Pawhuska, Oklahoma Field Guide
We teamed up with Joni Nash, Airbnb host and owner/operator of the Coy T. Ranch, to bring you a local perspective on what to see and do while you’re in Pawhuska.
Home of The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, the Osage Nation, and much more, a trip to Pawhuska will not disappoint!
Consider this your travel guide cliff notes — infused with a little bit of local flare and insider info.
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RESTAURANTS
Pawhuska is home to some great restaurants, and there’s definitely enough food to go around! You’ll want to hit up both of Ree’s restaurants — The Pioneer Woman Mercantile and PTown Pizza. You’ll also find a variety of other local restaurants to try out. And here’s something fun: if you’re a fan of ranch dressing, our restaurants have some of the best! Try the ranch at PTown, Buffalo Joe’s, and Grill 125 and decide which YOU think is best!
PIONEER WOMAN MERCANTILE
Breakfast is our favorite at the Merc, but their lunch and dinner menu is also amazing. Be prepared: it’s A LOT OF FOOD! 😆 They are known for their chicken fried steak — it’s made with a top cut premium sirloin and the gravy is homemade over the course of several days. We also recommend sharing so you can save room for dessert there, too!
The bakery upstairs is also fun! Order yourself a Spicy Cowgirl or Cowboy Coffee and choose from an incredible display of sweets. We always tell folks to grab some cinnamon rolls to take home with you...especially on Saturday night, so you can have them with coffee on Sunday morning. You can reheat them in oven and microwave, and they are like new! (Note: Most things are closed here on Sundays, which makes Sunday a great day to visit Woolaroc, which we talk about further down).
PTOWN PIZZA
At PTown Pizza, the Not Knots are a MUST! The Drummonds shipped the brick pizza oven over from Italy, and the recipes for the pizza have been perfected, so you’re eating true Italian brick oven pizza with the Pioneer Woman’s touch — and it is so, so good! The top two specialty pizzas there are Pizza-Ree-A and the Steakhouse pizza. And here’s something you won’t find on the menu that only the locals know: on Friday and Saturday nights they serve up steaks on the patio — just mention it to your server and they’ll hook you up.
BUFFALO JOE’S
Buffalo Joe’s offers a cafe setting where you’ll find a lot of locals and hometown flare. There’s not a wrong selection on the menu! We strongly recommend the breakfast burritos, even if you get them to go!
BAD BRAD’S
An Oklahoma original in three locations, and the Pawhuska location is where it all started. You’ll find a fun western setting with barbeque and all the fixins.
GRILL 125
You’ll find great steaks and burgers here, and Miss Kitty’s chicken on the weekdays (if you’re lucky)! It’s a fun atmosphere with true Pawhuska nostalgia. Be sure to look for the owner Scotty, a Pawhuska native, and say hi.
DIRTY LAUNDRY SALOON
A coffee shop with pastries and different offerings in the day, and at night it turns into a place to get a glass of wine or a fancy drink. You’ll find a fun atmosphere where owner Grace brings her European touch to the Osage.
SIMPLE SIMON’S PIZZA
A regional franchise and locally owned, you’ll find pizza and more with a drive through window.
EL JALISCO
Sometimes you just need a time out for some chips and salsa and a good margarita, and you’ll find it here! This is a favorite spot among the local cowboys and ranchers, so don’t be surprised if you find livestock trailers in the parking lot.
RANCHO LOS PRIMOS
A short walk from town and another option for Mexican food.
CASEY’S
Pawhuska was really excited when Casey’s came to town! They’re open 24 hours so you can fill up with fuel or grab a late night snack!
COFFEE + DRINKS
PIONEER WOMAN MERCANTILE
The Cowboy Coffee and Spicy Cowgirl are favorites! They also serve up a number of fun drinks.
DIRTY LAUNDRY SALOON
Pawhuska’s newest coffee shop! They serve up fun cocktails as well. Be sure to check their hours their coffee and cocktail serving times.
DRY HOLLOW
Step into a true western experience at this local bar, and find your way through to Osage Outfitters and do some shopping while you’re there!
DOLLHOUSE ROAD BREWING
Find a fun selection of craft beer on tap at this local brewery.
PTOWN PIZZA
Saddle up to the bar or sit out on the patio and order up one of Ree’s favorite drinks! These are some fun drinks you will find nowhere else: The Homeschooler, Butterfly Martini — they’re all originals.
CASEY’S
You can always count on Casey’s for coffee on the go.
SNACKS
PIONEER WOMAN MERCANTILE BAKERY
Located on the second floor of the Merc, Ree’s selection of sweets is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth! Enjoy the fun atmosphere of the Merc with a great view of downtown as you sip your hot Pioneer Woman coffee and enjoy her pecan pie.
