Hit one of Shawnee's nearly 50 fall festivals, trick or treats, and other autumn fun! Yes -- really. Shawnee LOVES Halloween! Check the calendar for a list of all upcoming events and find an awesome autumn adventure. Here's our Top 10 things to do for fall fun this year in Shawnee: 1. Pick your own pumpkin at Sunshine Shelly’s Pumpkin Patch This 20-acre farm has fun for the whole family! Farm grown pumpkins, a Corn Maze, corn pits, big trykes, hayride, giant pumpkin bounce, fire pits, and special events like Halloween movie night every Saturday at sunset. Check here for this year's schedule. 2. See the changing leaves at the National Arboretum at OBU There are more than 300 trees & shrubs on campus representing 134 different species, including a seedling from the OKC Bombing's Survivor Tree. Pack your walking shoes! 3. Kick your Halloween off with the Monsters on Main Halloween Festival Formerly known as Boo on Bell, this annual fall festival celebrates the autumn season with family-friendly activities. A carnival downtown runs Thursday through Saturday, and a full-day festival happens on Main Street all Saturday! Costume contests (for kids, adults, and pets!), a trick-or-treat on Main, plus ghost stories, games, face painting, food trucks, and more. 4. Get spooked at the Nightmare Harvest Haunted Corn Maze Shawnee's only haunted corn maze is back in 2023! Awarded Oklahoma's Outstanding Agricultural Attraction in 2021, this legendary haunted maze will spook your boots off (not recommended for children under 13.) 5. Get your very own Fall Gnome at The Arts @ 317 Craft your own autumn-inspired gnome at one of the seasonal classes, or buy one in the gallery from gnome artist extraordinaire Betty Combe. 6. Welcome soup season at a local soup hotspot The Owl Shoppe's eclectic and experimental menu changes each week, so follow them on Facebook to see your choice of soup -- some of their popular soups include birria ramen, peach gazpacho, and jalapeno pepper chowder! Theopolis Social Club also features seasonal soups, a few favorites of which are red pepper bisque and potato leek. A final great soup stop is The Lunch Box, which features two soups every day on a rotating menu. We're partial to the white cheddar poblano... 7. Don your favorite flannel and throw axes at Lumberjack Johnson's A hip flannel is not actually required, but a good throwing arm will do you some good! Open year-round, something about throwing axes that feels especially great once the air is crisp and the leaves are falling! 8. Celebrate Mummy Day with Oklahoma's Only Mummies The first Saturday in November each year is Mummy Day at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, a free family-friendly educational festival celebrating Oklahoma's only mummies, who live at the MGMoA. 9. Cheer for the OBU Bison Fall and football go together like Brad Pitt and George Clooney in movies. In Shawnee, we cheer for the OBU Bison! Oklahoma Baptist compete in the Great American Conference and see some of the best in NCAA Division 2 teams. Find their schedule here. 10. Spook the Competition at the legendary Firelake Costume Contest This adults-only Halloween party at Firelake Casino is legendary, with a prize of $1000 to the best costume! Registration is at 7pm, judging starts at 8:15.

