A music legend revives a little town in Oklahoma USA: Will it see a surge of tourists?

Thursday, January 25, 2024

In the heart of Oklahoma, there lay a quaint rural town nestled along a bustling highway. This little town, known as Atoka, was on a mission of rejuvenation and transformation. Home to approximately 3,200 souls, Atoka’s geographical blessings placed it equidistant from three major cities: Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Dallas, each a mere two-hour journey away.

This tale unfolds in the very county where a star of country music, Reba McEntire, spent her early years. McEntire, raised in the small community of Chockie in Atoka County, found herself back in her roots during the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then that her paths crossed with Carol Ervin, the economic development director of Atoka.

Amidst their conversations, a vision was born—a vision that intertwined the town’s fate with McEntire’s legacy. Reba’s Place, a culinary and cultural gem, became a beacon of this vision. The Choctaw Nation, recognizing the potential of this endeavor, redirected the revenues from Reba’s Place towards uplifting the community. Their contributions touched various aspects of life in Atoka, from health services and education to housing and business development. The town boasted amenities such as a community center, a senior nutrition program, a health clinic, a diabetes wellness center, affordable rental housing, housing for the elderly, a head start program, as well as a travel plaza and a Chili’s Restaurant franchise, all under the aegis of the Choctaw Nation.

Atoka, once a mere dot along Highway 69, has transformed into a hub of activity and tourism. Visitors, drawn by the allure of Reba’s Place, began to explore the town, finding in it a new tourist haven.

Ervin observed a burgeoning trend, one where communities leveraged their local legends to create unique attractions. This trend was not confined to Atoka alone. Tishomingo, for instance, had Ole Red, a restaurant and music venue inspired by Blake Shelton. Similarly, Pawhuska boasted the Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond’s Mercantile. These ventures embodied a growing public desire for authentic, personal experiences linked to admired figures.

Ervin reflected on the fortune of Atoka, blessed by the roots and contributions of Reba McEntire, a figure admired not just for her artistic prowess but also for the depth of her character. This narrative, woven from the threads of community, heritage, and celebrity, painted a vivid picture of a small town’s journey towards rediscovery and revitalization, propelled by the spirit of its homegrown legend.

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