TNSC Turner Falls Picnic!

Readers it is HOT, HOT, HOT here in North Texas!

(Brandon, Jennifer, Patricia & Ben picnicking!)

Sunday we all loaded up and headed out to Turner Falls Park in Oklahoma.

 The Park  and falls are named after Mazeppa Thomas Turner, a farmer who settled in the area Recreational use began in or before 1868. Today, the falls are part of Turner Falls Park, a city park operated by the city of Davis, Oklahoma^. The Falls cascade into a natural swimming pool, and talk about your fun from days gone by, you'll find it here!

 (Wow.)

The falls are nearly 77ft tall and make the most wonderful sound. We picnicked on the banks of the falls under the shade of some cottonwood trees. After we'd had our lunch and waited a while we jumped in the mineral springs that feed the waterfall.

 "Come on in, the water's fine!"

(Ben, Myself, and Pat!)

(Jennifer & Ben.)

The water was so cool and refreshing, we swam most of the afternoon and after a little exploring we found one of the springs that feeds the stream.

(Ben and the Spring.)

The water bubbling out of that rock face was ice cold, and felt great on our feet out in the hot summer sun. We even found a cavern you could climb to underneath the waterfall!

Later Ben and I explored the cliff face and climbed up to the "Bandits cave".

The Cave is the mid-right corner of the picture and over looks the waterfalls. 

The view from the top was incredible!

(Oops...)

Well after the Cliffs, we went tosee Turner Fall's second biggest attraction -Collings Castle!

 (Ben, Brandon, Pat& Jennifer.)

We climbed the never ending staircase to the castle court.

(Collings Castle)

Whats kind of neat about the castle is the man who had it built Ellsworth Collings was the Dean of the college in Oklahoma. The castle was his summer home and was constructed as "a setting for fabulous parties". He was also very very short! (we must be related) seriously! In the picture above im standing in the bedroom chamber and the ceiling is only three inches higher than my head, making the room 5'7".

After the castle we moved down to the second pool deeper pool and had lots of fun on the slides then onto the look out point!

 

 (Ben, Myself & Brandon)

As evening settled upon is we loaded up in the car and headed over to Ardmore Oklahoma to get dinner before heading home. We ended up going to a GREAT barbeque place called "Budro's".

The food was excellent, and the service was friendly!

(Brandon, Jennifer, our waitress Desten, Me, Patricia and Ben!)

After a great dinner and cookies and ice cream for dessert we were off again headed for home.

(Ben, Patricia, Jennifer & Brandon)

All in all it was the perfect ending to a perfect birthday weekend-

 

-Mick-