Things to Do in Lawton-Fort Sill Oklahoma

Filled with the gala spirit of celebration, the city is energized as everyone throughout the community pays tribute to the legacy of Fort Sill and its historic its 150th anniversary. If you’re visiting Lawton-Fort Sill or returning for a closer look, it’s the perfect time to delve into the region’s rich history.

“We want visitors and residents to know the meaningful place that Lawton holds in history as they visit our many points of interest,” said Logan Ralston, Conventions & Visitors Bureau projects officer.

Guiding visitors, the CVB created a themed, three-day itinerary to sites throughout the city. There’s a new monthly happenings calendar, too, posted on the Chamber’s website. It’s brimming with special events, concerts, notable historic sights and more. And don’t miss the Ware on C Block Party in historic downtown, featuring food vendors, music and shopping. It’s all happening on the first weekend of selected months. Time to get out and about and discover Lawton.

Attractions in Lawton-Fort Sill

Apache Casino Hotel
Accommodations are spacious and comfy. Find gaming options galore, including new additions and old favorites like slots, blackjack and ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em. Enjoy concerts and entertainment and delicious dining for a night on the town.

Bingo Country
Enjoy weekly promotions with guaranteed payouts and you could be a winner! Traditional bingo and games that benefit charity await. Hungry bingo players can choose from items on the on-site cafe menu, and food can even be brought to your table.

Cameron University Department of Music
There’s something for everyone. The public is invited to performances and lively concerts throughout the year. Thrill to season favorites, the jazz ensemble and more. Check the university calendar for dates and locations.

Comanche Nation Casino
Home of the million dollar jackpot, the excitement never ends at Oklahoma’s largest casino. Always open, the casino offers black jack, poker and entertaining table games. Grab some casual fare at the Mustang Sports Grill or head to the Casino Grill for appetizers, salads, hamburgers and sandwiches.

Comanche Red River Hotel Casino
Have a seat and join the fun with more than 1,000 interactive games. This pet-friendly destination is open every day so you can win big. The casino features tournaments, give-aways, drawings and special events. Stay the night and extend your fun.

Comanche Spur Casino
Make it your lucky day as you explore the casino, exciting slot machines and the newest interactive games. Enjoy a treat from the snack shop and visit the smoke shop for a great selection of cigars.

Historic Mattie Beal Home
Step back in time when you enter the gracious 14-room, two-story residence that preserves Lawton’s distinctive history. The neoclassical home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was acquired by a generous Lawton family in the 1901 land lottery. Open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.

Holy City of the Wichitas
Hosting the longest-running passion play in the country and open daily, this historic landmark resembles old Jerusalem set among 66 acres of sweeping vistas in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Kiowa Casino & Hotel
Join the fun while you stay and play at this winning destination. Sample fare at three unique restaurants and step up to play at more than 800 slot machines and nearly a dozen game tables.

Laugh Out Loud
LOL is the place for you to enjoy fun, food and friends. Our games and attractions are the best in the Lawton area. Laugh Out Loud hand tossed pizzas will tickle your taste buds. Our main attractions include Laser Tag, Skating, Mini Bowling, Ball-O-City, and video games.

Lawton Community Theatre
Since 1952 this beloved venue has served as the stage for dramatic performances that celebrate the human spirit. Enjoy contemporary theater, cutting-edge productions, comedies, musicals and more. Encore!

Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra
Experience the sounds of Mozart, Bach, Mendelssohn, Leonard Bernstein and other great composers. Holidays are made merrier with special ensembles showcasing seasonal music. Reserve seats for the entire season or choose favorites year-round.

Leslie Powell Foundation Gallery
Featuring regional, contemporary artists, this compact gallery retains a 1920s art deco flavor. Displaying multi-media works from photography and graphite drawings to paintings and sculpture, the gallery is a venue for high-profile lecturers and speakers who discuss and promote the arts.

