El Reno, Oklahoma, a city celebrated for its iconic Lucky Star Casino and the mouthwatering fried onion burger, sits just a comfortable 25 miles west of Oklahoma City. This charming destination offers a diverse range of activities throughout the year, including the renowned Fried Onion Burger Day Festival held every May. From traversing the historic Route 66 to exploring the city’s fascinating museums, this vibrant community provides visitors with a multitude of engaging and memorable experiences. Let’s delve into the 11 must-do activities that make El Reno a truly special place to visit.
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Try your luck at the Lucky Star Casino
Located just outside of El Reno, the Lucky Star Casino stands as a prominent entertainment destination in the Oklahoma City area. Since its opening in the mid-1990s, this impressive casino has become a hub for gaming enthusiasts. Boasting over 1,000 electronic games and slots, including popular Vegas-style favorites, the casino offers a diverse selection to suit every taste. For those who prefer table games, blackjack tables are readily available, and a 24-hour poker room provides a thrilling environment for seasoned players.
Beyond gaming, the Lucky Star Casino hosts live performances by talented local and regional bands on weekends, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere. A large restaurant and bar area offers a variety of dining and beverage options, ensuring guests have everything they need for a complete entertainment experience. Operated by the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, this expansive 40,000-square-foot facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, inviting visitors to enjoy its offerings at any time.
- Address: 7777 US-81, El Reno, OK 73036, USA
- Phone: +1 405-422-6500
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Take a ride on the Heritage Express Trolley
El Reno is home to Oklahoma’s only rail-based trolley, the Heritage Express Trolley. This unique mode of transportation allows visitors to explore the city in a relaxed and engaging way. The restored 1924 Brill Motor Car features 48 seats and travels through the heart of downtown El Reno, providing a scenic tour of the area’s landmarks and attractions.
To embark on this delightful journey, visitors can park at Heritage Park, located on the grounds of the Canadian County Historical Museum, and board the trolley. The trolley makes several stops throughout the downtown area, allowing passengers to hop off and explore points of interest at their leisure. The Heritage Express Trolley operates at varying times from Wednesdays through Sundays throughout the year. A small fee is required to ride, making it an affordable and accessible way to discover the charm of El Reno.
- Address: 300 S Grand Ave, El Reno, OK 73036, USA
- Phone: +1 405-262-5121
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Step back in time at Fort Reno
Located just northwest of El Reno, Historic Fort Reno holds a significant place in the region’s history. Established in 1874 as a military camp during the Indian Wars Era, the fort played a crucial role in shaping the area’s development. Today, the 6,000-acre property serves as a popular tourist attraction, offering a glimpse into the past through tours, reenactments, and historical exhibits.
Visitors can explore the fort’s grounds, including its on-site cemetery, which hosts the annual "Ghosts of Fort Reno" event. The Fort Reno Visitor Center and Museum provides an in-depth look at the region’s history through a variety of artifacts, photographs, and artwork. Exhibits include images of the 1888 Cheyenne and Arapaho Agency, letters from German prisoners of war, historical dress of Buffalo Soldiers, and information on the living history events at Fort Reno.
- Address: 7107 W Cheyenne St, El Reno, OK 73036, USA
- Phone: +1 405-262-3987
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Explore the Canadian County Historical Museum
Located in El Reno’s Heritage Park, the Canadian County Historical Museum provides a comprehensive look at the region’s rich heritage. The museum complex comprises several historic buildings, each offering a unique perspective on early life in El Reno.
Visitors can tour the first Red Cross Canteen in the nation, General Sheridan’s cabin (the oldest standing structure in Canadian County), the historic Old Reno Hotel, Possum Holler School, and the Darlington Indian Jail. The fully restored Rock Island Depot showcases a variety of memorabilia from the town’s history.
- Address: 300 S Grand Ave, El Reno, OK 73036, USA
- Phone: +1 405-262-5121
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Relax and enjoy at Lake El Reno
Lake El Reno is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering 333 acres of open land and 300 acres of water. This scenic lake provides a variety of recreational opportunities, including water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, boating, and fishing. A temporary fishing permit is required for those who wish to fish in the lake.
Created by constructing a dam across Fourmile Creek, the lake is surrounded by four miles of shoreline dotted with camping, picnic, and recreation areas. Visitors can enjoy a round of golf at the golf course, stay at the RV park, or explore the remote control airplane field and motorcycle dirt track. Lake El Reno is located just west of town between Interstate 40 and the Business Loop of I-40 (Route 66) and is open from sunrise to sunset daily throughout the year.
- Address: Lake El Reno, El Reno, OK 73036, USA
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Tee off at Crimson Creek Golf Course
Crimson Creek Golf Course provides a challenging and picturesque golfing experience with Lake El Reno as its backdrop. Originally opened in the 1960s as a nine-hole country club, the course was redesigned by P.B. Dye, Jr. and reopened in 1998 as an 18-hole municipal golf course.
The course has become a favorite among local and visiting golfers. Crimson Creek features a traditional layout on the front nine holes and a links-style feel on the back nine holes, catering to both novices and avid golfers.
- Address: 801 Babcock Dr, El Reno, OK 73036-2504, USA
- Phone: +1 405-422-4653
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Unwind in City Parks
El Reno boasts over half a dozen city parks and recreation areas, covering approximately 150 acres in total. These parks offer a variety of amenities, including pavilions for events, baseball fields, playgrounds, walking trails, basketball, tennis, and sand volleyball courts, picnic shelters, and a public swimming pool.
Adams Park, located just west of the city on Route 66, is the most diverse city park, featuring a soccer field, an 18-hole disc golf course, a 10,000-square-foot skatepark, a rodeo arena, and four baseball fields. Other parks include Frank Knight Park, Gadberry Park, Rinehart Park, Burton Park, and Legion Park, which is home to the public swimming pool and a 2,000-square-foot public splash pad for kids.
- Address: 801 Babcock Dr, El Reno, OK 73036-2504, USA
- Phone: +1 405-422-4653
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Enjoy a Movie at Reno 8 Movie Theater
Part of the family-owned B&B Theatres chain, the Reno 8 Movie Theater is located on Country Club Road just south of I-40 on the southwest edge of El Reno. The theater features an arcade, concession stands, and four screens with stadium seating and digital sound.
- Address: 3000 S Country Club Rd, El Reno, OK 73036, USA
- Phone: +1 405-276-2019
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Go Bowling at El Reno Bowl
El Reno Bowl features 16 bowling lanes, a game room, and a snack bar, and it features open bowling, league matches, and group reservations.
- Address: 2412 Sunset Dr #76, El Reno, OK 73036-2128, USA
- Phone: +1 405-262-3611
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Cheer on the Redlands Community College Sports Teams
Redlands Community College is El Reno’s only public college and is home to several sports teams known as the Cougars. Teams include men’s baseball and basketball and women’s basketball, golf, soccer, and a cross-country team for both genders.
- Address: 1300 S Country Club Rd, El Reno, OK 73036-5304, USA
- Phone: +1 405-262-2552
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Attend an Annual Event
Depending on the time of year you visit El Reno, you can experience one of the unique and memorable events in the Oklahoma City metro area. The Fried Onion Burger Day Festival in May celebrates the annual cooking of the world’s largest fried onion burger. In August, the Oklahoma Indian Nations Pow Wow brings tribes from all over the region for an annual celebration of Native American culture. Halloween transforms downtown into a family-friendly haunted attraction during the Halloween Spooktacular. During Christmas time, Christmas on the Western Frontier features a downtown parade and holiday cheer.