Looking for local-grown produce? Want fresh eggs that come from chickens that peck their happy lives away in the sunshine? Skip the big-city lines and find farm fresh foods in Shawnee, just east of the OKC metro. Farmers Markets located east of OKC Crow's Market on Main features fresh-from-the-farm produce all year round in their brick and mortar "farm to main street" Market, open 6 days a week. Alongside Crow's own produce, you can shop a variety of meats, dairy, and eggs from local farmers. Crow's also sells fresh-baked breads and goodies as well as carrying a wide selection of take-and-bake meals they prepare fresh in house with their home-grown ingredients. Shawnee's weekend outdoor 177 Farmer's Market is open on Saturdays late spring - early fall from 9 am to 2 pm just off of Hwy 177, on the west side of Shawnee. with a wide variety of vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, fresh eggs and dairy, and more along the parking lot of Phelps Equipment Rental. Food trucks also onsite most Saturdays. Find them on Facebook to see which vendors are coming each weekend! Monks' Marketplace sells locally-grown beef and honey from bees raised onsite at St. Gregory's Abbey, alongside other monk and nun-made goods from monasteries across the U.S. Farm to Table places to eat If you're looking for the farm-to-table experience and Made in Oklahoma fare, look no further than Theopolis Social Club, whose dishes include seasonal produce from Crow's Market on Main throughout the year as well as baked goods powered by Shawnee Mills flours, milled just down the street from Theo's. You can also enjoy the locally-raised beef from St. Gregory's Abbey in the form of delicious burgers at Hamburger King, a family owned and operated diner that's been serving up burgers in Shawnee for nearly a century! Bar H Branding Iron serves up their own beef raised at the Canadian Valley Ranch just east of Shawnee alongside a healthy menu of good ol' southern comfort food. Looking for more great places to eat in Shawnee? We can help.

231 sunny days on average in Oklahoma. That’s almost an entire month more than average! With those extra days, explore nature with all the fun things to do outdoors in and around Shawnee. Whether you're looking to hunt your next Christmas tree or splash around in the summer sun, Shawnee's diverse outdoor adventures have it all. Outdoor Destinations off I-40 in Shawnee Shawnee Twin Lakes is a serene public lake destination ideal for fishing, kayaking, camping, and swimming just south of I-40 on Hwy 102! The two lakes are connected by a beautiful red-cliffed channel and features several parks, a campground with newly renovated amenities, swimming beaches, boat ramps, a fishing dock, and a kayak launch. If you don't have your own kayak, don't worry -- you can rent one at Kayak Cove on the weekends. Shawnee has 40 diverse parks, from a flower lover's favorite Rose Garden Park on Broadway to Dean Weigant Park's towering play space by the Airport. $9 million in park renovations to be completed in 2023, including the nearly 7-acre playground at the renovated Kid Space Park which opened in late June 2023! Runners will enjoy the Airport Track and other urban trails. Into another sport? Find pickleball, volleyball, tennis courts, and disc golf courses. If traditional golf is your sport, tee up Firelake Golf Course on the 6,335 yards of greens and fairways. Chase the butterflies! A wonderful butterfly garden is at our Pottawatomie County OSU Extension Office grounds. In the summer months, many species of butterflies and moths, bumble bees, and honeybees flutter through the garden feeding. This garden is registered with the Monarch Watch organization with the official designation of Monarch Waystation #20948. Explore the other side of nature at Oklahoma's only nationally accredited arboretum on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University. There are 134 different species of tree and 150 more shrub varieties, including a direct descendant sapling of the Survivor Tree from the Oklahoma City bombing. Ready to cool off? Head to the Shawnee Splash Water Park! Open late May - early August annually, this incredible downtown waterpark opens each summer featuring a lazy river, kid's play zone, diving area, and slides. Interested in honing your aim? Clay Bird Sports is a public sporting clays club with full 10 station walking course, and monthly tournament events. Open year-round just off Twin Lakes Reservoir. Also located along Twin Lakes is the Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma's 1/8 model train track and locomotive! Open for private parties year-round and the first Sunday of each month for public runs include special events each December to ride with the Clauses. In the fall and winter, one of the favorite destinations for locals and visitors alike is Sunshine Shelly's -- a pumpkin patch experience and haunted maze each fall followed by a tree farm wonderland each December. Upcoming Outdoor Events in Shawnee

