Entry No. 33 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: cobblestone
The Old Plantation Restaurant
“a poltergeist famous for restacking cleaned glasses at the bar”
Built in 1910 as a cobblestone hotel that drew Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and Will Rogers during the Roaring 20s, The Old Plantation now serves hand-cut steaks and Southern comfort food while harboring a well-documented roster of ghosts — including the apparition of Western swing legend Bob Wills and a poltergeist famous for restacking cleaned glasses at the bar. Multiple paranormal investigators and local news outlets have covered the hauntings, and the restaurant reopened after full restoration in 2008 and remains actively operating.
The story
Built in 1910 out of native granite cobblestones, this three-story structure anchored Medicine Park back when the area was Oklahoma’s primary health resort getaway. During the Roaring Twenties, the hotel's guest roster leaned heavily into legend: Will Rogers came for the quiet, while outlaws like Al Capone, Bonnie, and Clyde allegedly used the mountain hideaway to keep out of sight of federal badges.
The building eventually transitioned from a grand hotel into a full-service steakhouse, reopening after a major restoration in 2008. But locals know the room didn't fully clear out when the hotel guests left. Paranormal investigators and regional news crews have spent years documenting the building's lingering spirits, which include sightings of Western swing pioneer Bob Wills and a quiet bar poltergeist famous for tidily restacking freshly washed glassware behind the counter after dark.
What it's like
Pulling up into Medicine Park feels like dropping into a forgotten granite village tucked against the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Inside, stone walls and heavy timber set a cozy, low-lit mood. If you're coming for the paranormal history, ask for a table near the original Tap Room bar—that's ground zero for the bar poltergeist—and order one of their hand-cut, flame-grilled steaks. Keep things low-key and ask your server about their own weird encounters; most staff have at least one story. After dinner, skip the straight drive home and cross the nearby cobblestone bridges along Medicine Creek.
The move: Book a dinner reservation for two and ask to be seated near the original Tap Room bar — order the flame-grilled hand-cut steaks, linger over drinks, and swap ghost stories with staff who have their own firsthand accounts; afterward, walk the cobblestone village of Medicine Park along the creek before driving back.
📍 Before you go The three-story cobblestone landmark sits right on E Lake Dr in the heart of Medicine Park's historic resort village, about 15 miles northwest of Lawton and at the very entrance to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. It's a designated day-trip from Oklahoma City, so build in the roughly 1.5-hour drive each way and aim for a clear-weather afternoon or evening. The walkable creekside village fills up on warm weekends and during refuge season, so a dinner reservation is the safer bet; ask about seating near the original Tap Room if the ghost lore is the draw. Pair the meal with a stroll across the cobblestone bridges along Medicine Creek, then a sunset drive up Mount Scott or a bison-spotting loop through the refuge before heading back.
- 📍 Medicine Park
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 140 E Lake Dr, Medicine Park, OK 73557
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Muscle Car Ranch — Break up the drive back north toward OKC with a stop at this 30-acre vintage neon sign and muscle car preserve on an old dairy farm.
- The Chickasha Leg Lamp — Pair a historic ghost dinner with a detour through Chickasha to stand beneath a 50-foot fiberglass leg lamp statue.
- Fort Reno Historic Spirit Tours — Double down on haunted Oklahoma history by catching a lantern-lit night tour across an 1870s military post on your way back.
Good to know
What kind of food does The Old Plantation serve?
The menu centers on hand-cut steaks, Oklahoma-inspired fare, and Southern comfort dishes, along with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar.
What are the restaurant's operating hours?
The restaurant is open seven days a week from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Is the restaurant near any outdoor attractions?
Yes, it sits right at the entrance to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and along Medicine Creek, making it an easy focal point for a day trip involving bison-spotting or driving up Mount Scott.
Do I need to make a dinner reservation?
While walk-ins are accepted, Medicine Park gets busy on warm weekends and refuge peak seasons, so making a reservation in advance is recommended.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · hauntedplaces.org · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-07