Medicine Park Aquarium & Natural Sciences Center
Explore earth, sky and water inside this premier learning center. Observe sea life and electric eel feeding shows in the Marvels & Mysteries Gallery three times daily and visit Turtle Town to feed the turtles. Aquatic galleries house sunfish, catfish, trout, pike, perches, piranhas and more. Enjoy scenic vistas, too, with stunning views of Mount Scott. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

New Vision Theaters Central Twelve Mall
Catch the latest shows and munch on a crispy bucket of popcorn and your favorite snacks. Enjoy new shows or classic films and $5 tickets on Tuesdays.

Patriot Theatres
It’s showtime! AMC CLASSIC Patriot Theatre is here to serve up movie memories with friends & family. Come enjoy Coca-Cola Freestyle and delicious menu items like pretzel bites, movie nachos, and annual refillable popcorn buckets, all at a great value.

Tour de Meers
Grab your helmets and ride along the beautiful Comanche and the Kiowa Indian Country. The Meers Volunteer Fire Department presents a wonderful ride with challenging hills and paths.

Tour of the Wichitas
Tour of the Wichitas and include the following text: Take a ride through the Wichita Mountains! Tour of the Wichitas is a premier biking event for the Lawton Fort Sill community that showcases the beautiful, serene Wichita Mountains and highlights the historical landmarks of Fort Sill.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Take a guided tour by bus or hike for miles amid this 59,000-acre preserve. As home to a multitude of endangered species, more than 50 mammals and 806 plant species thrive. A scenic drive to Mt. Scott summit inside the park showcases breathtaking views of the Wichita Mountains. Excluding major holidays, the park is open daily.

Annual Events in Lawton

3 Mile Thursdays
Love the outdoors? Grab your gym shoes and join Classic Lawton Chevrolet as they present a three mile run. Runners will run south along 82nd street.

Armed Forces Day Parade
One of the largest military parades in the nation, this gala spring parade features high-stepping bands, community and business floats, military officials and veterans who pay tribute to all men and women who valiantly serve our nation. Pomp and circumstance is the order of the day!

Arts for All Festival
Held in Lawton’s Shelper Park on the second full weekend in May, Arts for All spans the weekend featuring sculpture, woodworking, glass art, painting and many forms of art to be enjoyed by all. Check out the food court and music on multiple stages. There’s fun for the kiddos, too.

Chamber on the Move
Join us for the exciting new extension of the Ware On C Block Party called Chamber on the Move! Chamber on the Move will take the fun activities, shopping, food and entertainment aspects of the Ware On C Block Party and MOVE to your favorite local businesses parking lots. To find out where the next MOVE will be, check out visitlawtonok.com.

International Festival
If you want to experience Lawton’s deep multicultural heritage, this is the event not to miss. The multi-day celebration includes ethnic foods of all kinds and music from jazz and polka to blues and reggae by top performers. Admission and parking are free.

Lawton Rangers PRCA Rodeo
Pull on your boots and head to the action-packed Lawton Rangers PRCA Rodeo. Thrill to the sounds and excitement of steer and bull roping, barrel racing, high-spirited bulls and team-roping competitions. Don’t miss the pageantry of the annual rodeo queen contest and check out pleasing vittles fit for all cowpokes and friends.

Longhorn and Bison Auctions
The sounds of hooves and snorts of longhorns and bison fill the air at these fall auctions, which are open to the public. Held at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, two separate auctions feature longhorns or bison in a day filled with sights and sounds of the west at its best.

Open Streets
Let’s play. This fun-loving concept turns streets into community parks for short times, encouraging friends, family and community to get moving and enjoy some fun, from board games to food trucks and farmers markets.

Spirit of Survival Race
Benefiting four Cancer Centers in Southwest Oklahoma, this race has more than 5,000 running enthusiasts hoofing their way to the finish line in this annual 5K, walk/run and kids marathon. You can fight the good fight with a longer race, too, by registering for a half- or quarter-marathon. This event now has a bike ride as well.

