COOKSON The town took its name from Jack Cookson, who operated the local post office from his home before statehood. Cookson was on the shore of the Illinois River, near Cookson Bluff. One of the first buildings was the Ballew Brothers’ Store. They supplied locals with everything from food to guns and tools. Several of the structures from the town were moved to higher ground. Among these were the old store and several small cabins, which were relocated to their present location on Highway 82 in Cookson. Several structures from the old town could not be moved and were left behind at the bottom of the lake. They now are a popular underwater destination for scuba divers. SALLISAW Sallisaw, the county seat of Sequoyah County, is located at the southern edge of the famed Cookson Hills, and near the navigation channel of the Arkansas River. Its name is from the French “salaisiau” meaning “salt provision.” Native Americans, explorers, trappers and early settlers were familiar with the natural salt deposits found near area streams. For more information, contact the Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 251, 301 E. Cherokee Ave., Sallisaw, OK 74955. The phone number is (918) 775-2558. VIAN Vian began as a trading post in the mid 1800s and was established as a town in 1902. No one is sure where the name Vian came from, but one popular version is that the town was named after an early settler, George Vi. The second syllable, ‘an’ was added making it Vian, which in the Cherokee language means “garfish.” Vi’an is located nine miles south of Lake Tenkiller on Oklahoma State Highway 82 and just off lnterstate 40. For information, contact the Vian Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 687, 603 N. Thornton St., Vian, OK 74962 or phone (918) 773-5446. KEYS The Keys community is located south of Tahlequah at the junction of Oklahoma State Highway 82, which traverses the east side of the lake, and Indian Road, which traverses the west side. Because of its location as a gateway to both sides of Lake Tenkiller, Keys is a focal point for a variety of businesses, including convenience stores, banks, restaurants, hair/nail salons, real estate agencies, churches, a donut shop, boat repair shop, auto repair shop, hotel, agriculture and feed store and Jimmy Houston’s Outdoor Store.
RIVER PROVIDES CHANCE TO VIEW WILDLIFE Arkansas River
WEBBERS FALLS Webbers Falls Lock and Dam is located on the Arkansas River near the towns of Gore and Webbers Falls. An observation platform and visitors facilities are located at the Dam, and visitors may watch the lockage of barges and pleasure craft. On a bluff above the powerhouse is a scenic overlook where you may view the lock and dam and a large area of the lake. Sportspeople will find recreation opportunities at Webbers Falls Lake. The predominate species of fish are catfish, white bass, black bass, crappie, bream, walleye, sauger, buffalo, carp and a rapidly growing population of striped bass. For more information, contact the Corps of Engineers, Webbers Falls Lock and Dam at (918) 487-5252.
SEQUOYAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Arkansas River between Gore and Vian. Nestled in the gently rolling foothills of the Ozark Mountains, Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge is home to wildlife as unique as the bald eagle and as elusive as the bobcat. Fertile bottom lands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Canadian Rivers make this refuge a terrific wildlife viewing destination. The refuge was established in 1970 to provide habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds and to provide food and cover for resident wildlife. For more information, contact Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge at (918) 773-5251.
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