Terral, OK
In the far south-west corner of Chickasaw Country sits the town of Terral. Only one mile north of the Red River, this small agricultural town welcomes visitors headed north on Highway 81 as their first stop in Oklahoma. Home to Happy Days Farms Pumpkin Patch offering seasonal entertainment for the whole family, this small town has historical likeness and peaceful surroundings.
What to Do
Riverstar Casino has a gaming floor of pure entertainment with over 600 machines to keep the jackpots flowing. Adrift Boutique offers souvenirs, apparel and more, conveniently located off the Casino floor.
Where to Eat
Riverstar Casino also is home to Kitchen 81, serving up all your favorite dishes, and The Bar, serving up drinks for days.
Doug’s Peach Orchard has been a fixture in Terral for over 65 years, serving some of the best catfish, steak fingers, calf fries, chicken livers, hush puppies and fried pickles you’ll ever have.
You can also enjoy a delicious hamburger at Mama Josie’s Café.
If you find yourself driving through Chickasaw Country, swing by Terral for both delicious food, and also see the town that served as the gateway to Oklahoma.
History
Like many pioneer towns in Oklahoma, Terral was founded by an entrepreneurial man, John Terral, who believed that it could serve as an important stop along the new train tracks running through the then Indian Territory.
The town opened its first post office, of which Terral was the Postmaster, in 1892, 14 years before Oklahoma would achieve statehood. The first train ran through Terral in 1895, enabling an economy to grow in the area. John Terral served as an advocate for the town both in the Chickasaw Nation Capitol of Tishomingo and Washington DC.
Terral also marks an important gateway to Oklahoma. The Chisholm Trail crossed into Oklahoma from North Texas just east of where Terral now sits at the Red River.
In the late 19th century, millions of cattle were driven from south Texas through Oklahoma, creating an important economy and culture throughout the state.