Ware on C
Downtown Lawton’s block party is sure to get you talking about shopping local and having fun. Come check out shops and vendors on C Ave, where you’ll also find quality entertainment and awesome food and drink. Ware on C has it all! Go to visitlawtonok.com for the next Ware on C date.

Museums

Air Defense Artillery Museum
Spend hours or days exploring artifacts, exhibits and artillery, old and new. The Air Defense Artillery Museum preserves the history of the U.S. Army and Air Defense. Artillery in a fascinating showcase of weaponry, tools and uniforms. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center
More than three decades in the making, the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center fosters understanding and appreciation of Comanche history, culture and fine art. Learn the fascinating history of the Code Talkers who helped defeat Hitler’s army on D-Day. Admission is free.

Fort Sill National Historical Landmark and Museum
Stroll this enormous museum that occupies 38 buildings filled with vast holdings and exhibits that include more than 235,000 objects and artillery and artillery that dates from the Revolutionary War and much more.

Museum of the Great Plains
Explore the human history of the Great Plains at one of Lawton’s top attractions. Three distinct galleries, indoor and out, hold treasures and artifacts of bygone days. Interactive exhibits fascinate with demonstrations of working life on the Plains, including home craft, tool making and cattle work. Reenactments bring all to life.

U.S. Army Artillery Museum
The U.S. Army Artillery Museum tells the story of artillery from 1775 to the present with more than 70 guns and artillery pieces and other artifacts from head gear and ammo to small arms and uniforms. Cannon demonstration firing, World War I program and historic weapons firing demonstrations.

LAKES, FISHING & OUTDOOR RECREATION

Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area (LETRA)
Grab a fishing pole and head to the 5,600 acre Lake Ellsworth for a day on the water. Lawton is brimming with outdoor destinations for hiking, kayaking, biking and nature viewing. Cast a line at Lake Lawtonka for smallmouth bass or head to Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation area to lounge on a sandy beach, swim and paddle or play a round of miniature golf.

Places to Stay in Lawton

Apache Casino Hotel
2315 E Gore Blvd. 580-248-5905
www.apachecasinohotel.com

Baymont Inn & Suites
1203 NW 40th St. 580-353-5581
www.baymontinns.com

Best Western Plus Hotel & Conference Center
1125 E Gore Blvd. 580-353-0200
www.bestwesternlawton.com

Candlewood Suites
940 NW 38th St. 580-354-9906
www.candlewoodsuites.com/lawtonfortsill

Comfort Suites
201 SE Interstate Drive 580-248-2200
www.CSLawton.com

Days Inn
601 NW 2nd St. 96
800-329-7466

Echo Canyon Spa Resort
350 Lawton Ave., Sulphur,
580-421-5076
www.echocanyonmanor.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott
201 SE 7th St.
580-248-5500
www.marriott.com/lawfi

Hampton Inn & Suites
2610 NW Cache Road
580-355-8200
www.hamptoninn.com

Hilton Garden Inn & Lawton-Fort Sill Convention Center
135 NW 2nd St. 580-280-2100
http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/oklahoma/hilton-garden-inn-lawton-fort-sill-LAWFGGI/index.html

Holiday Inn Express & Suites
209 SE Interstate Drive 580-248-4446
www.hiexpress.com/lawton

Homewood Suites By Hilton
415 SE Interstate Drive 580-357-9800
www.lawton.homewoodsuites.com

LaQuinta Inn & Suites
1408 NW 40th St.
580-355-6800
www.lq.com

Motel 6
202 E Lee Blvd. 580-355-9765

Sleep Inn & Suites
421 SE Interstate Drive 580-353-5555
www.sleepinn.com/ok170

Springhill Suites By Marriott
3 SE Interstate Drive 580-248-8500
www.marriott.com/lawsh

Thank you for your support of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and our annual Business Directory Guide. We are southwest Oklahoma’s largest business organization committed to your success, and one that is positively impacting the Lawton-Fort Sill community. As an organization representing our diverse membership base, we work with our business members to further their collective interests, while advancing the Lawton-Fort Sill community and the region of southwest Oklahoma. We are a unified voice on key issues that impact growth.

