Broken Bow, Oklahoma
Top 5 Family Activities Near Broken Bow
Broken Bow and the Hochatown corridor pack a surprising amount of family adventure into a compact stretch of southeast Oklahoma — think drive-thru safaris, gem sluicing, forest mazes, and a miniature steam train winding through the pines. Whether your kids are toddlers chasing baby goats or tweens up for a navigational challenge, the area has something genuinely engaging for every age. All five attractions below are within 20 minutes of Misty Pines and none require advance reservations.
Beavers Bend Safari Park
Ninety acres of rolling Oklahoma terrain are home to 350+ animals across 55 species at this drive-thru safari park. Kids of all ages can hand-feed eland, fallow deer, llamas, and emus right from the car window as zebra, bison, ostrich, rhino, and wildebeest roam alongside the 1.8-mile drive. The two-acre walkabout adds up-close encounters with lemurs, kangaroos, capybaras, pygmy hippos, and hyenas. Budget about 2 hours; a family of four typically spends $60–$80 all-in, and no reservations are required.
🔑 Pro Tip
Pull a bag of feed pellets from the vending machine before you enter the drive-thru — the animals will come right to your window and younger kids go absolutely wild for it.
Beaver's Bend Mining Company
This Hochatown gem is the ultimate rainy-day rescue for families — and honestly just as fun in sunshine. Kids sift through a 66-foot sluice to hunt for emeralds, garnets, rose quartz, arrowheads, and fossils they get to keep forever. The Dino Dig Adventure lets little paleontologists unearth replica dinosaur bones, while an indoor dinosaur-themed mini golf course and the outdoor 18-hole Shipwreck Cove round out a full afternoon. Mining packages start at $10.99; admission is free and the whole experience suits ages 3 and up.
🔑 Pro Tip
Book the Mega Strike package ($62.99) if you have 3–4 kids — it includes the sluice, Dino Dig, and mini golf, which is cheaper than buying each activity separately.
Hochatown Petting Zoo & Rescue Center
Ninety-five percent of the animals here are rescues — orphaned, injured, or surrendered — which gives this petting zoo a genuine heart that kids respond to immediately. Guinea pigs, baby ducks, soft goats, llamas, and even kangaroos roam freely and walk right up to visitors for food and gentle pets. The zoo doubles as a certified wildlife rehabilitation center, so curious kids get real education alongside the hands-on animal time. Open daily 10am–7pm; admission is very affordable and suits all ages including toddlers.
🔑 Pro Tip
Buy a handful of animal feed pellets at the entrance and let younger kids do the feeding — the goats and ducks will follow them around the entire enclosure, which is pure toddler magic.
The Maze of Hochatown
This 29,000-square-foot outdoor wooded maze challenges the whole family to navigate twisting corridors and hunt for hidden stamps along the route — a genuine test of teamwork and navigation that older kids especially love. Unlike a flat cornfield maze, the course uses the natural terrain of the Hochatown forest, giving it a mysterious, adventure-camp feel at any age. General admission for ages 13+ is $20; ages 4–12 are $15 and under-3 are free; a family of four spends about $55. Open Mon–Thu 10am–4pm, Fri–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 10am–4pm.
🔑 Pro Tip
Collect every hidden stamp along the route — kids who find them all earn a prize at the exit. It keeps even reluctant tweens engaged and working the whole maze instead of rushing to get out.
Beavers Bend Depot & Trail Rides
A one-third-scale replica of an 1863 steam locomotive winds through the towering pines of the Beavers Bend Game Reserve on a 15-to-20-minute scenic ride that consistently delights kids ages 2 through 12. Riders regularly spot deer, wild turkey, and other wildlife along the forested route — a calm, beautiful counterpoint to the area's more active attractions. Trail rides on horseback are also available for older kids and adults who want to explore the forest at a slower pace. Tickets are $10–$12 per person; no advance booking required, just walk up.
🔑 Pro Tip
Go first thing in the morning (the depot opens at 9am in season) — the forest is coolest, wildlife sightings are more likely, and you avoid the midday crowd that forms on summer weekends.