Trips On A Tankful: Lake Eufaula & Talihina

Anyone who enjoys boating or fishing knows about all the fun things to do at Lake Eufaula, but there are things to do off the water, too.

One place is a unique rock house restaurant in Talihina.

You’ll want to start your trip with some hearty, home cooking at Dobber’s Roadhouse, which is about five miles southeast of Eufaula.

Marty and his family always come to Dobber’s Roadhouse.

“It’s a good place to go to: good food, good service So, it’s a nice place,” Marty said.

Marty and his family’s favorites are the chicken fried steak and sweet potato fries, which are good for everyday or special occasions.

Ann and Carol love it, too.

They came in to celebrate an 80th birthday.

And make sure to try the homemade pies and bread pudding before leaving and heading to Main Street.

Eufaula’s Main Street is a thriving place; and less than a block west on Selmon Road, you’ll find a 3D mural painted by Tracy Lee Stum. It lets you pretend you are on top of Standing Rock, riding in a canoe, and more.

Right next door is Mama Tig’s wood-fired pizza where the pies go into a 1,000 degree oven and come out three to five minutes later—hot and bubbly.

Eufaula is a place where the U.S. flag blows in the breeze, kids sell lemonade for 50 cents, and families can slow down and enjoy time together.

Leah and Atlee love going to the downtown area.

“We love the lake and love the downtown feel; there are lots of cute shops and reasonable prices. It’s a nice environment,” they said.

One of those shops is Our Favorite Place where everything is made in Oklahoma by Oklahomans--from salsas to jellies, to bath bombs, and amazing pieces of art.

Oklahoma’s Own Lori Fulbright even picked up a few items.

“I got some spicy pretzels, a rub for grilling, and some peach salsa for my mom; and it’s all made in Oklahoma,” Lori said.

A couple of doors down is Nicole’s Unique Gifts where you can find pretty much anything for anyone—from baby gifts to Brighton jewelry, bags, and so much more.

Over on Lakeshore drive, a story walk offers kids a chance to read a book and get a little exercise at the same time.

Brothers Aidyn and Kandyn gave it a try.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Aidyn said.

The story walk puts out a new book every month.

And when you get to the end, there is a code word. If you take it to the library, they’ll give you a prize.

For those looking for something with a little more adrenaline, then head below to the Eufaula Dam next to the Canadian River for hundreds of acres of rolling sand dunes, trails, and wooded areas that make for great riding, sliding, and circle eights.

After shaking off that Canadian River valley sand, take a nice drive south to Talihina for an amazing steak dinner.

And along the way, make sure to enjoy the hilltop views and trees before heading east four miles to a long winding dirt road.

At the end of it, you’ll find a true Oklahoma treasure called the Rock House. It’s a remodeled home in the middle of the owner’s 280-acre ranch.

“The one thing a nice restaurant calls people to do, is slow down,” owner Sam Balzanna said.

This is a unique dining experience with steaks that are hand-cut, Black Angus, and goes three generations back.

Lora shared how much she enjoys this unique restaurant.

“I told my husband on the way over the mountain, we are so blessed to have a 5 star restaurant within 40 miles of where we live,” Lora shared.

This restaurant was a dream years in the making for the owners and, now, they said it is a blessing for families to come to it, eat together, and reconnect while looking out over the Kiamichi Mountain Range.