We have so much to be proud of with our community. As you may know, the City of Lawton was founded in 1901, and is the largest of 10 cities and towns in Comanche County. The Lawton Commercial Club, with their President, R.J. Ray, voted to secure a charter for the Incorporation of the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, May 4, 1905. We are fortunate to have leaders, such as R.J. Ray, who recognized the importance of an agency that would work to support the goals and objectives of local businesses.

As our community continues to progress, we will experience new challenges and opportunities, and you can rely on your Chamber to be by your side. Again, thank you for supporting the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce. Please do not hesitate to call upon me personally, or a member of the Chamber team, if we can be of assistance to you. Finding our way to yes…together!

With much appreciation,

Brenda Spencer-Ragland
President & CEO
Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce

As I look to assume my role as Chairperson for the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce, I pause in a moment of appreciation for this great community and the amazing people who call it home, even if just for the weekend as they travel to enjoy our incredible scenery.

There are many opportunities here in the Lawton-Fort Sill area, and I encourage you to use this guide to learn about them and plan out your activities. The Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Board and Staff, work diligently together to promote and provide quality of life opportunities that enrich the life of our residents and our visitors. We want you to see what we see when we are out and about. We have beautiful mountains, lakes, and yes, even a beach on Fort Sill. We have several amazing, state-of-the-art museums, and many community events planned throughout the year. Furthermore, as part of my initiatives for the year, I will be focusing on creating opportunities to promote health and wellness in our community. I believe the best contribution I can provide is to stand as an advocate for health and wellness in the workplace. It’s proven that positive health and wellness initiatives support the workplace by reducing downtime for employees, while increasing productivity and morale. If I can support your workplace with becoming a Certified Healthy Business or Organization, please do not hesitate to call on me, or the Chamber of Commerce team. We believe there is nothing greater that we can do for our employees than to support them with their personalized health and wellness goals. Many of our events will be focused on promoting health and wellness, and I encourage you to please get involved.

Additionally, you can trust that I will be working hard to assist the Chamber Board and team as we strive to create opportunities for Economic Development, which includes bringing high-tech jobs to the community and promoting those that already exist. I am also very much committed to promoting tourism, membership services, and military and government affairs.

I look forward to the opportunities that are in front of us, and I encourage you to review this guide and support the local businesses and service providers, as they stand in support of our community. Please help us tell others there is always something to do in our community.

Jennifer Ellis
Chair
Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce

General Numbers

Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce
(580) 355-3541/ (800) 872-4540

Local Directory Assistance
411

Long Distance Directory Assistance
(580) 555-1212

U.S. Post Office
(580) 353-1500

Automobile Registration and Drivers’ Licensing
(580) 353-6550
New residents to the state are required to obtain an Oklahoma driver’s license and register their vehicle upon establishing residency. Licensing is handled at the state of Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 705 E. Gore Blvd.

United Way Helpline
211

Comanche County

County Clerk
(580) 355-5214
Voter Registration

Comanche County Courthouse
(580) 355-5214
5th St. and C Ave., Room 206

Fort Sill

Fort Sill Family, Morale, Welfare & Recreation
(580) 442-3001

Fort Sill Information
(580) 442-8111

CITY OF LAWTON

Location 212 SW. 9th St., unless otherwise noted.

City Clerk
(580) 581-3305
Claims, notary public, boards, commissions

City Hall
(580) 581-3500

City Manager
(580) 581-3301

Engineering Department
(580) 581-3385
Traffic commission, street projects
2202 SW. 3rd St.

Housing/Community Development
(580) 581-3347
CDBG, housing assistance
1405 SW. 11th St.

Human Resources
(580) 581-3392
Employment applications
212 SW. 9th St.

