-acre yard, ample parking, and a double-slip enclosed dock & covered swim deck, plus a private community launch ramp.

Enjoy lake sports all day and spectacular sunsets in the evening on a large patio in a quiet country setting. A perfect place to relax & unwind just 12 minutes away from Grove, the commercial hub of the Grand Lake area.

Most dogs are welcome.

We encourage direct bookings, so give us a call today at (918) 314-6507 to check on availability and book your stay today!

Additional lodging for up to three guests is available in our Cozy Studio cottage next door. Reservations can be made by searching Cozy Studio on Grand Lake Shore-Amazing Sunsets! on AirBnB or by clicking HERE .

Dining in Grove

There are plenty of great local restaurants in Grove that are perfect for satisfying your taste buds.

From Downtown Grove to the Grand Lake waterfront, and with options ranging from authentic Mexican and Italian cuisine to American Diner classics, you will surely find something for everyone.

You can’t go wrong starting your Grove and Grand Lake food journey with these featured Grove area restaurants:

Goodfella’s Pizzeria

Goodfella’s Pizzeria is excited to bring our delicious handmade pizza to the people of Grove!

With both original and ‘famous thin’ crust pizza plus other favorites like wings, bread sticks, calzones, subs and salads, you sure won’t be hungry after eating some Goodfellas!

We also have locations in Cleora and Vinita to serve the entire Grand Lake area.

6 West 3rd Street Grove OK 74344

La Casita de Martin

La Casita de Martin features award winning authentic mexican cuisine in the heart of Downtown Grove.

Open Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m., La Casita featured daily lunch and dinner specials that complement the award winning dishes on the menu.

Reservations are highly recommended in the evenings as La Casita is a favorite spot for great food, drinks and friends in Grove.

23 West 3rd Street Grove OK 74344

Shopping in Grove

A Hub for Shoppers

Grove’s Retail Paradise: From boutique shops selling handmade crafts to bigger stores with the latest in fashion and tech, there’s no shortage of retail therapy in Grove. Plus, you are sure to find the gear and supplies you need for a full day on Grand Lake.

Local Produce and More: The farmer’s market is a must-visit! Discover locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, and unique artisanal products that are a testament to the talent and dedication of our community.

But beyond the seasonal Saturday morning market, Grove also has a great variety of local vendors with their own storefronts.

Here you’ll find featured Grove area retail shops as well as local specialty food vendors that have a storefront

Moonie Bins

Moonie Bins is Grove’s liquidation bin store with great deals to be found every single day.

Moonie Bins,  Where every day is BARGAIN day!  Our bins are restocked every Thursday with assorted new and returned merchandise from various stores and online retailers. Moonie Bins has housewares, décor, linens, kitchen, pet supplies, toys, general merchandise, tools, clothes, shoes, jewelry, seasonal items & sometimes car parts.

The Specials Wall has a variety of items priced at least 50-90% off retail.

Anything in the bins is priced as follows:

• Saturday $9
• Wednesday $1
• Clothes and Shoes $5 everyday
• Jewelry $4 everyday
• Mystery Boxes $25 everyday

Follow us on Facebook for exclusive sneak peeks!  We post pictures of featured items available for the following day.

• Tuesday 9-6
• Wednesday 9-6
• Thursday CLOSED for restock
• Saturday 9-6

You never know what you might find at Moonie Bins, so plan on stopping by our Grove location regularly or keep up to date on all of our new arrivals and specials on the Facebook page HERE .

2068 S. Main Street Grove OK 74344

MYKC LiveBliss Yoga and Personal Development

LiveBliss Yoga Studio has opened its doors in Grove, offering an oasis for mind-body wellness through the transformative practice of yoga.

Founded by veteran instructor and retired Air Force serviceman Kerry Steuart, the studio provides a welcoming space for community members to reduce stress, gain strength and flexibility, and cultivate mindfulness. Kerry draws from his personal journey using yoga, breathwork, and meditation to overcome chronic pain and PTSD. His commitment to sharing yoga’s healing benefits now inspires students on their own paths toward inner peace and living with purpose.