KidSpace Park, the $3.6+M state-of-the-art, fun-filled park opens on June 23rd in Shawnee, which is located just a half hour east of Oklahoma City. Park-goers of all ages have been eager to enjoy this 7.6-acre park surrounded by an ADA accessible 4/10- mile trail. About the Playgrounds at Oklahoma's newest Premier Park No need to worry about the equipment getting too hot to the touch, because it’s made from aggregate materials to keep the playground safe for play year-round. And be sure to take off your shoes to see how the turf not only looks but also feels like real grass. With two playgrounds, there’s a multitude of play equipment for all age groups, including areas specific to 2–5-year-old as well as 5-12-year-old children. There is a Ninja challenge course and a 40-yard dash with timers for older children and adults. Rounding out the park are areas for passive and active recreation including picnic areas, shaded seating, four pavilions, a basketball court, two Pickleball courts, Ping Pong, and other outdoor games. Also included is a new, completely ADA accessible restroom and additional parking on the south side. “Planning for park upgrades has been underway since 2017. Shawnee voters supported the plan and passed a 0.5% sales tax in June 2018 to fund public safety, roadway, and parks and public facilities improvements,” said Ed Bolt, Mayor of Shawnee. “KidSpace Park has far surpassed what we had envisioned. It will bring smiles to all ages for many, many years to come.” Join the fun at the KidSpace Park Grand Opening starting at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 23. Games and prizes will be offered throughout the park from 4 - 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Food trucks and a snow cone truck will also be on hand from 3 - 8 p.m. on those days! Grand Opening Event Schedule How did Shawnee build KidSpace Park? “The citizens requested and voted for improved parks and public facilities. The design firm and construction contractors, along with City of Shawnee Engineering and Public Works staff, delivered a first-class park that cities many times larger than Shawnee would be proud to have in their community,” said Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer, Shawnee City Manager. “It has been a privilege for PDG to be a part of the KidSpace Park Improvements Project. This project took the existing park that was in a state of needing major repairs and upgrades, to a park that will be one of the top five largest playgrounds in the State of Oklahoma,” said Geoffery Evans, PDG, Principal/Project Manager for the Kid Space Park design. Media Information for KidSpace Grand Opening Pre-opening tours for the media are available June 20 - 22. If interested in a tour, please contact Marcy Jarrett, Public Information Officer, City of Shawnee, 405-273-1950, or Marcy.Jarrett@ShawneeOK.org. Looking for directions to KidSpace Park? Take I-40 exit 186. Head South on Highway 18/Harrison Street and go approximately 2.5 miles to Independence. Turn left on Independence and go to Center Street (4-way stop). Turn right on Center. KidSpace Park will be on the left, just past the Fairview Cemetery.

This article was written by Elaine Warner and originally published in Edmond Life and Leisure, and the original article can be viewed here. People from Shawnee will tell you there are lots of reasons to visit the town. For my family, there are two reasons: Hamburger King and the original Van’s Pig Stand. My husband grew up in Shawnee and these two spots were highlights in his history. He remembers years when the family didn’t have a car. “We’d take a cab to church on Sundays. Our church was on East Main Street and after church we’d walk to Hamburger King.” This little diner has a history longer than my husband’s. It’s been in business since 1927 and is now in the hands of the fourth generation of the Macsas family. Although the location has changed since Jack was a kid, the quality of the food still draws him back. Almost everything is made from scratch, with a local lady bringing in fresh pies daily. The big thing here is the beef. If ever there was a reason to use the phrase “holy cow,” this is it. The 100 percent Angus beef comes from cows raised by the monks at St. Gregory’s Abbey. Grass-fed, grain-finished, the animals are pasture raised without hormones or