Licenses and Permits
(580) 581-3360
Building permits, inspections, zoning

Mayor and City Council
(580) 581-3536
Administration

Municipal Court
(580) 581-3266
Tickets, prosecutor, judge
102 SW. 5th St.

Neighborhood Services
(580) 581-3467
Citizen complaints

Parks and Recreation
(580) 581-3400
Administration, sports programs
1405 SW. 11th St.

Public Works
(580) 581-3410
Street maintenance, water distribution,
solid Waste.
2202 SW. 3rd St.

Revenue Services
(580) 581-3308
Utility billing, licenses, permits

United States Elected Officials

Congressman Tom Cole
(580) 357-2131

Senator James Lankford
(405) 231-4941

Senator James Inhofe
(405) 608-4381

Community Services

Emergencies – Fire/Police/Ambulance
911

Nonemergency – Police Department Dispatch
(580) 581-3272

Front Desk
(580) 581-3270

Fire Department – Central fire station, fire chief
(580) 581-3280
623 SW. D Ave.

Tag Agencies

Comanche County Tag Agency
(580) 355-3810
902 SW. 38th St.

Lawton Fort Sill Tag Agency
(580) 355-8247
29 SW. D Ave.

Medical Facilities

Comanche County Memorial Hospital
(580) 355-8620

Comanche County Health Department
(580) 248-5890

Reynolds Army Health Clinic
(580) 558-2800

Southwestern Medical Center
(580) 531-4700

WellFast Urgent Care Center
(580) 357-4200

Xpress Wellness Urgent Care
(580) 536-9355

MEDIA Communications

The Lawton Constitution
(580) 353-0620
Newspaper with daily circulation of 30,000

The Fort Sill Tribune
(580) 442-5150
Newspaper with weekly circulation of 12,000

The Cameron Collegian
(580) 581-2260
Weekly newspaper

Lawton Living Magazine
(817) 599-6167

KSWO-TV 7
(580) 355-7000
ABC affiliate television station

KBZQ the Breeze 99.5 FM
(580) 357-9950
Adult contemporary radio station

KMGZ-FM Magic 95
(580) 536-9530
Hot adult contemporary radio station

KMGZ-D2 Hot Country 973 FM
(580) 536-9530
Country radio station

KMGZ-D3 Sooner Classic Hits
(580) 536-9530
Classic hits radio station

KCCU 89.3 or 102.9 FM National Public Radio
(580) 581-2472
News/classical radio station

KLAW 101.3
(580) 581-3600
Country radio station

KZCD Z94.1
(580) 581-3600
Classic/new rock radio station

KVRW 107.3 Pop Crush
(580) 581-3600
Hit music station

KKRX 1050 AM
(580) 355-1050
Rhythm & blues radio station

KXCA 1380 AM
(580) 355-1050
Hot Country 97.3 FM
Country radio station

KJMX 97.9 Jamz

KKRX 1380AM The Ticket

KXCA 93.7 Heart & Soul R&B

KKEN 97.1

KDDQ 105.3

Libraries

Lawton Public Library
(580) 581-3450
110 SW 4th St.

Lawton Public Branch Library
(580) 581-3457
1304 NW. Kingwood Rd.

Cameron University Library
(580) 581-2957
2800 W. Gore Blvd.

Fort Sill Nye Library
(580) 442-3806
1604 Randolph Rd.

Utilities

AT&T
Residential
(800) 464-7928

Business
(800) 499-7928

Public Service Company of Oklahoma
(888) 216-3523

CenterPoint Energy
(866) 275-5265

Fidelity Communications
(580) 353-2250

Cotton Electric
(580) 875-3351

Medicine Park Telephone Co., Inc.
(580) 529-2700

Partners in Prosperity

At the hub of the community, the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lawton are paving the way and progressively building a bright and prosperous community with a host of exciting and collaborative initiatives. Working with area leaders and all stakeholders who call this exciting city home, they are shepherding a vision of excellence for the community.

