Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center — Attraction in Lawton

While driving aimlessly with our then recruit on Fort Sill family day, we pulled into here expecting some more info on the area. Little did we know this place was crawling with scenery, wildlife, amazing displays and extremely kind people.

The displays inside provide very neat info and there is plenty to see within the refreshingly cool building. The man at the front desk was very friendly and intrigued to hear that we’re from Philadelphia. He gave us a pamphlet with a map, in which he drew out the directions to the more scenic and remote parts of the area. He told us exactly where to stop for wildlife or “road”side attractions. This man probably made our trip as special as it was, especially given the lack of knowledge we had. The lady at the gift shop, likewise, was very hospitable and helpful. She actually helped us save some money and luggage space by saying that if we want more merchandise in the future (which we do) that we can order it online.

The scenery, like the people, is humble but certainly not in a bad way. It isn’t Zion or the Grand Canyon, the beauty isn’t immediately apparent but it captivates you and keeps pulling you in. It doesn’t feel mass-visited and industrialized like most national parks, but merely a haven for wildlife and the occasional visitor to enjoy...

Went on a weekend camp out with my daughter, and Scout friends with their familie. We were able to rent 5 different campsites all next to each in the Doris Campground (don't get site 72 it's at a convergent point off the trail and there are lots of animal trails as well as washout water trails that come at this spot together and you will constantly have people walking through your campsite)... 73, 74, were nice and off of the trail for the most part. Although I will say all the campsites are super close together, they are also primitive so water sources are in the parking lot. Beautiful scenery lots of wildlife, keeping your food at your campsite locked up because there are squirrels and raccoons. Lots of hiking trails, and we saw deer as well as longhorn and buffalo further down the road from the campsites on the prairies of the Refuge. The lake is super low sadly, so unless you plan on fishing off of the dam or having a boat to get out on the water, the banks are too rocky, mushy, and muddy for you to get...

We stopped by the visitor center at 4:45pm - knowing it closed at 5pm. We figured we'd get some brochures, maybe a tshirt, ask the employees a few questions about best places to see the buffalo.

When we walked in every light in the place was off, the exhibits were shut down, the gift store was closed with the security gate half down and not an employee in sight.

After a minute or two a guy came out and told us that the bathrooms were the only thing open. I asked if they closed at 5pm and he said they did. I asked why everything was closed then and he said "well you can't see it all in 15 minutes anyway."

When I was younger, I worked a lot of retail jobs, I get it, things get slow, you start getting ready to close up. HOWEVER, if you say you close at 5pm, that means you close at 5pm. It doesn't mean close up at 430 but leave the door unlocked and hope no one comes by. It was a terrible experience, terrible customer service, and I hope that someone in...