antibiotics, and processed locally. You can’t get fresher or healthier meat. The outside of Hamburger King is totally unpretentious. The inside is original ‘60s retro. This is a long-time, home-town favorite that is easily overlooked by visitors. They’re missing a treat. While Van’s history actually goes back a century, the Highland Street location dates back to the early ‘30s. Van’s is Oklahoma’s oldest barbecue restaurant continuously-owned and operated by the same family. Their Pig Sandwich is the star of the sty. The recipe hasn’t changed since the Shawnee store opened. It features pulled pork shoulder and the original rub. Van’s also has its own barbecue relish and barbecue sauce. While there is a newer location in Shawnee, one in Moore and one in Norman, it’s the Highland store that draws us back. Try it for a great sandwich with a side of nostalgia. Shawnee’s Main Street has suffered through the years – and could use a good facelift. There are, however, some interesting spots that brighten the streetscape – and may lighten your wallet. One of the most surprising is Oak, Ash, and Thorn. First off, the striking store front stands out. Secondly, it’s a metaphysical emporium carrying rocks, crystals, incense, herbs, teas, dream-catchers and more. Check out the locally made jewelry. And don’t miss the selection of interesting jigsaw puzzles. Be careful if you go into Savvy Bites. This store carries so many items; you’re bound to find something you didn’t know you needed. Kitchen items, olive oils, vinegars, French truffles, baby items, décor, some unusual lights – the store is crowded with shelves and the shelves are packed with interesting things. I wasn’t shopping but walked out with a lemon zester and a clip-and-go cell phone strap that was a life-saver on my recent European trip. Thanks to our lunch at Hamburger King, I discovered the Monks’ Marketplace at St. Gregory’s Abbey. Here you can buy a variety of beef cuts, honey from the monks; hives plus jellies, candy, and soap made in other convents and abbeys. There are also some religious items. This little store, under the clock tower on the St. Gregory’s Abbey campus is only open three days a week: Thursday and Friday from 1:30 to 4:00 and Saturday from 9:00 to 11:30 and 1:30 to 4:00. Also on the St. Gregory (now owned by OBU) campus, you’ll find one of Oklahoma’s oldest museums – the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. Founded in 1919 by Father Gregory Gerrer, it began with treasures Father Gerrer collected from all over the world. The first thing visitors see is a Cabinet of Curiosities collected by Father Gerrer. This random assemblage includes such items as a 1605 volume of philosophy, foreign money, a sawfish bill, and some pieces of porcelain. The thing that always grabs students’ attention is a shrunken head. In addition to being a world traveler and collector, Father Gerrer was a talented painter. One of the prize pieces in the museum is a portrait commissioned by Pope Pius X in 1904. A copy of this painting, also by Father Gerrer, hangs in the Vatican in Rome. Museum collections range from ancient art to contemporary works. Each area gives just tidbits of the periods and styles. Only about four percent of the museum’s holdings are on display at any one time. The museum’s Egyptian collection is one of the nation’s finest. School children are always fascinated with the mummies. The oldest mummy is about 2400 years old. Hieroglyphics on the mummy case tells us that her name was Tutu. Thanks to modern technology (X-rays and CT scans) we know that she was between 40 and 50 when she died. Her arms were folded over her chest, a common practice with high-status mummifications. Other ancient civilizations including Sumerian, Greek and Roman cultures are represented in this area. Asian art from China and Southeast Asia and South America are also included. From Medieval through the early Renaissance, much of the art created was religious or for the church – but not all. On display now is an ivory jewelry case, made in Italy around 1550. An earlier (1446) Venetian suit of armor stands in a corner nearby. Other exhibits display later European and African art, portraiture, Native American art, and contemporary works. When I think of this museum, the word “bijou” comes to mind. The museum is small compared to many art museums. Individual pieces in the collections are carefully chosen and elegantly presented. Mabee-Gerrer is definitely a jewel in Oklahoma’s crown. Shawnee’s a short drive away and the perfect destination for a day-trip but it offers enough for longer visits. ------ Click HERE to find your perfect hotel for a weekend in Shawnee.