In addition to traditional yoga classes for all levels, LiveBliss offers specialty workshops focused on key aspects like restorative poses, breath control, and meditation.

The studio environment provides a judgment-free zone welcoming students of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experiences.

The studio is also home to MYKC, a non-profit organization that offers Life coaching including self-care, mindfulness, meditation, healthy boundaries, turning conflict into intimacy, sleep, exercise, and financial intelligence courses to help Veterans, Essential Personnel, and Department of Corrections Personnel.

For anyone seeking to unwind from daily pressures or address specific health goals, LiveBliss Yoga Studio offers transformative practices in a studio designed to uplift body, mind, and spirit.

Make sure to visit the website at https://www.livebliss.org/ for an up-to-date schedule of classes and workshops.

414 East 3rd Street Unit D Grove OK 74344

Notable Outdoor Living

With styles ranging from traditional to modern contemporary, Notable Outdoor Living is Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees’ favorite source for quality outdoor furnishings.

Specializing in the finest brands and highest-quality products, Notable Outdoor Living showcases the Berlin Gardens LLC poly outdoor furniture, fire pits, fire tables and structures, the Big Green Egg outdoor cooking system, and the full array of Eggcessories®, Iron Embers fire pits and Aura outdoor heaters, as well as tabletop fire pits, innovative candles and vent-free fireplaces from Lovinflame.

Look for the Big Red Chair!

4600 US 59 N Grove OK 74344

Twisted on Grand

Twisted on Grand brings a fresh blend of signature, loaded teas brimming with vitamins, immunity-boosting ingredients, and just the right amount of energizing buzz. Unless, of course, you want something to help you relax – they’ve got that, too!

Plus you’ll find a great selection of locally sourced food, wellness products, and all sorts of great items.

It’s truly a local shop – Come say Hi today!

617 S. Main Street Unit C Grove OK 74344

Boating and Marine Businesses

As the commercial hub of the Grand Lake area, it makes sense that Grove would be home to several boat and marine related businesses.

Whether you are looking to buy a new or used boat, need repair work done, are looking for boating and lake-related accessories, or are looking for a marina or someplace to store your boat, you can find it in Grove.

Here are some of Grove’s featured marine industry businesses:

Grand Lake Watercraft, LLC

PWC, SEADOO, AND BOAT REPAIR – if it’s a marine repair, we can help you out.

And, we also work on ATVS, SIDE BY SIDES, GOLF CARTS, and Motorcycles – both street and dirt!

And in for the winter months, we even offer indoor, heated storage for your pwc!

Stop by our location on North Hwy 59 in Grove or give us a call now at (918) 499-0560.

9640 US-59 Grove OK 74344

Toons Grand Lake (Formerly Grove Marine)

Welcome to Toons Grand Lake, formerly Grove Marine.

Toons Grand Lake is proud to carry a large selection of new and pre-owned pontoon and tritoon boat inventory.

When you are ready to invest in a new pontoon boat, our friendly and knowledgeable sales, financing, service, and parts departments are prepared to make sure your experience is outstanding.

Toons is a proud dealer and service tech for brands including:

• Montara Boats
• Veranda Marine
• Landau Boats
• Viaggio Pontoon Boats
• XPress Boats
• Avalon Pontoons
• Yamaha Marine
• Honda Marine
• Mercury Marine
• Suzuki Marine

Our Grand Lake team located in Grove, Oklahoma prides itself on assisting while you’re making your choice to ongoing maintenance and customization.

At Toons Grand Lake, we value the opportunity to create a long-term personal relationship with our customers, and we do that by giving you the best customer service available in the Oklahoma area.

9121 Hwy 59 North Grove OK 74344

Honey Creek Landing Marina

Honey Creek Landing Marina provides premier boat slip rentals and amenities on the Honey Creek arm of Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma.

With over 100 slips ranging 28-60 feet available for annual lease, the marina offers a home base to keep vessels protected year-round.

