Where the buffalo roam, and the deer and the antelope play!

 Enjoying the drive!

 Since I'm still healing, Rodney was chief dog walker.  This is the view from the window of the motor home with Quanah Parker Lake in the background.

 Deer by the road.

We camped at the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.  At the beginning of the century, a large section of land was set aside in Oklahoma to give safe haven to animals, especially those hunted almost to extinction, including the American Bison and elks.  They also included Texas Longhorns, since they were such an integral part of the west.  Since the animals are free to roam the whole refuge, there are signs posted telling people to keep their distance from the buffalo and the longhorns, since they can be dangerous.  

 There were many trails for hiking that looked incredibly fun.  Since my knee was still gimpy, we couldn't enjoy them.  I'm looking forward to our next trip, when I'm healed!

This young buffalo was next to the road, and we stopped  almost within reach of him, and he totally ignored us.  They have such a funny build, with their huge, shaggy heads and their small hindquarters.

 You can barely see him, but a prairie dog is standing above his burrow watching us watch him.  They were more skittish than any of the other animals we saw.  The film we saw in the education center said they were a keystone species, aerating the prairie so all the other species can live there.

 Texas Longhorn!

 Views from the tallest mountain.  Breathtaking!

 For lunch one day, we ate longhorn hamburgers at a former mining camp, Meers Restaurant.  They have their own herd, and the meat was incredibly lean (less fat per ounce than chicken breast) and absolutely delicious!  In fact, it was so good we went back that night and had longhorn ribeyes, cut to order!

 Longhorns and buffalo, contentedly grazing together.

Cache Trading Post & Amusement Park

 I found this painting on its side stashed between some shelves.

 Assorted odds & ends that have been accumulating dust for decades.  Strong smell of mouse urine permeated the building.  Odd bits of trash were scattered throughout.

 These photos were hanging near the door.  The Star House at the top was in the original location, surrounded by a picket fence on high ground near the Wichita Mountains.  The man in the photo was the man who bought the house from Mrs. Birdsong, Quanah's daughter.At that time, Mrs. Birdsong lived in it.  In 1955, the Air Force needed the land it sat on to use to test a new missile.  She delayed as long as possible, and finally took up an offer to move the house about 1 1/2 miles to a location in Cache.  She lived there without water or electricity until finally trading it to the Uncle of the current owner for a liveable house.  He moved the Star House to the back of his amusement park in Cache, where it was going to be one of several old buildings as a tourist attraction.  In 1985, a fire swept through the amusement park, destroying the rides.  The buildings were spared, though.  Unfortunately, though, they were unable to get insurance, and the ravaged remains of the rides remain where they were, and the buildings at the back are slowly deteriorating.  People still trickle through to see the Star House, even without signs or advertisements, and the current owner (somewhat eccentric) gives individual tours for donations when and if he wants to, so most are unable to see it.

 One of the buildings, an old church, sitting by the Star House.

 This is an old ride of some sort next to the Star House.

 This is a roller coaster track with trees growing up through it.

Quanah Parker's Star House, Cache, Oklahoma

 This is the original main dining room table where the family ate, with friends, notables, and anyone who came to the house.  Some of the well-know people who dined here are on the preceding plaque.

 The original stove in the small kitchen.

 Quanah Parker's bedroom.

 The bedroom of his favorite wife (of seven), Tenecie.  It was located next to his room.  She had no children.

 The front of the house.

 The right side of the house.

 From the behind the house looking toward the left side.

 The left side of the house.

 The current owner, who took over the care of the house when his uncle passed away, who purchased the house from Quanah's daughter, Mrs. Birdsong.

The sign by the road pointing toward the ghost-town-like amusement park behind where the house now sits.