Oklahoma Magazine

This state has a rich history in saddle making, dating back to the early 1900s. By the ’20s and ’30s, when horse-drawn transportation faded and the automobile transformed the nation, the need for harnesses waned, but the art of saddle making remained. Saddle 101 For those who use saddles, selecting the right type is paramount, as this piece of equipment alone can affect the comfort and performance of both the horse and the rider.

At PAW OK Dog Park in Oklahoma City, members gather in a fenced, membership-based space where dogs can run, swim and socialize while owners build a close-knit community of fellow pet lovers. Photo courtesy PAW OK Dog Park Tails are wagging across Oklahoma as dog parks are becoming an increasingly important part of community design, offering safe, social spaces for both pets and their owners.

Emergency officials monitor severe weather conditions and coordinate tornado siren activation to help keep Oklahoma communities safe during storm season. Photo by Howard B.

L-R: Gary Gilmore, drummer Gary Sanders and guitarist John Cale pose at the Capri Club before a gig. Black and white photos courtesy the Gary Gilmore JJ Cale Archive On a verdant stretch of land a few miles outside of Tahlequah, a literal stone’s-throw from the Illinois River, sit the trim little cabins of the Riverside Resort. A popular vacation spot for many decades, it was purchased by Gary Gilmore and his wife 11 years ago. “It’s a beautiful spot, and it’s a fun business,” Gilmore says.

Residents and visitors browse vendor booths during a Carlton Landing pop-up market, where small businesses, food trucks and artisans help create a vibrant community gathering space at Lake Eufaula. Photos by Moonflower Photography At Lake Eufaula, the community of Carlton Landing offers a desirable, year-round waterfront lifestyle for residents and visitors.

Mallards are the most commonly harvested duck among Oklahoma hunters, with the birds wintering in wetlands across the state. Photo by Jacob Miller courtesy the ODWC Oklahomans revel in sightings of the colorful songbirds and other smaller species that migrate through every spring and fall. But the state’s position in the southern part of the Central Flyway also makes it a significant spot for waterfowl and gamebird protection and hunting, as some species spend the winter here.

Participants of all ages stay active and connected through recreational leagues and summer athletics at the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. Photos courtesy YMCA of Greater Tulsa Sports tourism has recently generated $250+ million for Oklahoma, supporting businesses, creating jobs and uniting communities. Whether that tourism reels in international or out-of-state visitors, or welcomes grandparents watching their grandkids play, sports tourism is a win-win for the economy and for the health of all involved.

Taylor Munsell of Alva won the 2025 WPRA World Champion Breakaway Roping title. Photo by Kristen Schurr Bull rider Kip Huddleston long dreamed of one day finishing an 8-second ride on ol’ Poor Boy. Destiny finally put the young cowboy on the back of that terrifying red and white bull on its retirement day. But that dream ride didn’t go as planned. “He bucked me off and split me open,” Huddleston says, noting the bull’s handiwork above his left eye with a hint of admiration.

Josh Lynch and family operate the Dog House food truck statewide, chasing the freedom and challenges of Oklahoma’s booming mobile food industry. Photo courtesy the Dog House Oklahoma food trucks are navigating a high stakes hustle, cashing in on low overhead and surging demand for gourmet-on-the-go. Food truck sales nationwide are expected to explode to nearly $3 billion this year. And the average Oklahoma food truck is getting a $330,000 piece of the pie.

From the grand plateaus at Black Mesa State Park to the cascading waterfalls at Turner Falls, Oklahoma has the most ecosystem diversity per square mile in the nation. However, the state park system remains an underutilized public resource. Oklahoma State Parks (OSP) director Richard Keithley hopes this will change. “We would love to see increased usage from the people of the state of Oklahoma,” he says.