Slip leases include complimentary perks like water, electric meters, laundry facilities, and WiFi access for convenience. Boaters can also upgrade with custom deck-over patio additions to tailor their slip.

Beyond slips, Honey Creek Marina provides full-service amenities like fueling and an extensively stocked ship store. The experienced team also caters to boaters visiting Grand Lake from surrounding states.

For boat slip leases that combine convenience, top-rated amenities, and stunning Grand Lake views, Honey Creek Landing Marina promises an unforgettable boating experience with the convenience of a central Grove location.

2520 South Main Grove OK 74344

As the commercial hub of the Grand Lake area, Grove is home to many professional service providers, from accountants to attorneys and from insurance agencies to real estate brokers, and everything in between.

Check out these Featured Grove Businesses that provide expertise, advice, and services to other businesses and individuals in Grove and throughout the Grand Lake area.

Ileta Bray is our Legacy Real Estate Sales Team “Patricia Island Specialist”. Ileta has 28 plus years in the Real Estate industry including Property Management, working with Real Estate Developers, New Home Construction and Real Estate Sales. The past fourteen years working exclusively with the Patricia Island management and developers.

You won’t find anyone more involved in the Grove community to help with your real estate needs. Ileta has served on the Grove City Council and currently serves on two appointed boards for the city.

And, Ileta is an accomplished Certified Golf Instructor at Patricia Island Country Club who has been instrumental in establishing the Grove Ridgerunners Boys and Girls Middle School and High School Golf Teams.

With her Real Estate experience along with her deep roots in the Patricia Island and the Grove community, Ileta is the ideal match to help you find your perfect home. “Live Where  You Play”!

117 Anchor Road Grove OK 74344

Grand Lake Homes Team – Jeff & Debbie Horany

We are a few of the fortunate people who have been able to live out our dreams here in a little piece of paradise called Grand Lake. It would be a pleasure to help you do the same thing. We love the Lake and real estate, which makes it easy to do what we do.

We look forward to helping you with your next real estate transaction!

Webb Insurance Agency

Are you looking for Home, Auto, Farm, Business, or Life Insurance?

We offer insurance products from Safeco, Travelers, Hartford, NorthStar, MetLife, Farmer’s Alliance, ASI, Progressive, American Modern, National Lloyds, State Auto, Columbia, Liberty Mutual, Mercury, and many others.

We are a locally owned, family-run business.  Our team will work with you to develop an affordable and customized insurance plan that will protect what’s important to you.

Call one of our insurance professionals today at (918) 786-8787.

1103 East 13th St Suite A Grove OK 74344

Muscari Law

Muscari Law helps families find practical solutions to complex questions and issues, with personalized and straight-forward legal guidance for your estate planning.

Regardless of age or financial status, it is important to prepare for the future, and a comprehensive estate plan not only addresses the proverbial elephant in the room of what happens upon your death, but it can also ensure you’ll have the means to provide for yourself and your family throughout the rest of your life.

At Muscari Law, we’ll assist you in creating a will that specifies your last wishes, establish guardianship for your minor children, and establish trusts that will safeguard your assets so they can be distributed to your beneficiaries. Additionally, we can create powers of attorney regarding healthcare decisions, incapacity, and end-of-life care.

Let’s get started getting your affairs in order, today! Call (918) 791-3150 for an appointment or visit muscarilaw.com to learn more.

221 E. 3rd St. Grove OK 74344

Chuck and Victoria Perry

Specializing in grand lake waterfront homes.

Congratulations on taking an important and key step in your home ownership experience. We can help you buy and sell homes and commercial property in Grove, Afton, Jay, Ketchum, and Langley, as well as surrounding areas throughout the Grand Lake region.

We are full time real estate agents who are qualified to assist you in buying or selling your home. We know the local market and know property values, time spent on the market, appreciation of the market, and how to gain the best exposure for your property.

Give either of us a call today to see how we can help you! Chuck at (918) 520-1957 and Victoria at (918) 520-1982.