CHARLIE’S SWEET SHOP
Be sure to make time for some ice cream and candy at Charlie’s! The strawberry ice cream cannot be beat, but so many flavors are a close second! There’s also some great photo ops here with the murals, and did we mention candy?
HANDY’S
This is a local place you may not think to stop at, but definitely do. It’s the best fountain pop in town (for real), and you might even stop in during their half price happy hour! Twin sisters and owners Martha and Margie are as much a part of the experience as anything and they’ll be sure to make you feel welcome in Pawhuska.
SHOPPING
There is plenty of shopping to be had in Pawhuska! The stores you have here are a lot different than stores you’ll find in other towns. Pawhuska does a great job of providing a unique shopping experience as a whole. Like great spices and Mexican vanilla at the Buckin’ Flamingo that the Garnetts bring up straight from Mexico. And you’ll be hard-pressed to come across a better hat shaper than you’ll find at Osage Outfitters. Or get yourself a signed copy of Killers of the Flower Moon at the Water Bird Gallery. We’ve put all shopping options into categories below to help you make the most of your time in town.
APPAREL
**All apparel is women’s unless otherwise noted**
The Honey Pot (children’s)
Osage Outfitters (men’s, women’s, children’s)
The Steel Horse - with Lowry’s Boutique inside
ANTIQUES
Tallgrass Prairie Flowers & More
ART
ENTERTAINMENT AND EXPERIENCES
There’s more than enough to fill your time in Pawhuska! Your biggest problem will be figuring out what all to fit in! Here are some quick recommendations to help you decide.
If you like history, Roaming the Osage gives a fun and informative tour of Pawhuska. We also have three museums: Osage Tribal Museum, Osage County Museum, and Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum. Just outside of town, Woolaroc has QUITE the museum and is just 21 miles down the road between Bartlesville and Pawhuska.
If recreation is what you’re looking for, experience Oklahoma’s natural beauty at Blue Stem Lake and Falls and Osage Hills State Park. The new Bird Creek Walking Trail also provides a beautiful nature walk, or check out the swinging bridge.
BEN JOHNSON COWBOY MUSEUM
The brainchild of Cody Garnett, this museum honors the legendary Ben “Son” Johnson — a rodeo cowboy champion who became an Oscar-winning movie star — and celebrates the great western heritage of Osage County, Oklahoma. The museum highlights cowboys and cowgirls near and far that have Osage County ties.
CONSTANTINE THEATER
Originally the Pawhuska Hotel, Mr. Constantine came over from Greece in the early 1920s and bought the hotel because he wanted a place to watch the opera. Touted as one of the oldest theaters in Oklahoma, second to the Brady Theater in Tulsa which is a couple of months older, the theater has been restored and now offers entertainment for the community. Check their website for the latest schedule.
BLUE STEM LAKE AND FALLS
Blue Stem Falls is one of the best waterfalls in Oklahoma and worth the drive out from town. The falls have been the best kept secret until Instagram came along!
TALLGRASS PRAIRIE AND VISITOR’S CENTER
The Tallgrass Prairie is beautiful, and finding the bison herds here is always special. With 40,000 acres of untouched prairie, this is the largest prairie preserve in the country. (Did you know the prairie is more endangered than the rain forest?) Sunsets here are like no other, and it’s been featured in National Geographic more than once.
“First and last light” is the best time to see the prairie, and when it’s cool weather (not hot summer) you can usually find the bison herds during your drive up there. If it is warm, we would say go in the early morning or late evenings.
HISTORIC CHAPMAN-BARNARD RANCH
Oscar-winning cowboy Ben “Son” Johnson grew up here and worked as a young cowboy on this historic ranch. In his adult years when his dad was foreman, Ben would come home from Hollywood on the weekends and bring his buddy John Wayne, where they would bunk at the headquarters with the cowboys. You can tour the headquarters where they stayed, which now serves as the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve headquarters.
PIONEER WOMAN LODGE
Make sure to take time to drive out to the Lodge, especially if it’s a pretty day! Stand in the place where Ree films her cooking show, and take in some incredible Osage County view while you’re there. The Pioneer Woman Lodge is open on select dates — you can find the schedule here. One thing to note, visitors must go to The Merc the day of the Lodge tour in order to receive the Lodge ticket and driving directions to get to the Lodge.
WOOLAROC
Woolaroc is a unique experience — truly one of a kind! All ages love it. Located between Pawhuska and Bartlesville, you’ll enjoy looking at buffalo and other wildlife. We highly recommend a trip through the museum, featuring the extensive collections of oil tycoon Frank Phillips. Christie’s from New York makes regular visits here, and a crowd favorite is the shrunken head. You can have a bison burger or longhorn burger at the concession stand for lunch, and if the mountain men are around you can shoot black powder and throw a tomahawk. Plan to spend a half day here at least, or at minimum a couple of hours.