Fun and games indoor and out. Mummies. Trains. Dinosaurs. Cowboys. Everyone can be a kid in Shawnee. Here are some of the best family-friendly adventures: 1. House of Hints Unique escape room experiences (new puzzles and rooms often!) on historic Bell Street. Private parties and paint splatter experiences also available. 2. Coffee N' Crafts Walk in and grab a drink and canvas or ceramic and paint to your heart's content! Special craft classes available througout the year in addition to walk-in painting. 3. Shawnee Splash Water Park Beat the summer heat at the outdoor complex featuring a shallow play area, regulation pool area, spray ground area, diving area, climbing wall, and slides. 4. Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art Want to see the only ancient Egyptian mummy in Oklahoma? Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art features permanent exhibitions of Egyptian, Greek and Roman objects; art from the Renaissance through the early 20th century; and large holdings of Native American, African, pre-Columbian, and Eastern cultural artifacts. 5. Pottawatomie County Museum See how your kiddo sizes up against the World's Largest Overalls and a stuffed Alaskan bear, or see the model train sets. The Pottawatomie County Museum located alongside the historic Santa Fe Depot & Beard cabin shows the history of life in Shawnee and Pottawatomie County in the newly-built Milburn Center. 6. Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma (L.O.C.O.) They’re a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of large scale model railroading. Ride the outdoor railroad on the five acres of land about 16 miles west of Shawnee. 7. Laynie's Treehouse Indoor Playplace Shawnee’s Own Indoor Play Space for Families! Laynie's Treehouse first playspace is open -- an indoor backyard for ages 5 and under inside Shawnee Mall , with expansions for bigger kids to come. 8. Jasmine Moran Children's Museum Learn to ride a Segway. Find your way through the Castle Maze. Let your little learn to be a judge, grocery cashier, restauranteur, or mechanic! Explore these interactive exhibits at the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in nearby Seminole. 9. More in OKC The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is home to 1,900 animals. The Science Museum Oklahoma is the state's only hands-on science museum and one of the largest science museums in the nation. And at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum kids can stroll the streets of Prosperity Junction, an authentic turn-of-the-century Western prairie town. Peek in store windows, listen to antique player pianos, and actually walk into some of the fully furnished buildings. Any dinosaur loving kid will want to visit the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman. Explore ancient dinosaur life, Oklahoma natural life, or the culture of Native Americans in Oklahoma. With so many family fun adventures, get a hotel room and make a weekend of it in Shawnee. Order your Visitors Guide and start planning your fun!

This article was originally published in the Norman Transcript on April 16, 2023 and was authored by Elaine Warner. ------ Let’s start with a bit of history. With Indian Removal in the early 1800s, tribes were assigned areas in what would become the state of Oklahoma. The five “Civilized Tribes,” Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole, occupied almost the entire area with two exceptions. The Quapaw and Seneca tribes were assigned small portions of the northeastern corner. The panhandle still belonged to Mexico. The Creek and Seminole tribes were given a large swath of central Oklahoma stretching from near Fort Gibson to the western border. Following the Civil War, some of the Creek/Seminole section was ceded to the Sac and Fox, Potawatomi, Shawnee and Kickapoo peoples. Boundaries shifted, tribal territories shrank, and settlement kept encroaching. By the 1890s, the Indians, although named possessors of territory, were pretty much kicked to the curb. The most obvious remnants of their occupation were the names given to counties, towns, and streets: Pottawatomie County, Shawnee, and one of Shawnee’s main streets, Kickapoo. While both the Citizen Potawatomi and the Absentee Shawnee nations have tribal headquarters in Shawnee, the influence of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation is most obvious to visitors. As a writer, the difference in spelling between the county and the Nation bothered me. Blake Norton, Director of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center, explained, “Both spellings are phonetic, but Potawatomi is closest to the real word.” and the Cultural Heritage Center is where you should