TexomaLand Fun Park

According to the satellite imagery, the TexomaLand Fun Park has been bringing fun in the sun to Southern Oklahoma and Northern Texas since at least the 1980s. Offering tons of activities like mini golf, bumper boats, arcade games, go karts and more! A $15 ticket is admission to all rides at Texomaland and also gets you a dozen tokens for the arcade games and a drink ticket.

Things had been going great at TexomaLand Fun Park, the 2000s were a time when amusement parks were the ultimate family vacation. And for those in Oklahoma who couldn’t make it to Six Flags, this family-run park was the perfect in-between stop. Being located within the Lake Texoma State Park there were tons of lake goers that would double their weekend fun with the lake and park, most staying at the Lake Texoma SP Lodge.

However, the downfall of the area started with a very complicated and drawn-out privatization of the land and area. In a move that is mind-boggling to me but had to of been from the park struggling financially the State of Oklahoma sold all but 50 acres to private company Pointe Vista Development, LLC in 2005. The remaining 50 acres were used by the Chickasaw Nation to build the West Bay Casino and Hotel, which began in 2016 and was completed in 2023. This essentially put State Park under the ownership and control of the private company.

This was fine for the time being, except when the decision was made in 2008 to close the popular Lodge. Many thought this meant the permanent closure of the park as well which wasn’t and isn’t the case. However, the loss of business between those not having a lodging facility and those who were confused about the status of the park was enough to cause huge business losses in the area.

The Davidsons relayed devastating losses stating they were losing 80% of weekday business and 50% of her weekend business after the lodge closed. Owner Janie D. said that 85% of the fun park’s business had typically come from lodge and cabin residents before the lodge was shut down.

But TexomaLand wasn’t the only business bearing the brunt of the state’s decision to sell to private buyers. Other owners were noted as having similar losses. TexomaLand and a nearby stables company requested a buyout of their contracts with the Department of Tourism and Recreation. The Davidsons asked the State to purchase their park for $950,000 due to concerns of losing their business post-closing of the lodge. Those asks were never answered.

Around 2008 the Davidsons announced they would be closing their doors for good due to the rising costs and lack of customers. It was heartbreaking not only for the owners but for the community as well. The once-loved bumper boats and go-karts collected dust and the arcade that was once filled with the laughter of children and tickets printing.

Since its closure over a decade ago, the property has declined tremendously. The pool where the bumper boats were has become filled with algae and unfortunately has become the final resting place for a few animals. The go-kart track is cracked and overgrown with weeds and grasses. Forgotten about in a sense but still remembered and cherished by many.

The surrounding community in 2018 started a short-lived fight to get the park to reopen. The venture failed but the petition got over 1,700 signatures. Many commented they signed the petition because they wanted their kids to have a place as fun as they had growing up to go to.

The Davidsons experienced another blow in 2020 when thieves broke in and vandalized the main building. Many items that they had planned to eventually sell like go-karts, bumper boats and arcade games were all gone. Other reckless and needless damage was done to the tiles on the wall and toilet.

Today the park still sits abandoned and in much worse shape than it was in the 2020 break-in. And the future seems even more uncertain for the park. With the Pointe Vista Development buying up all the property in the area – with plans or having already succeeded in buying the park – the park will be demolished to make way for an 11-phase development. The development will include 2,100 homes, three themed resorts, Carribean Bay, a full-service marina, a waterfront town center, restaurants and more.

Gallery Below of TexomaLand Fun Park

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