“We work very closely in everything we do, to create new opportunities that advance the highest quality of life and economic prosperity throughout Lawton-Fort Sill,” said Brenda Spencer-Ragland, Chamber president & CEO. “Every part of our partnership aims to build a stronger, more vibrant community. We want folks to know about the wonderful amenities and everything that we have to offer, whether a visitor who’s only here for a day, or a business or new family considering spending a lifetime.”

Facilitating the excitement and synergy of their cordially productive roles, the Chamber and city offices are both downtown in close proximity to one another.

“It’s the perfect setting, because we work hand-in-hand on a multitude of issues, almost daily,” said Mayor Stan Booker.

One outstanding initiative that is rippling throughout the community and continuing to blossom with positive outcomes and reinforcement from city leaders is the Certified Healthy program. This state-sponsored program aims to recognize healthy communities and entities that adopt habits of wellness, to include providing opportunities for exercise and healthy diets to citizens.

“This marks the City of Lawton’s third year of earning an excellence level of certification in the program,” Booker said. “It’s the highest level that any participant can attain. We’re extremely proud of it, because in the long-term it helps us build a better community, for businesses and residents alike.”

The Chamber is earning kudos, too, achieving the Certified Healthy Business excellence level ranking – the highest possible – this year. Chamber members are offered the tools and resources, too, and are encouraging members and businesses to pursue their own healthy business designations, which assists in advancing the wellness of community as a way to promote their businesses.

“Quality of life is a hugely important economic driver,” Spencer-Ragland said. “When we promote opportunities for good health, it’s integral to our goals, which are to create the highest quality of life that we can possibly achieve. When large numbers of people are able to get healthy through diet and exercise, it builds a stronger, more resilient community.”

An annual event that’s getting plenty of attention is the Armed Forces Day Parade. This patriotic event is held every May, weather permitting.

“It’s one of the largest military parades in the U.S.,” Spencer-Ragland said, “featuring marching bands, community and business floats, military officials and veterans who pay tribute to all men and women who have valiantly served our nation.”

Before, during and after the parade, the city provides logistical support and security, including street closures and route monitoring to ensure that the festivities are enjoyed by all, Booker said.

When it comes to downtown celebrations, the Chamber and city lead the way, especially with the festive Ware on C, a monthly gathering downtown, featuring food, fun and music.

“It’s a fresh new concept, funded by the city and the Chamber to promote our downtown Ware District,” Booker said. “It’s a fellowship event that builds community. Everyone comes out for a great night together.”

The community is connected through one extra-large collaborative, The Lawton Proud Initiative. Leaders and businesses from all walks of life are sharing the good news about living in, shopping in and experiencing Lawton. It’s easy now to find out what’s going on. Just pop onto the Lawton Proud website, www.lawtonproud.com, to post an event or good news, and keep the city proud.

City of Choice

With an abundance of amenities from recreational opportunities to state-of-the-art health care facilities and highly-ranked schools and universities, there’s a lot to love about Lawton-Fort Sill and it shows. The city earns kudos for highly affordable housing, cultural and historic assets, a central location, easy access to air travel and so much more.

“My husband’s parents retired here and we moved from London, England, to Lawton-Fort Sill to come home,” said Yvonne Landmark. “We opened two new businesses here, The UPS Store and my husband’s technology consulting business, and both are going extremely well. We were ready to leave the hustle bustle behind us and feel very positive and happy about the move. Lawton’s future is very bright and moving in all the right directions.”

For Vincent Saylor and his family, the decision to choose Lawton two years ago was practically seamless.

“I was practicing law in a Birmingham firm for eight years before the move, but my wife and I really wanted to open our own business,” said Saylor, owner of Vincent Saylor State Farm in Lawton. “We could have chosen multiple places, but the availability of housing, recreational opportunities like water skiing in Lake Lawtonka or hiking in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge and finding a secure and progressive place to raise our daughter all added up to Lawton. We looked at schools, places to go and things do and the business outlook for opening the insurance firm. We discovered that Lawton was the perfect fit.”