begin your exploration. A discriminating choice of artifacts, gorgeous graphics and interesting interactive elements are thoughtfully organized to help visitors understand both the cultural heritage of the Nation and the historical influences on and by its people. The narrative begins with their foundation story and tribal legends. The tribe originated in what is now Maine and eastern Canada, then migrated to the Great Lakes region. The first of several large displays depicts Potawatomi women working with rice. Wild rice was considered sacred and served not only as nourishing food but was used as medicine and in ceremonies. Potawatomi bands remaining in the Great Lakes area have preserved many of these traditional customs. The Citizen Potawatomi are one of seven Potawatomi bands recognized in the U.S. There are two other First Nations recognized in Canada. The Citizen Potawatomi’s own designation for themselves is Zhishibéni or Duck People. Exhibits take visitors through Potawatomi traditions, interactions with other tribes and the coming of Europeans. You’ll review a lot of American history – and a lot of history you didn’t know. Tribal history takes a darker turn with the era of Indian removals. In spite of good relations, even intermarriages with Europeans, the Potawatomi were not spared Andrew Jackson’s harsh policies. A council to discuss removal was called by the government. When tribal leaders arrived, they were arrested and put in shackles. The army scoured the nearby forests to round up tribal members who sought to resist. This was the beginning of the best-documented Potawatomi removal, known as the Trail of Death. Eight-hundred and fifty-nine Native Americans were forced marched from their northern Indiana homes to Kansas. One of the most touching displays in the museum is a wall of moccasins created by members of the Potawatomi community. Each pair represents ten of the participants on the Trail. To really appreciate all the museum has to offer, plan to spend at least and hour – I spent two and could have spent more time there. Also in this area of town, you’ll find the tribe’s FireLake Casino and FireLake Golf Course. If you’re hungry, both the Casino and the golf course have sandwiches and a small shop near the casino has nishnabe tacos. That name, rather than Indian tacos, is a whole ‘nother story. The other do-not-miss Potawatomi project is the Grand Casino Resort. Jack and I spent the night at the Casino hotel – an attractive and comfortable stay. The staff members who checked us in couldn’t have been more welcoming. They answered my myriad questions patiently – by the time we checked out the next day, I felt like I’d made new friends. Greg Cox, Player Development Manager, took me on a tour of the resort. The largest area is, of course, the casino. There are 1,450 electronic games and more than 30 table games but the floor does not feel crowded. Players can play machines with pennies or play higher stake machines up to $100 dollars. A tour of the casino is worthwhile whether you are a gamer or not. The video screen above the food court on the first floor is worth seeing. Options in the food court include Mexican and Italian dishes, ramen, barbecue, coffee and sweets. Self-serve stations offer free ice cream, soft drinks, coffee, and tea. On the second floor the Fire and Ice Bar serves alcoholic beverages. Nearby, a lounge features live music on Friday and Saturday nights. A concert venue hosts larger concerts. The Foreigner concert, April 29, has been sold out for months. The conference space serves a double purpose. In addition to hosting meetings and events, the area is constructed as a storm shelter designed to keep guests safe even during an F-5 tornado. Other amenities include a full-service spa – I got to enjoy a great massage – and a roof-top pool. Golf packages for FireLake Golf Course are available. Diners have several options besides the food court on the gaming floor. The Grandstand Sports Bar with lots of TVs for fans serves casual favorites. The Grand Café is quieter and serves an excellent breakfast at an amazingly reasonable price. My chicken avocado sandwich for lunch really hit the spot. Flame Brazilian Steakhouse is open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday. The décor is sophisticated, and the salad bar includes such exotic items as fresh oysters. There are more than 130 casinos and over 80,000 slot machines in Oklahoma. I asked Greg Cox what made the Grand Casino stand out. He replied, “Good enough isn’t good enough. We’ve got to be better. We hire good people. The personal connection is primary. We out-people the other casinos.” See the original article published at the Norman Transcript here.

