In The Presence of Outlaws!

In Oklahoma I grew up in the presence of some pretty infamous outlaws! Well... maybe I didn't literally grow up at the same time. The truth is these outlaws were already gone before my time. I did grow up in a small town (Wilburton, Oklahoma) that celebrates the fact many of these infamous outlaws roamed the local hills and trails surrounding our communities. Wilburton is only five miles from Robbers Cave State Park, where outlaws such as Belle Starr and Jesse James chose to "hide-out" while "on the lam". The natural rock formations made great corrals to shelter their horses and the caves provided a place for the outlaws to hide from the law. Legend has it some of the outlaws may have stashed loot in the caves and surrounding areas that was never recovered. I can't tell you how many visits I made there as a kid thinking, "today is the day I would find the loot". Just in case your wondering I didn't find it, or no one else that I know of, so maybe it's still there for your taking!

Each summer the city of Wilburton holds Belle Starr Heritage Week (link here https://www.facebook.com/BelleStarrHeritageFestival/), a fun filled week that normally included parades, rodeos, horse back bank robberies, and other events. I highly recommend a trip to the area during the summer to see this event. If you can't make it during the summer visit during the fall and catch the "Fall Festival" out at Robbers Cave State Park (http://www.robberscavefallfestival.com/ ), stay in the cabins at the park cabins or yurts (http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.6415 ) and enjoy the natural beauty, your guaranteed to be pleased.

Belle Star and Jesse James are not the only infamous outlaws from Oklahoma, we also claim Bonnie and Clyde (https://hubpages.com/travel/A-Tale-of-Bonnie-and-Clyde-Bank-Robbery-Poteau-Oklahoma ), Pretty Boy Floyd and The Dalton Gang, just to name a few. Don't get me wrong, our celebrating these infamous outlaws doesn't mean we condone this type of behavior. In fact most people you will meet will be quite the opposite, law abiding, and some of the most gracious people west of the Mississippi.

Do yourself a favor and put this destination (http://www.wilburtonchamber.com/) on your list of places to see in America.