OLD WEST BUFFALO EXPERIENCE
The Old West Buffalo experience is pretty cool. There’s an old west town and you get to hand feed bison!
ROAMING THE OSAGE TOUR
Take in the history of Osage County in a convertible Mercedes sprinter van with a retractable roof. It’s a 90-minute tour that gives you an in-depth overview. That way if something peaks your interest and you want to spend more time there, you can go back on your own as time allows.
WOLF CREEK RANCH
Wolf Creek Ranch shares the beauty of the Osage and gives a taste of the real West as it is now and was long ago. Take it all in with a guided ranch ride on horseback while you’re there.
OSAGE NATION MUSEUM
Immerse yourself in the culture and history of the oldest tribal museum in the country. Admission is free.
OSAGE COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Learn about cowboy and ranching history, Osage Indian artifacts, a tribute to the first Boy Scouts of America troop, and much more of our storied Osage County history. This is not your average museum! Be sure to check out the gift shop while you’re there.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH
See the famous stained glass windows that have quite the story behind them. The Osage leaders commissioned these windows to be built in Germany with special permission from the Vatican. Upon completion WWI broke out and the windows were buried in the river beds to be preserved from the effects of the war. Once WWI was over the windows were uncovered and shipped to Pawhuska, and the Pope sent one of his men to oversee completion of the project.
SWINGING BRIDGE
Take a walk over Bird Creek on this 200-foot long pedestrian bridge, built in 1926. To get there, head south from The Merc on Kiheka until the road turns. At the turn, the bridge is marked by signs on your right. It’s a cheap thrill and a great photo op!
BIRD CREEK WALKING TRAIL
Enjoy Pawhuska’s newest paved trail, perfect for walking or biking. The Osage Nation has graciously opened this and made it available to the community and our visitors.
OSAGE HILLS STATE PARK
Campers and nature lovers will love the drive to Osage Hills State Park, which offers swimming, camping, tennis, boating, and nature walks.
TAYLOR RANCH
Get your frisbee golf game on at Taylor Ranch, home of two of the top 10 disc golf courses in the US.
GEOCACHING
If this is your thing, you know what to do!
BLACKSMITH’S HOUSE
This is the first house built in Pawhuska in the 1870s by the Osage Tribe and is now home to the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce. The Osage Nation settled here and recruited a blacksmith, building a house for him first, which tells you of his prominent role. Stop by to see the bronze statue of “The Farrier",” and while you’re there be sure to go inside and visit with our famous Reba, who can tell you even more about Pawhuska!
EVENTS
Pawhuska hosts a number of fabulous events throughout the year, including:
Patriotic Party on the Prairie
Cavalcade
Ben Johnson Weekend and Cattlemen’s Convention, with the Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping
National Indian Taco Championships
Christmas Parade
Visit the Pawhuska Chamber website for exact dates and details.
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS
Let’s be honest, there are probably too many Instagrammable spots to count, and your own personal experiences will make for the best Instagram posts! But here are some of our favorites to help get you started:
Tallgrass Prairie - especially at sunset
Downtown Pawhuska — over 80 of Pawhuska’s downtown buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
Courthouse Steps — Walk all the way to the top, where you’ll look back over the town and find what’s considered by the locals to be the best view in town!
Waterfalls at Blue Stem Lake
The painted buffalo by Osage Nation Visitor’s Center
Rancher’s Plaza — showcasing the local ranchers’ brands, you’ll find this downtown display where Sixth Street meets Kiheka Ave.
The ‘Welcome to Pawhuska’ signs — one is an archway located downtown on Kiheka Ave. on your way to the Tallgrass Prairie, and the other is on Highway 60 as you’re coming in from the west
Drummond Ranch Sign - can be found west of town on Highway 60 on the north side of the road
The Swinging Bridge
Spurs and Arrows Mural at The Steel Horse — find this downtown by the Garden Center
The Pioneer Woman Lodge
Drummond Ranch Truck — this truck is usually parked right outside the front door of the Merc
Pioneer Woman Mercantile and Mercantile sign
Stairs from Kiheka to Grand Avenue — challenge yourself to find all three sets of stairs
Buckin’ Flamingo - find three different photo ops to have fun with right out front
The dinosaur at Formby’s Sinclair Station
Bronze statues throughout town — including two by John Free — one between the Constantine Theater and City Hall, one outside of Charlie’s Sweet Shop
Special thanks to Joni Nash of the Coy T. Ranch for helping us with this field guide!
If you’re needing a great place to stay during your visit to Pawhuska, we highly recommend the Coy T!
You can find even more information on planning your trip to Pawhuska here:
VISIT THE OSAGE | PAWHUSKA CHAMBER | OSAGE NATION VISITOR’S CENTER