8 Friendly Towns To Retire In Oklahoma
Friendly environments can be a crucial factor for folks choosing a new location for retirement. Luckily, this is never a concern in these towns in Oklahoma. From Muskogee to Tahlequah, these towns are some of the friendliest destinations in the country, where locals are always willing to help, and cozy restaurants line the streets. But besides the welcoming ambience and strong sense of community, these towns check other boxes that make them appealing and retirement-worthy. Seniors will find exciting attractions in these towns, with some located near the state’s largest cities, where top-notch draws can be enjoyed. This is in addition to multiple events throughout the year that promote social connection and offer entertainment. In one town, retirees will have the opportunity to live near a sprawling castle-like attraction that attracts thousands of people year-round, featuring events and amenities reminiscent of the Renaissance era. Retirees are sure to find a place to call home in these Oklahoma towns.
Guthrie
Guthrie is a historic town in Oklahoma, renowned for its rich railroad history and its 19th- and 20th-century architecture, most notably showcased in the Guthrie Historic District. However, beyond that, this town is a friendly place to retire, boasting a strong community spirit and numerous attractions and events that radiate warmth. For starters, this town is known as the Christmas Capital of Oklahoma for hosting the most exciting holiday events, including the Victorian Walk Nights, which blend live Christmas music with a unique shopping experience and displays showcasing Guthrie’s Victorian history and culture. Year-round, Guthrie also hosts other special events, including the International Bluegrass Festival, held in October and featuring three days of music, food trucks, camping, and local art.
More than the events, Guthrie’s friendliness can be seen in many of its restaurants, such as Katie’s Diner, where generous portions of high-quality food meet a warm staff and a relaxing atmosphere. The Jungle is also one of the coolest spots to be at night in Oklahoma, especially on weekends. This lively bar combines delicious drinks and seafood with a variety of entertainment options, including karaoke, live music, and pool games. Notably, Guthrie is home to the Avid Extreme Sports Park, one of the state’s largest paintball facilities, where people come to shoot paintballs at each other in the spirit of love.
Eufaula
Located on Oklahoma’s largest lake, Eufaula is a welcoming town ideal for retirement. Retirees will feel welcome here, as the town is lined with cozy establishments, from I Smell Bacon, which serves comfort food all day, to Plumb Theatre, which hosts gospel shows on Friday nights and country music on Saturday nights. Additionally, Eufaula hosts several fun events year-round, including Whole Hawg Days, a summer event that features a parade, car show, local vendors, a poker run, and cooking competitions.
In the meantime, the town’s location on Lake Eufaula is a significant draw, as the lake is a paradise for water-based recreation. Thankfully, the town hosts a few marinas, including the Xtreme Cove Marina, which features everything from boating and fishing equipment to a boat ramp, gas dock, and easy access to a variety of shopping and dining establishments. Lake Eufaula State Park is also just an 11-minute drive from town, with plenty of lake and land adventures to offer. The park boasts a swimming beach, multiple boat ramps, trails for hiking and biking, campsites, and a nature center.
El Reno
This charming town, situated on the North Canadian River, is a friendly place to retire near Oklahoma City, the state capital. Here, retirees will be met with a slow-paced atmosphere and a strong community spirit, best experienced at the Fried Onion Burger Day Festival. Held annually on the first Saturday of May, this festival celebrates the town’s most popular food, the fried onion hamburger, which has been served across local diners and cafes since the early 1900s. It features live music, vendors, a car show, food trucks, crafts, games, and, of course, plenty of fried onion burgers, including the world’s largest one, weighing over 850 pounds. Attractions that exude warmth also abound in El Reno, like Sid’s Diner, where the fried onion burgers are served all week in a cozy atmosphere. Moreover, the town’s Legion Park is a cool place to enjoy endless outdoor fun. This park features a fishing pond, a seasonal swimming pool and splash pad, a walking trail, tennis courts, and a playground. Perhaps even more exciting, El Reno is 30 minutes from Oklahoma City, where more warmth can be enjoyed, across famous attractions, including the Paycom Center, which is a bustling hub of events year-round.
Davis
Davis is a small, friendly town in the Arbuckle Mountains that promises a pleasurable retirement full of adventures. This town is the proud home of Turner Falls State Park, a beloved attraction in Oklahoma, where nature lovers are sure to feel welcome. Covering a 1,500-acre area, this park is home to Oklahoma’s largest waterfall, alongside a natural swimming pool, caves, and other stunning geological features. The park also offers campsites, fully-furnished cabins, winter trout fishing, and a network of trails leading to lush forests, rugged cliffs, peaceful streams, and the 77-foot Turner Falls. For more thrills, the Cross Bar Ranch Off-road Park is just outside town, with over 150 miles of trails and some of the most diverse off-road terrains to delight retirees with every skill level. Besides the outdoors, Davis’s friendliness can be felt across local establishments like the Bedre Fine Chocolates, where one can shop for chocolate and witness live production. Elsewhere, the Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Ranch is always open to offer delicious barbecue and other dishes in a rustic and warm setting. Meanwhile, Davis hosts a few events throughout the year to help strengthen its community spirit, including the Arbuckle Mountain Fall Bluegrass Jam, which features a full week of old-time country music at the nearby Arbuckle Mountain Park.