Shawnee is an RV'ers paradise! With a wide variety of RV parks, RV and group friendly restaurants and attractions, we are a great weekend getaway just 30 minutes east of OKC on I-40 where you can bring your home away from home along for the adventure! Best Times to RV in Shawnee, OK One of the best times to travel to Shawnee in an RV is during the spring bloom of the Redbuds -- late March to early April. Another popular time is the second weekend in August, when many travel to attend the Fireflight Balloon Festival and Outdoor Nation Expo! Shawnee is also especially welcoming in autumn, when we have over 50 fall festivals and trick or treats from September through early November, and the leaves at Oklahoma Baptist University's nationally recognized Arboretum are putting on an incredible show. Top RV Parks in Shawnee Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center's RV Park One of the state's largest with over 700 sites in 50 and 30 amp and four comfort stations in addition to a conference facility, catering, and other amenities to ensure your stay is a hit! Online reservation and check in available, as well as wifi and laundry service. 1700 W Independence | (405) 275-7020 | shawneeexpo.com/rvpark Rolling Stone Stables & RV Park Located just north of Shawnee on I-40 off a gravel road, this unique and beautiful park features rentable stables with rv spaces surrounding, alongside a 5 acre fishing lake. 5927 Fountain Lake Dr | (405) 318-3303 | rollingstonestables.com Shawnee RV Park Simple gravel rv park right off Hwy 18 just a few minutes north of I-40. Full hooks at every site, with 30 & 50 amp available. Coin-operated laundry. 8975 N Harrison St | (405) 878-5799 | shawneervpark.com Country Hollow Campgrounds Located on the south side of Shawnee minutes from downtown and Firelake Casino and Arena, Country Hollow is a gated park full of mature trees, with river access. Online reservation and check in available. 1703 E Farrall St | (405) 706-8472 | countryhollow.net Happy Acres 5 minutes north of I-40 featuring 62 concrete sites with full hookups! The park is beautiful and shaded with many mature trees, and also has some walking trails in addition to fire pits. Laundry & restrooms under construction. 9513 N Harrison Ave | (405) 434-9955 | visitshawnee.com/happyacres RV & Trailer Service in Shawnee Prestige RV Center 37311 W 45th St | (405) 275-3555 | prestigervcenter.com Trailer Depot 5 Westgate | (405) 214-2700 | oktrailerdepot.com Have your next RV Rally in Shawnee! Shawnee has over 1,000 RV spots to suit your needs; from small and quiet to big and lively we've got just the park for your group. We also have a menu of group-friendly restaurants and attractions and are here to support you in planning a successful RV Rally in Shawnee. For more information and assistance planning your rally in Shawnee, contact Stacy at (405) 275-9780 or tell us about your event via email at info@visitshawnee.com.

Shawnee has a rich history! Four Native American Tribes. Cattle drives. Oklahoma Baptist University. The railroad. Astronauts. And Round House Overalls. The many volunteers with the Pottawatomie County Historical Society have worked to preserve Shawnee's history, and you can see it on display at the Pottawatomie County Museum. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Learn more about the Pottawatomie County Museum here. Here are the top 10 things to see when you visit the Pottawatomie County Museum in historic downtown Shawnee! 1. The World's Largest Pair of Overalls! Guinness Book of World Records verified! 17-foot tall; nearly 15-foot waist; and buttons that are 8 inches in diameter. The overalls celebrate the rich history of Round House Jeans in Shawnee. 2. A model of Downtown Shawnee. The buildings and streets are to scale and meticulously detailed. You feel like you're flying over Downtown Shawnee as you walk around and see the model! 3. The Gordon Cooper, Astronaut display Shawnee's own United States Air Force pilot and astronaut piloted the longest and last Mercury spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 9. During that 34-hour mission he became the first American to spend an entire day in space, the first to sleep in space, and the last American launched on an entirely solo orbital mission. Learn more about "Gordo" - Shawnee's son - at the Museum. (Learn more about other famous people from Shawnee here.) 4. A one room schoolhouse Walk in the room. Sit at the desk. And imagine school on the plains. Be sure to ring the bell! 5. A replica 1930's bank There's no teller to take your deposit (although the museum staff would welcome the donation,) but walk in a replica bank long before direct deposit and ATMs. 6. Buddy the Bear Buddy is the large stuffed bear on display and the most fun of Buddy is what color he is the day you visit. He's been white to represent polar bears. The day we visited he was as black as a black bear can get. 7. A Model T car. A 1917 model. Looks as new as the day it was driven off the lot! (Were they called 'car lots' in 1917?) 8. The model trains. There are three model trains. Watch as they travel through town, through the countryside, then back to town. Is anything more relaxing than model trains? 9. The tractor models. Shawnee has a rich agriculture history. That history and the fun side of tractors is on display with an impressive collection of John Deere tractor models and toys. 10. The slideshow of historic pictures. In the Museum's theater is a continuous running slideshow of historic pictures. A heads up - it's a long slideshow and you probably won't sit through all of it, but it is a great place to grab a seat and rest between exhibits. Bonus tip: the bricks you drive on when you arrive to the Museum are the original brick pavers of the 1905 Main Street! Get a preview of the Museum and our must-sees by watching this: More fun videos on our YouTube channel.

