PRESS RELEASES
Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
to Host Grand Reopening for
Quartz Mountain State Park Lodge
Lodge undergoes $10.5 million upgrade that includes a complete refurbishment of guest rooms
and renovations to grand entry, indoor pool and courtyard.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department officials will unveil the newly renovated Quartz Mountain State Park Lodge at a grand reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony at the lodge on Friday, June 18. The event will begin at 11:45 a.m.
Quartz Mountain State Park and the lodge, which are located in southwestern Oklahoma near Lone Wolf, returned to the Oklahoma State Parks system in fall 2020. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education had been overseeing the park and lodge since 2001.
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department immediately embarked on a $10.5 million renovation of the lodge. Oklahoma City-based companies LWPB Architecture and Lingo Construction partnered as a design-build team on the project, working together under a single contract.
“This project represented an incredible amount of work done in a very short time,” said Jerry Winchester, executive director of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. “We are so proud of the efforts by these two Oklahoma businesses and by our Oklahoma State Parks staff to bring this lodge back to life. We can’t wait for Oklahomans and out-of-state visitors to come experience the new Quartz Mountain.”
The renovations touched many aspects of the lodge. Its grand entry has been expanded, although the high ceilings, exposed trusses and towering stone fireplace that give the space its majestic feel remain. A gift shop with a glass storefront has been added. The indoor pool has also been updated; it includes garage doors that staff can open when the weather allows.
The courtyard behind the lodge has a whole new look. It now includes a fountain, grassy berms and other natural landscaping. A shallow stream that children can play in runs through the area, and there’s a pavilion made of perforated Corten steel. There’s a new shuffleboard area, and fire pits situated around the courtyard provide gathering places for guests.
The lodge’s guest rooms have been completely refurbished with new carpet, bedding and other furnishings. The two existing suites have been transformed into premier suites, and eight more suites have been added. All 10 suites have kitchenettes, fireplaces and separate living areas.
A new restaurant, Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen, will open in the lodge in June. It will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, providing classic home-cooked dishes for park guests from a menu specially developed for the state parks. The restaurant will be open Wednesday through Sunday during the summer season and Tuesday through Saturday the rest of the year.
Guests can reserve rooms at the lodge online at TravelOK.com/Parks. Prices range from $140 to $485 a night.
A brief history of Quartz Mountain State Park and lodge
Quartz Mountain debuted in 1935 as one of Oklahoma’s original seven state parks. Much of its infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. In the early 1950s, state leaders approved a bond measure to finance construction of a lodge at the park, and the first Quartz Mountain State Lodge opened in 1956 with 46 guest rooms. In 1978, the Oklahoma Arts Institute chose the park as its home. On Feb. 24, 1995, an electrical fire heavily damaged the lodge. A new lodge didn’t open until March 8, 2001. The lodge had been overseen by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education since 2001 before being returned to the purview of the Oklahoma State Parks system in 2020.
About the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department
The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department works to preserve, maintain and promote the state’s natural assets and cultural richness through tourism. Oklahoma State Parks, which oversees the state parks, lodges and golf courses, is a division of the department. Oklahoma State Parks’ mission is to advance the exceptional quality of life in Oklahoma by preserving, maintaining and promoting our natural assets and cultural amenities. The Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department’s Travel Promotions division administers programs designed to build awareness of the state as a destination and educates on the economic importance of the Oklahoma travel and tourism industry. The Travel Promotions staff also oversees the agency’s marketing and promotions efforts along with operating Tourism Information Centers located at major entry points around the state. To learn more about the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department, visit TravelOK.com.