[Johnhw2]

I grew up in Durant. We rarely were in okc or Tulsa since Dallas was much closer for a city fix. Some if not most from the two big cities of okc seem to ignore far SE Ok when describing Oklahoma. I wonder what percentage of Oklahoma big city residents have ever visited far SE Ok? I suspect it's a small percent much like my estimate that while living in Durant my "city" visits were 95% to dallas. Growing up I felt much like a Texan as an Oklahoman.

[Oklahomagirl74]

I'm from Tulsa, and my brother and his family recently moved to Durant from Edmond to start a new business. They love it there, and I've been down there twice since they moved and like it as well. I've been to Broken Bow only once, but am anxious to go again. Its so beautiful down there.

I'm love the southern hospitality and culture in the southern Oklahoma towns.

[Johnhw2]

Originally Posted by Oklahomagirl74

I'm from Tulsa, and my brother and his family recently moved to Durant from Edmond to start a new business. They love it there, and I've been down there twice since they moved and like it as well. I've been to Broken Bow only once, but am anxious to go again. Its so beautiful down there.

I'm love the southern hospitality and culture in the southern Oklahoma towns.

Thanks it's nice for a small town and is definitely growing. I thought it was pretty flat there growing up as I considered the Rockies what mountains were all about. After living in Houston I now consider it very hilly there. I have family just outside Durant, on the NW side so get up there every other month at least. As you go N and NW it gets even hillier, saw a small development where you could see ten miles from the highest lot. Vey wooded as well as hilly. The proximity to Dallas is a big deal too as several large employers including cardinal glass, big lots warehouse, allied stone which serves okc to Houston retailers not to mention Choctaw casino all are largely driven by proximity to DFW area. I consider it the capital of SE Oklahoma with the state college their rather than Mcallister which inexplicably chose the prison over the college long long ago as the story goes.

[eddie gein]

I've been there and lived there (Poteau and Wilburton). To me Durant really isn't "southeastern Oklahoma" and before you say well "Southeastern State is there", let me say that Southwestern State is in Weatherford but it's not in Southwestern Oklahoma. It's in west central Oklahoma. And although many see McAlister as the hub of SE Oklahoma I see it more as the gateway to the REAL southeastern Oklahoma. I kind of see Durant as the southern gateway as well.

To be honest I kind of consider Durant in the same section of the state as Ardmore as Poteau, Heavener, Broken Bow and Idabel are vastly different from Durant's part of the country.

With that being said, people don't go down there because it only appeals to the hunting' and fishin' and boating' types. White collar people never go down there. If they want that type of experience they just go to Arkansas.

McAlester/Krebs has the Italian places that are a draw. I suppose Durant has some people that visit because of the proximity of the lakes, but it's still a bit off of the main road and doesn't really have any drawing power. Nice town though.

And I don't know how you can claim dual citizenship. That lone star flag and those Longhorn decals make my Okie skin crawl.

[Oklahomagirl74]

True! I do consider Durant more 'south central' than 'south eastern' but I still like it down there. Love Lake Texoma!

[swake]

My father lived for a few years in McAlester, but that was a long time ago now. I would guess few people from the Tulsa area visit southeast Oklahoma except for the Webbers Falls area or to drive through to go to Dallas. Oklahoma City people might visit more for the casinos near the Texas state line, but the Tulsa area is pretty covered with large casinos.

It does seem on this site that the million or so rural Oklahomans seemed to discount the 2.5 million people that live in the metro areas as being really from Oklahoma.

[teakboat]

I was there about 2 hours ago. Back home in Tulsa now.

There is much scenic beauty down there, but little else. I think that unless Tulsa people have work to do there (like me), or happen to have family who are there, they will mostly ignore rural SE Oklahoma.

And I have to concur with Eddie Gein (serial killer), Durant to me is just that last OK town of any size on I75 before you get to the DFW metroplex that seems to begin at the Red River at this time.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by Johnhw2

I grew up in Durant. We rarely were in okc or Tulsa since Dallas was much closer for a city fix. Some if not most from the two big cities of okc seem to ignore far SE Ok when describing Oklahoma. I wonder what percentage of Oklahoma big city residents have ever visited far SE Ok? I suspect it's a small percent much like my estimate that while living in Durant my "city" visits were 95% to dallas. Growing up I felt much like a Texan as an Oklahoman.

Often. We have hunting/fishing property on the Oklahoma-Arkansas line.

Sorry that you're as much a Tejan as Oklahoman. I lived in Cowtown for over a decade....no way did I ever consider myself Tejan, only Okie through and through.

I would say stay on the Oklahoma side of the State-line to fix that issue. Our air is better and our girls are prettier any way.

Personally, I don't see huge differences in the hospitality. Possibly because much of my family/extended family is from Eastern/Southeastern Oklahoma. I just see it all as Okie Hospitality, which is better than the other four states I've lived in.

[Howest2008]

I pass through every time that I visit Louisiana and Southwestern Arkansas , and there no stopping because of the lack of National Parks , State Parks , Skiing , Resorts , Hotels , Motels well you get the picture...do you????

[Goodpasture]

How many okc and Tulsa residents ever visit far SE OK

I think in 2014 there were 73 that went down there. It was up from 2013's high of 56.

FWIW, I've held classes there and EVERYONE in the class was from that area....