If you’re thinking about spending your Spring Break, we’ve compiled 6 great adventure starters for you around town, maybe including some things you haven’t considered. 1. Shawnee Twin Lakes About eight miles west of town will take you to the Shawnee Twin Lakes, a lovely destination for both Shawnee residents and visitors looking to unwind at the waterfront. Go for a swim or grab your reel and go fishing. The lakes are stocked with bass, crappie, sand bass and channel catfish. There's even a fully enclosed fishing dock, so you can test your angling skills regardless of weather. Fishing is allowed in both lakes, but you'll need to purchase a permit. Make sure you check with the headquarters office; you can double check information about the lakes, as well as pay any fees for boating, camping, or fishing. If you happen to get lucky and are enjoying a warm-weather Spring Break, stop by Kayak Cove to rent a kayak and get out on the water without getting wet! 2. Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center If you're interested in learning more about Native American history, the CPN (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)'s CHC (Cultural Heritage Center), will tell you their story. Not only does the CHC have a research archive full of tribal information and records, they also display a museum full of exhibits curated to teach both tribal members and the public about the history of the CPN. Best of all, visiting this state of the art cultural center is completely free! After you've been awed by the story of this ancient people, take home a souvenir from the Potawatomi Gift shop! 3. Coffee Break Shawnee has several local coffee shops, from sit-down and read vibes to paint and sip! Visit Comma Cafe in downtown Shawnee for a fine selection of handcrafted espresso beverages and a plethora of pastries. If you're on the other side of town, try Elevated Grounds; in addition to coffee, they serve Asian hot teas and Boba teas. Coffee N' Crafts lets you paint while you sip, and Heavenly Grind's double drive-thru location will keep you going without forcing you to leave your car; their "tornado" will deliver a deliciously bold dose of espresso. 4. Specialty Shopping Looking for something to do while you're resting up from all your exciting Spring Break outings? Bibliotech Books and Comics sells books and comics (hence the name!), but they also carry graphic novels, board games, and collectible trading cards. To browse a store full of kitchen gadgets and gizmos you didn't even know you needed and fine oils and vinegars, check out Savvy Bites! 5. Indoor Adventures Not exactly feeling like spring outside just yet? We got you! Solve puzzles to solve a mystery or escape the room in less than an hour at House of Hints escape rooms, or practice your aim at Lumberjack Johnson's Axe Throwing & Smash Room just down the street. 6. Selfie Stops Explore Shawnee in a creative way by looking for the best places to take a picture. There are many scenic vistas around town, and whether you’re a selfie star or a photography enthusiast, there’s no shortage of great places to pose. Try one of our university campuses which feature buildings over a century old. Better yet, find your favorite painted horse sculpture around town and use it to make a statement. Tag your selfies with #VisitShawneeOK to be featured on our social media sites or your photo might even end up in one of our brochures! Explore other options for what do while you're here by looking at the various sections of our website or by following us on Facebook or Instagram! Our visitor guide and maps are available at the Welcome Center located at 2820 N Kickapoo Avenue-- we’re open 9 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday. See you soon in Shawnee!