Purcell City Lake is a 150-acre lake created in 1956. Piers, docks, and long stretches of shoreline provide access to fishing. There is also a large sandy beach with a designated swimming area. If you’re planning time by the water, you can make fishing or swimming the focus of your stay.
Water, Trails and Activities
The Purcell Lake Trails are paved, accessible trails on the south and east sides of Purcell Lake. The southern trail is one mile long and loops around the Rotary Pavilion, a playground, and ADA restrooms. There are also two certified 5K courses at Purcell Lake. The different distances are easy to compare: one mile on the southern loop or 5 km on either of the certified courses.
Sharp Memorial Park at Red Hill features a splash pad, a playground, and a pavilion. The splash pad operates seasonally; check when it is open before your trip. The Red Hill Stairs were built in 1939 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Golf also offers different formats: Dragon Disc Golf Course is an 18-hole course next to Purcell City Lake. Brent Bruehl Memorial Golf Course is a public 18-hole course with a driving range, putting and chipping greens, and a bunker. The two facilities therefore differ both in the type of play and in the amenities listed.
Buildings and Local History
Santa Fe Plaza is in the center of Main Street and is home to the Santa Fe Caboose. In November 1991, the family of Samuel Terry Harlan donated the caboose to the City of Purcell. The United States Post Office Purcell was built in downtown Purcell in 1938. The building is in the Art Deco style, with understated details.
McClain County Courthouse was designed by Hawk and Parr and built in 1928. A granite marker on the grounds commemorates the meeting of September 13, 1893, at which the merger of the Oklahoma and Indian Territories into one state was supported. These two dates offer different perspectives: the courthouse is part of the area’s architectural history, while the marker refers to a political meeting in the 19th century.
The historic Hotel Love is connected with Purcell’s early commercial history and is the city’s only surviving turn-of-the-century hotel building. The three-story red brick building was built in 1896 and expanded in 1909. Purcell’s Santa Fe depot dates to 1904 and housed a dining business founded by Fred Harvey. McClain County Museum is located in the historic Old McCurdy Hospital building.
Plan Around Events
Purcell’s annual Independence Day Celebration features food, games, and fireworks at Purcell Lake. If you’d like to plan your stay around the celebration, check the dates before you travel. This can help you weigh the different reasons to visit Purcell: time at the lake and on the trails, sports, architectural and local history, or a specific event date. If you’re looking for a hotel in Purcell, first decide what matters most for your stay, then evaluate the available accommodations based on your own requirements.
Discover more destinations: Blanchard
Return to the regional travel overview: Mcclain County.
