A Little Fun! Boarding at a Historic Hotel in the Old Choctaw Nation
Hootie Creek front desk.
A most quaint place took us back in time where we stayed a night in Talihina, Oklahoma: Hootie Creek Guest House. Lots of displayed historic pictures of the area abound throughout the nostalgic hotel. There was a great view of the mountains from the balcony.
Lobby, Hootie Creek Guest House, Talihina, Oklahoma
Lobby, Hootie Creek Guest House, Talihina, Oklahoma
Old safe in lobby, Hootie Creek Guest House, Talihina, Oklahoma
Balcony, Hootie Creek Guest House, Talihina, Oklahoma
Piece of the old railroad track, Hootie Creek Guest House, Talihina, Oklahoma
Balcony, Hootie Creek Guest House, Talihina, Oklahoma
In the morning, we crossed the road to the My Crystal Chandelier Coffee & Gift Shop for a decaf Americana with cream and shared egg-n-turkey sausage cheese crescent, plus a pumpkin spice cream cheese pastry drizzled with cinnamon icing. The coffee house is blended with a cozy home decor gift shop which made it the perfect spot to sit and chat with our breakfast. The patio had more cozy sitting nooks as well. Couldn’t leave without bringing some sweet tea towels home.
What a delightful time, and one we recommend if you’re ever passing through Talihina, Oklahoma.
My Crystal Chandelier Coffee & Gift Shop, Talihina, Oklahoma
Perfect spot for some breakfast chat. My Crystal Chandelier Coffee & Gift Shop, Talihina, Oklahoma
Lots of cozy sitting nooks on the patio. My Crystal Chandelier Coffee & Gift Shop, Talihina, Oklahoma
Photo op on the patio. My Crystal Chandelier Coffee & Gift Shop, Talihina, Oklahoma
Talihina FYI:
Talihina is approximately 20 miles from Tuskahoma where the Choctaw Nation capitol grounds and historic Choctaw Council House (now a museum) is located. The Choctaw Nation Hospital is located in Talihina along with other Choctaw Nation facilities that provide services to the area.
From the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture:
“Situated in the Choctaw Nation scenic Kiamichi Valley between the Kiamichi and Winding Stair mountains, Talihina existed as a loosely organized frontier community as early as 1884 when a town building was constructed. The town received its name when the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway (Frisco) laid tracks through the Choctaw Nation in 1886–87. The word "Talihina" is a contraction of two Choctaw words meaning "iron road.” The railroad opened the area to eastern markets. Cattle, timber, and cotton provided the economic basis for expansion, and Talihina began to grow. The town claimed a population of 400 when it was incorporated in 1905, two years before Oklahoma statehood. By 1910 the 491 residents enjoyed telephone and electric service. By 1918 the town and surrounding area supported two banks, three churches, and seven general stores, and two sawmills operated. In the period between 1915 and 1921 two major hospitals, the Choctaw-Chickasaw Tuberculosis Sanatorium and the Eastern Oklahoma State Tuberculosis Sanatorium, were built against the foothills of Buffalo Mountain just northwest of Talihina. The location was chosen for its healthful climate and for the beautiful view of surrounding mountains.
“Because the Kiamichi Valley provides a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities, outdoor sports and tourism have long been important to the economy. Forests of mixed pines, cedar, and hardwood, abundant wildlife, and many rivers and streams make the valley an attraction for outdoor enthusiasts. Beginning in the late 1920s six lakes were constructed throughout the valley, expanding the area available for fishing, horseback riding, boating, hiking, and camping. Seven miles northeast of town is Talimena State Park and Old Military Road historic site (National Register of Historic Places, NR 76002155), which is the western terminus of Talimena Drive, or Scenic Byway, a stretch of highway to Mena, Arkansas, enjoyed by nature-lovers for its fall foliage.”
Michael S. Cox, “Talihina,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture
