When people say they're going to "Broken Bow," they usually mean Hochatown: the stretch of US-259 just outside Beavers Bend State Park where most of the cabins, restaurants, wineries, and attractions are. Here's how it's laid out and how to get the most out of it.
What Hochatown Is
Hochatown sits along US-259 north of the town of Broken Bow, wrapped around the southern edge of Beavers Bend State Park and Broken Bow Lake. For decades it was a scattering of cabins in the pines; over the last several years it has grown into the area’s main visitor district, and it was incorporated as its own town in the early 2020s. It’s still very much a forest town: most of the cabins are tucked into the trees off side roads, not on the highway itself.
The US-259 Strip
The “strip” is the run of US-259 through Hochatown. That’s where you’ll find nearly every restaurant, the wineries and breweries, mini-golf, the petting zoo, and shops, plus Choctaw Landing, the resort and casino. It isn’t one walkable downtown block; think of it as a series of clusters along the highway. A few spots sit directly across the road from each other (Grateful Head and Girls Gone Wine, for example), so an evening can easily cover three or four stops.
Weekend evenings are busy, especially in peak fall and summer seasons. Expect waits at the popular restaurants and plan dinner reservations where they’re offered.
Where to Eat & Drink
Hochatown carries most of the area’s dining. A quick orientation:
- Dinner: Press Italia for a dressed-up night out, Hochatown BBQ & Grill for barbecue, Shuck Me for seafood, and The Blue Rooster for fried chicken and catfish. See the best restaurants and date night restaurants.
- Wine: Girls Gone Wine and Fish Tales Winery & Bistro. See the wineries guide.
- Beer: Mountain Fork Brewery and Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Tap Room. See the breweries guide.
- Live music: Hochatown Saloon is the main venue, with music most weekends. See live music.
- Morning: Coffee shops and breakfast spots.
Things to Do Nearby
The strip is minutes from everything else on a trip here: Beavers Bend State Park and its hiking trails, Broken Bow Lake, ziplining, and Choctaw Landing. With kids, the petting zoo and mini-golf on the strip are covered in family activities. For the full list, start with the best things to do in Broken Bow.
Getting Around
You’ll want a car. The strip runs along a highway and cabins are spread across back roads, so most people drive between stops. If you plan to have a few drinks, pick a cabin close to the strip, line up a ride before you go out, or keep the evening to one cluster of stops. Cell service can be patchy off the main road, so download directions to your cabin before you arrive. See getting here for drive times and airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hochatown the same as Broken Bow?
No. Broken Bow is the town to the south; Hochatown is the area along US-259 north of it, outside Beavers Bend State Park. Most visitors spend more time in Hochatown, since that's where the cabins, restaurants, and attractions cluster.
How far is Hochatown from Broken Bow?
Roughly 10 miles north on US-259, around a 15-minute drive depending on traffic.
Is Hochatown walkable?
Parts of it, a few stops at a time. The strip is spread out along a highway, so most people drive between clusters of restaurants and attractions.
Stay Close to the Strip
A cabin a few minutes from US-259 means dinner, a winery, and live music are a short drive (or a ride) away, not a trip.