Adair County: Ozark Plateau, Illinois River, and History

The Ozark Plateau in Adair County encompasses the wooded foothills of the Boston Mountains; river landscapes and the history of the Cherokee Nation are other defining themes of the region. The Illinois River drains the northern and central parts of the county, while historic sites in Stilwell and Westville offer insights into the region’s past. When choosing a vacation rental, you can therefore focus on different combinations of nature experiences, cultural history, and regional traditions.

Landscape Between the Ozark Plateau and Barren Fork Creek

The Ozark Plateau in Adair County encompasses the wooded foothills of the Boston Mountains. For travelers who want to experience the landscape beyond the car window, the two areas along Barren Fork Creek provide a clear geographic orientation. The Barren Fork WMA covers approximately 497 acres along Barren Fork Creek in eastern Adair County. There, the creek offers opportunities to fish for black bass, particularly smallmouth bass.

In western Adair County, the Thomas A. Bamberger Sr. WMA covers 301 acres along Barren Fork Creek. The area rises more than 200 feet from the creek bed into a closed-canopy oak-hickory forest. An information kiosk is located at the northern entrance. The different landscapes make choosing the day’s activities straightforward: fishing is the main focus at Barren Fork Creek, while the Thomas A. Bamberger Sr. WMA is characterized by its elevation change and closed-canopy forest.

Cherokee History and Historic Sites

Adair County was formed from the Going Snake and Flint districts of the Cherokee Nation. A particularly important point of reference is Stilwell. Stilwell’s city cemetery was a disbandment site on the Trail of Tears in 1838–39. Golda's Mill near Stilwell is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In Westville, Bushyhead's Depot was a depot for distributing rations to members of the Cherokee Nation who arrived on the Trail of Tears. Bushyhead's Depot is designated as a site along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. The mission near present-day Westville was initially called Breadtown and later became known as Baptist Mission. Baptist Mission was established in 1841 by the Baptist Board at Bushyhead's Depot with a church, a school, and a printing press. In August 1844, the first issue of the Cherokee Messenger was printed there, the first newspaper produced in Oklahoma.

Later development of the area can also be seen in several buildings and sites. The KCS Railway Depot is significant to Stilwell’s transportation history. The Opera Block is associated with Westville’s time as the county seat of Adair County and with its role as an entertainment center during the era of traveling vaudeville and Chautauqua performances made possible by the railroads. The Buffington Hotel on West Main Street was built in 1910 to meet the demand for accommodations for travelers and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The grave of Reverend Jesse Bushyhead is significant because of its connection to the Cherokee Trail of Tears of 1837–1839.

Planning Your Trip Around Your Interests

For arrival and choosing your accommodation, the main roads help with orientation: U.S. Highway 62 runs east–west through Adair County, while U.S. Highway 59 runs north–south. From Tulsa, the route leads east on Highway 412 to West Siloam Springs and then south on Highway 59 to Stilwell. Those planning a trip with different interests can weigh the locations of the natural areas, the historical character of Stilwell and Westville, and the transportation connections when choosing a vacation rental.

Adair Park offers 20 basic campsites and seven RV sites with electricity and water hookups. These options represent a different form of travel than a vacation rental. When making your own plans, you can therefore decide whether you would rather stay independently in an accommodation or use the documented camping facilities.

Regional Products and Traditions

The local character includes the annual Stilwell Strawberry Festival, which has been held since the 1940s to promote strawberries grown in the region. The festival includes a 5-kilometer run. The Stilwell Farmers Market sells fresh produce from Oklahoma. In this way, regional foods and a long-standing event complement Adair County’s nature and history themes.

More destinations: Sequoyah County, Caddo County, Jefferson County, Washington County, Pushmataha County, Major County, Creek County.

To the main travel overview: Oklahoma.