It began when a young lawyer from Lawton named Elmer Thomas envisioned developing a resort to provide accommodations, food, beverage and entertainment for the throngs of people who were visiting the newly founded Wichita Mountains National Forest and Wildlife Refuge. 

Medicine Park's development sprang up around the town's centerpiece of Medicine Creek and it's three hand constructed rock dams which created "Gondola Lake", "Bath Lake" and "Fish Lake." 

Soon, small cabins sprang up as homesite lots were sold at public auction, followed by numerous commercial enterprises. 

Within a decade or so there were public commercial facilities such as "The Outside Inn Hotel", "The Editor's Clubhouse", "Baird's Sanitorium & Health Spa", "The Dam Cafe", "Medicine Park Clubhouse" and "Medicine Park Hall."

Cottages and cabins constructed with exterior facades of round cannonball sized granite cobblestones are the town's predominant architectural feature. The stones are naturally occurring and found only in the Wichita Mountains.  They are formed over a period of millions of years through the action of "freeze, thaw and tumble." 

In the 1920's and 30's - Medicine Park became the “playground” of the state's rich, famous and notorious. Folks would come to town for the weekend and leave their "work-a-day" troubles and reputations behind them. Outlaws, horse thieves and bootleggers mixed with politicians, businessmen, families, soldiers, military brass and socialites in this relaxed resort community.  Such noted personalities as Will Rogers, Wiley Post, Frank Philips, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Bob Wills and even Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie & Clyde and Al Capone are said to have all frequented the community. 

"What happened in Medicine Park stayed in Medicine Park" has been a tongue-in-cheek saying for decades.

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