1623 S. Main Grove OK 74344

American Financial Network, Inc. – Corp. NMLS# 237341

With over 20 years of experience serving clients in Grove and around Grand Lake, there isn’t much Theresa hasn’t seen when it comes to getting a home loan done in this market.

Whether you are looking to purchase a personal residence, 2nd home, or investment property, or if you need to refinance an existing mortgage, Theresa is here to help you find the product that suits your needs and circumstance. We offer Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, and Specialty products.

It doesn’t matter if your property is lakefront, in town, or out in the country, we’ve got a product that is perfect for your unique situation.

204 W. 4th Street Suite B Grove OK 74344

Grove is home to excellent medical facilities and wellness resources to keep you and your family healthy and thriving.

With a top-rated hospital, clinics, urgent care, chiropractors, dental services, and more, you’ll have access to great care and services right in town.

Plus yoga studios, fitness facilities, and info on all the things you need to live your best life.

Start our search for the health and wellness care you need here:

Urgent Care of Grand Lake

Urgent Care of Grand Lake, Oklahoma provides immediate medical attention for a wide range of non-life-threatening conditions, ensuring prompt relief and convenience for patients.

With skilled healthcare professionals and modern facilities, Grand Lake’s urgent care center offers fast and efficient care when you need it most.

Conveniently situated at 900 S Main St, Grove, OK 74344, Urgent Care of Grand Lake is at the center of Grove, the commercial and residential hub of the Grand Lake region.

Visit their website, https://www.ucogl.com/ , to find out about all of the services that are offered and even to get checked in for your upcoming appointment.

900 S. Main St. Grove OK 74344

Grove – Fun For Everyone

Grove is home to several popular attractions and annual events that are favorites of both locals and visitors.

Being the gateway to Grand Lake means endless opportunities for fun!

Go boating, fishing, or simply enjoy a picnic by the lake.

There are also several cant-miss attractions in the Grove area.

Har-Ber Village Museum

Har-Ber Village Museum, located along the shores of Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma, is the site of a pioneer-era village and history museum of over 100 exhibits displayed inside authentic log cabins and reproduction buildings.

You can experience the history and ecology of the Grand Lake area through self-guided tours, which includes a walk through the grounds with several historic buildings include a relocated schoolhouse, jail, and 16 log cabins.

The museum has an active calendar of special events throughout the year for local residents and visitors alike.

Har-Ber Village also includes a nature trail, cafe, and an events center that regularly hosts community events.

Your best bet to make sure you have the current hours, locate the museum and find the latest on any events taking place is to visit the Har-Ber Village website  HERE .

4404 West 20th Grove OK 74344

Lendonwood Gardens

Lendonwood Gardens is an eight-acre botanical garden near Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma.

Shady pathways meander through more than 1,200 different types of plants, including an amazing collection of rhododendrons, many varieties of daylilies, and several varieties of dogwoods.

Lendonwood is home to the Oklahoma Garden, featuring “Oklahoma Proven” plantings as identified by Oklahoma State University. These are plants that thrive in our unpredictable climate.

The garden is open year around during daylight hours with maps and information for self-guided tours are available inside the entrance at the gatehouse.

Lendonwood’s Welcome Center and Gift Shop is open seasonally Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.

1308 Har-Ber Road Grove OK 74344

Festivals and Events:

There’s always something happening in Grove! From summer festivals and the local Farmer’s Market to winter carnivals, the events are a blend of tradition and modern entertainment.

Make sure to visit the Events page of this website for all the details on upcoming events.

Music, art, and local talents are celebrated, ensuring there’s always a reason to join in the fun.

Popular events include the annual Grand Lake Boat Show in the spring, the Toes in the Grand Festival that kicks off the summer season, the long-standing Pelican Festival every fall, and of course the annual community holiday celebrations that bring the entire community together.

Plus, the monthly Grove Block Party on the Community Lawn in Downtown Grove has become a very popular event on the first Friday of each month through the summer season.

Oh… and the fishing tournaments! Pretty much from March to November, you can find a fishing tournament on Grand Lake out of Grove every single weekend.

