Happy 200th (Post that is)

posted by Muriel Fahrion

It’s been 3.5 years since I started the Medicine Park Posts. I didn’t realize until last month that I was nearing the 200th post. Generally it is not a hard to do, coming up with ideas to write about. Medicine Park, OK was after-all named one of the top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America. This is not hype, believe me. I, along with my husband and dogs, have been a Parkies now for 8 years and are avid fans of all things MP. Not as many people would have noticed this exclamation point in the Wichita Mountains in 2002. Medicine Park has survived ups and downs in popularity through the decades. The town’s new positive persona took the involvement of those who believe and those who get-it-done. The turning point to the new shinier Medicine Park began back in the 1990’s but the last 8 years has seen several amazing changes as well.

Top 10 of the Last 8:

• The Charley Wright Creekside Trails. Thanks to dedication, grants and volunteerism
• Three Neighborhood Developments: Big Rock, Granite Ridge and the Woodlands
• Music Festivals: Mayor’s Red Dirt Ball, Mayor’s Blues Ball
• Street Theatre: Medicine Park Marauders, & Perils of the Park
• Opening of new businesses: Lulabelles, Laughing Lizard, Blissful Body, White Buffalo, Winery of the Wichitas, Medicine Park Ice Cream & Candy, Raspberry Leopard, Santa’s Snack Shop among them.
  
• Revitalization of the long time standing businesses. Old Plantation Restaurant, Cobblestone Shops (with sidewalk), expansion of the Park Tavern, Chaps My Ass (Motorcycle Accessories).
• New Rental Cottages, B&B’s and Inn.
• And the Promise of things to come: The Medicine Park Museum of Natural History

So on behalf of the Medicine Park Post I want to thank the generous contributors of words, photos, comments and the 112 regular readers (plus those just stopping by) for being there to catch my drift.

Click here to read the earliest Posts.
My View from the Park
What It Means for Me to be a Person of the Park.

Parktoberfest TODAY

Amazing jam happening in the Park, today, September 25th at the Park Tavern, Medicine Park. Starts around 2:00 PM. Beautiful outdoor setting along Medicine Creek. Come on out and enjoy the festivities. BYOLC (bring your own lawn chair)

This just in from Pat Glenn

Parktoberfest - We have six band sets & a dozen acoustic acts ready to go! We'll be inside if it rains. Bill & Jeanette & Tom have the beer, Mark & Jennifer Ellis got the Brats. (Food Proceeds go to aid the Alzheimer's Association).

Note: Pat Glenn has organized the bands for this event.

Hand Made Quilt Raffle

Just in from Rita Lee...




Medicine Park has a Quilting Group that meets at the Community Center on Tuesdays. They have finished hand quilting an attractive applique quilt with a Southwest Native American theme that is up for raffle. The tickets are only $1 why not improve your chances and buy several tickets. You can get your raffle tickets from Rita Lee at the Laughing Lizard Trading Post or pick one up at the Community Center. The drawing will be the last Friday of this month during the Country Music Night at the Center.

Moneys go toward supporting Senior activities.

Vintage Photo Bathers at Bath Lake c1918

photo courtesy of the Vycke McEwen family archive.

Mayor's Blues Ball: Amazing Music Celebration

post by Muriel Fahrion, photos Michael Fahrion

Blueprint

"Oklahoma's Playground and Summer Resort, Medicine Park"
That's the caption under a picture we have of Medicine Park taken in 1921. The last 3 days the operative word here was "Play". Live Music played from 1:00 PM to 11:30 PM. With talent coming from our home bands, near dear bands from around Oklahoma and Texas to internationally known stars. All I can say is that ones who have played the Park before had stepped up their performance several notches and it wasn't just me saying this. What more authentic blues could you ask for when you have Dennis Binder adding to the Soul Survivors. Yes I have my faves, the local guys for sure, Blueprint (love the edition of the keyboardist) and the Usual Suspects but who could not resist getting up to dance with Chant? Chant loves the Park and the Park loves them back (triple amazing guitar work BTW). Great to see Malford Miligan back, what a showman. My first time hearing Wes Jeans leaves no doubt why they have a big following. And that crazy kid Kayla Reaves sang as if she was channeling Janice Joplin, wow! I know it took a lot of pull and a lot of work from our mayor but to have the blues queen, Janiva Magness up there surrounded by instrumental talent, sending blues vibes through night air is something that I will not soon forget.

Kayla Reaves

Food vendors and artists, craftmen lined the streets with people going in and out of our special shops. And the weather gave us days that were pleasantly end of summer with breezes. While swimmers took a dip in Bath Lake. Yes, Medicine Park, a place where everything seems to happen at once.

I personally want to thank the Coolest Mayor in Oklahoma, Dwight Cope! Yes, and all those Cool Donors who believe in the Park. The movers and groovers that helped the town shine for the event. The bands and musicians who gave everything up on the stages. And finally those who came and filled the streets to experience the "Playground of Oklahoma".

Now that you read my post, do the town and Mayor a favor. Go the Oklahoma Arts Council and let them know much you enjoyed the experience.

West Jeans