Tahlequah
Tahlequah, the capital of the Cherokee Nation, is one of the friendliest, community-oriented places to retire in Oklahoma. This town sits in the Ozarks, where it hosts exciting events that foster connection and keep the social pulse alive. In April, the main street of Tahlequah comes alive with the Red Fern Festival, which features over 150 arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and plenty of old-fashioned fun reminiscent of the 1930s. And as the center of the Cherokee Nation, the town explodes in celebration every Labor Day weekend for the Cherokee National Holiday. One of the largest in Oklahoma, this event celebrates the signing of the Cherokee National Constitution in 1839. It features a parade, quilt show, food, and traditional activities and displays that highlight the largest federally recognized tribe in the US. Beyond the events, Tahlequah boasts a couple of attractions that will delight outdoor-loving retirees, one of which is the Cherokee Landing State Park. Located just outside town, this park sits on the shores of Lake Tenkiller and offers a range of exciting activities, including lakeside camping, fishing, swimming, and boating. Retirees can also enjoy riverfront camping and a peaceful float trip on the Illinois River with Riverbend Floats. Additionally, Tahlequah hosts a couple of reputable food establishments that promise to make retirement more satisfying, and the Emery Grill is one of the best. This restaurant serves sumptuous grills and other food, plus it features a full bar and outdoor seating.
Bartlesville
This town, situated approximately 41 miles from Tulsa, is an ideal place to retire in Oklahoma. This town is friendly, peaceful, and full of attractions and events that promote togetherness among residents and visitors. For one, it is home to Sooner Park, where kids and adults often gather to enjoy facilities such as a walking path, tennis courts, a pond, a ball field, picnic tables and chairs, a disc golf course, and the Sooner Park Play Tower, which provides spectacular views of the town. Several community events are also held in the park, including the Sunfest, often regarded as Oklahoma’s biggest outdoor picnic. Held during the last weekend of May, this event illuminates the town and brings people together with live music, art, food, a car show, and family-friendly activities. Elsewhere, the Bartlesville Community Center is a magnet for people in and around town as it hosts a variety of live shows and events year-round in a unique building designed by William Wesley Peters, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright. Notably, Bartlesville is just a few minutes from the Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, where visitors can spend hours exploring Western art and watching for native and exotic animals, including bison, elk, and deer.
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the friendly towns near Oklahoma City, making it an ideal location for retirement. Poulated by around 7,000 people, it has a rural feel and boasts some of the lowest crime rates in the country. But more than that, Piedmont is like one large family where people recognize each other and gather at the same spots year-round. The Piedmont Community Park is one of the top gathering spots in town, and features a summer splash pad, a playground, picnic and sports facilities, a fitness center, and a senior area. Another beloved spot in Piedmont, Chester’s Party Barn & Farm has plenty of fun facilities and activities to offer, including pony rides, hayrides, and a petting zoo, plus the farm features food and occasional events. Speaking of events, the annual Piedmont Founders Day lights up the town every September with food and crafts, paradise, rides, and music. Junklahoma is also held as part of Piedmont Founders Day, and is an exciting event featuring a wide variety of junk, vintage finds, and countless other unique items. Perhaps more exciting, Piedmont is approximately 30 minutes from the state capital, offering quick access to attractions such as the Blue Zoo Aquarium, where visitors can see and touch a variety of fascinating creatures, including reptiles and stingrays.
Muskogee
Positioned on the Arkansas River, Muskogee is one of Oklahoma’s largest towns and an appealing place for retirement. Retirees here will truly feel at home, especially as the town is full of hospitable attractions, such as the Amish Country Store & Restaurant, which serves home-cooked meals infused with old-fashioned Amish flavor. When it comes to outdoor recreation, Honor Heights Park is in town, offering picnic and sports facilities, fishing lakes and ponds, and trails that wind through gardens featuring beautiful flowers, trees, and a variety of insects. This park also hosts a couple of events, including the Azalea Festival, a month-long event held every April to celebrate the thousands of Azaleas, tulips, and other flowers blooming in the area. In June, the same park brings people together with the Symphony in the Park, a free outdoor event featuring music, shows, and food. Moreover, the Muskogee Little Theatre is in town to offer a variety of performances put on by local talents year-round.
Notably, this town is the proud home of the Castle of Muskogee, a sprawling attraction with a fairy-tale-like design and unique features, such as three pirate ships, a 20-acre Renaissance Village, a dungeon, catacombs, and a torture chamber, among others. Throughout the year, this castle complex hosts incredible events, including the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, one of the most exciting in the US, held in featuring unique food, and hundreds of entertainers and artisans who bring to life an enchanting Renaissance village full of sorcerers, knights, and royalty. Christmas at the castle is also a fun experience, featuring thousands of lights and decorations, alongside numerous vendors and activities, such as train rides.
These towns in Oklahoma are excellent places to retire and experience the state’s rich Native American culture, Western heritage, delicious cuisine, and friendly people. In these towns, retirees will be met with unwavering hospitality across various local establishments and a contagious sense of community that makes retirement truly pleasant. Moreover, the friendliness of these towns is not just felt in hearts, but also in pockets. This is largely due to their affordability, with most boasting average home values that are generally below the state average of $214,563, according to Zillow.