Hopefully, the above information helps you make the most of your time in Grove.

Grove is the perfect place to shop, dine, and relax.

With its variety of unique shops, restaurants, and attractions, there’s something for everyone in Grove.

So come on down and experience all that Grove has to offer!

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Sailboat Bridge was Oklahoma’s Most Expensive Project

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At $24.5 million, the 2000-2001 replacement of Sailboat Bridge, between Grove (pop. 5,131) and Fairland (pop. 1,025) over Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, was one of the state’s most expensive bridge projects. Officially called Grove Highway Bridge when it was built in 1938, the original bridge gained its nickname from its high central arch that allowed sailboats to safely pass under it.

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Sailboat Bridge

Grove, oklahoma.

Owner: Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Design / Construction Engineering and Inspection: FIGG

Sailboat Bridge over the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees was the first precast concrete segmental bridge in Oklahoma. The FIGG design resulted in a savings of $1 million when bid against a bulb tee alternate. In addition to the cost savings, ODOT realized greater aesthetic value, increased durability, and minimal maintenance requirements due to design features of the post-tensioned structure. The design includes the use of an integral wearing surface which far exceeded the standard for rideability in the state. The 3,044’ long twin bridges were completed more than two months ahead of schedule.

DESIGN AWARDS

Including the 2002 award of excellence from the portland cement association.

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[Photograph 2012.201.B0349.0602]

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Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Sailboat Bridge spans a central crossing on Grand Lake of the Cherokees in a scenic area north of Grove."

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Enjoy An Epic Sightseeing Cruise On This New Paddlewheel Boat In Oklahoma

Ashley has lived in Oklahoma for 30 years and is the Oklahoma staff writer for onlyinyourstate.com. When she isn't writing about Oklahoma, she enjoys visiting the beach and exploring new areas.

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After several years of sitting idle, the old “Queen” is back in all her glory on the gorgeous Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma. The Grand Lake Queen is a beloved paddlewheel boat that’s been fully restored and will take you on a sightseeing cruise around the lake. It’s one of the coolest attractions in the state to visit this season and tickets are now available for purchase.

Take a look:

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Tickets can be purchased online here .

Address: Grove, OK, 77371

Har-Ber Village (one of the places you’ll pass on the cruise) is a quaint village that will take you back to the mid-1800s. This pioneer-era village features nearly 100 exhibits and is home to six acres filled with nature trails, scenic views, and reproductions that will take you back in time. It’s open to the public on select days and is filled with fun and educational experiences for the whole family. Click here to read more about it.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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City of Grove 104 W. 3rd Grove, OK 74344

Phone: 918-786-6107 Fax: 918-786-8939

Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m to 4:30 p.m.

Upcoming Events

• 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Wolf Creek Park 03/22/2024 (All day)
• 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Wolf Creek Park 03/23/2024 (All day)
• Palm Sunday 03/24/2024 (All day)

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104 West Third Street, Grove, OK. 74344

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US-59 improvements in Delaware, Ottawa Counties to be discussed December 3 in Grove

Nov. 25, 2019

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is gathering information to help plan improvements to a segment of US-59 in Ottawa and Delaware Counties.

The project will focus on widening and improving the US-59 corridor from north of the Sailboat Bridge to the SH-125 junction. The Department is updating the environmental studies to assist with future design plans. The construction project is currently scheduled for FFY 2024.

The Open House is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3 rd at the Grove Community Center. The public is invited to stop by to view the proposals and share their feedback. This will be a come-and-go format, with no formal presentation.

Open House for Proposed US-59 Improvements

Tuesday, December 3rd

Grove Community Center

104 W 3 rd St.

All project materials will also be made available online following the meeting at:  www.odot.org/publicmeetings .

To request an accommodation, please contact the ODOT ADA Coordinator at 405-521-4140 or the Oklahoma Relay Service at 1-800-722-0353. If you have any ADA or Title VI questions email  [email protected] .

Oklahoma Department of Transportation 200 N.E. 21st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105

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