Janie Billingsley, marketing director of the Billingsley Family of Dealerships, moved to Lawton nearly 23 years ago from a neighboring city and took plenty of time to evaluate quality of life and business opportunities.

“We visited every weekend for eight months,” Billingsley said. “I told my children we were going on an adventure and if they weren’t having fun, we wouldn’t stay. The kids loved it and now Lawton-Fort Sill is our forever home. We couldn’t have found a better place for our multi-generational business and the Ford and Hyundai dealerships our family owns. The city still retains a hometown feeling, while being very up and coming with its own airport and central location.”

Business is what brought Bridget and Ervin Randle to Lawton-Fort Sill, too.

“We had an opportunity to purchase the existing Chevrolet store and we opened our business, Classic Lawton Chevrolet, in 2015,” Bridget said. “The city is moving in a direction of strategic growth; improvements are being made to many local schools and a brand new middle school is being built, and we have two great hospitals as well as the Leah M. Fitch Cancer Center. From the time we arrived we’ve loved every minute of living in Lawton. People are warm and welcoming and everyone is friendly.”

Whether they relocated from London or lived in Lawton all their lives and regardless of their upbringing in the big city or a sharecropper farm, entrepreneurs have found Lawton-Fort Sill an ideal place to build a business – and a family.

When Craig and Janie Billingsley decided to expand their auto dealership into Lawton-Fort Sill in 1997, they decided to move their family there too. “I told our children that we were going on an adventure and if we were not having fun as a family, we would move on,” Janie said. “We have never looked back and had a wonderful, fun ride all the way. Our children thrived here when younger and are now thriving as adults.

“This area is a perfect fit for our down-to-earth personalities,” she said. “When we first moved here, people welcomed us with open arms. Our son and his wife chose to return here after living in both the OKC and Dallas area. We love the international flair, the convenience to fly anywhere with our American Airlines airport, and the ease of getting to two large metro areas within a couple of hours.

“I also love that you can go anywhere in Lawton and hear so many different languages and cultures. And we love supporting our Fort Sill soldiers that come from all over the world and their families that come with them.”

Billingsley said Lawton-Fort Sill also proved to be a fertile ground for the family’s portfolio of auto-related businesses spread across Oklahoma – four car dealerships, three insurance offices and a car maintenance center. Lawton-Fort Sill provided the Billingsleys with 120 of their 220 employees, filling their need for skills ranging from finance officers to service techs, from janitors to securities-licensed insurance agents.

The owners of another car dealership – Ervin and Bridget Randle of Classic Lawton Chevrolet – came from very different paths before landing happily in Oklahoma. Bridget grew up in middle-class Minneapolis-St. Paul. Ervin grew up in a two-room shack with no running water in rural Texas, his father a share cropper and his mother a maid.

Ervin made a major life change when he played NFL football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs in 1985-1993. He then married Bridget and began a second career selling cars in Dallas.

“I had always been a big-city girl,” Bridget Randle said. “But when the Chevy dealership in Lawton became available in 2015, we decided to buy it.

“We debated whether to keep our dream house in Dallas and just rent a house in Lawton. But we realized that if we were going to make this work, we would have to become part of the community.”

They haven’t regretted it, Randle said. “We see deer and elk. It’s so easy to get around compared to a big city. And the people are so friendly. We know the mayor and the chief of police. You won’t get that in a big city.

“Every day new people come through our door and we get to know them on a personal basis. We stress a family atmosphere with our employees – which, they don’t work for us, we’re in this together.”

Jim and Yvonne Landmark have lived all over the world. But when it came time to settle down and start a business of their own, they knew there was only one place to do it – Lawton-Fort Sill.

“Like a lot of people here, my husband was an Army kid,” Yvonne Landmark said. “Jim was born in Germany. But on a couple of deployments they were posted at Fort Sill and the family decided to make Lawton their home.”

After Jim married Yvonne, a native of Louisiana, he pursued an international career in information technology. “When Jim retired from British Petroleum three years ago, we were living outside London, England,” Yvonne said. “But we moved from London to Lawton and started a UPS store.”

“Lawton-Fort Sill has moderate weather. It has mountains. It’s a nice place to raise a family,” Yvonne said.

Family links and family-friendly atmosphere also persuaded 36-year-old Vincent Saylor to think “Lawton” when he and his wife Brittany decided his career as a lawyer in Alabama was forcing him to miss too many golden changes in their newborn baby. Vincent gave up his law practice and opened a State Farm Insurance agency in Lawton.

“Lawton checked all the boxes for us,” Saylor said. “It has a good school system and plenty of things to do. Community involvement seems to be getting more exciting. Lawton will be our home for the next 40 or 50 years.”

Largest Employers in Lawton, Oklahoma

1. Ft. Sill Active Duty: 7,351
   Armed Forces
2. DA Civilians: 2,853
   Government
3. Goodyear Tire and Rubber: 2,650
   Manufacturer
4. Lawton Public School: 2,500
   Education
5. Comanche County Memorial Hospital: 2,192
   Health Care
6. Government Contractors: 1,623
   Government Contractors
7. City of Lawton: 900
   City
8. Walmart/Sam’s Club: 850
   Retail
9. Cameron University: 800
   Education
10. Southwestern Hospital: 550
    Health Care
11. Serco: 400
    Back Office Data Center
12. Bar S Foods: 350
    Food Processing
13. Great Plains Technology Center: 280
    Education
14. Republic Paper Board: 150
    Manufacturer
15. Silver Line Plastics: 120
    Manufacturer

Home Sweet Home

It’s no wonder new businesses and residents are choosing Lawton-Fort Sill and surrounding communities as their preferred new address. It’s one of the most affordable housing markets in the nation, with homes, apartments and condominiums that suit all tiers of buyers.

“Lawton-Fort Sill is ranked number two in the top 500 markets in the nation for median rental prices according Zillow and Realtor.com,” said Barry Ezerski, managing broker of Pam & Barry’s Team at Re/Max and board member of the Lawton Board of Realtors. “For purchasing a home, we’re ranked in the top four percent as the most affordable.”

Affordability is fueling the economy in a big way.

“Investors are coming in from all over the country and seeking lower dollar houses to fix up, rent or sell,” Ezerski said. “A lot of young folks are coming in and buying or renting, and new construction is very popular among the higher end health care professionals who are moving here because of our top-notch medical facilities.”

Investors are upgrading properties with additions of granite counters, tile floors, upscale fixtures and lighting, filling a niche for younger home buyers.

“Many of those homes are selling to millennials who are waiting longer to buy, but saving enough money to buy homes that are similar the ones they grew up in,” Ezerski said. “They want what mom and pop have and they’re willing to save money to reach that goal instead of purchasing a more traditional starter home.”

Visitors and residents seeking long or short-term rentals will find plentiful choices of houses, condominiums and apartments.

The Winchester Apartments and Pinewood Village Apartments offer spacious units with many amenities.

“Both communities are on the west side of Lawton,” said Cody Zimmerman, supervisor and co-owner of the complexes. “The apartments are well maintained and very affordable, with a host of amenities. The Winchester offers covered parking, a pristine pool and 24-hour emergency maintenance services. It’s close to the new Lawton Market Place, too, which offers a wide range of friendly stores and services, including clothing, home décor, sports supplies and more.”

Zimmerman grew up in the region, which fosters his deep appreciation for all the city has to offer, from arts and culture to outdoor activities and its unique place in American history.

“One of the places we enjoy visiting is the historic Mattie Beal Home,” Zimmerman said. “It’s beautifully preserved and was acquired by the Beal family in the 1901 land lottery. It’s open to the public and serves as a wonderful gathering place for community events as well.” w