Sometimes it’s nice to leave the polished, air-conditioned office for a few days to unwind in the natural beauty of the outdoors. But for some, the idea of swatting mosquitos out of a tent and digging holes to do their business makes camping seem less exciting.
Thankfully for places like Broken Bow, Oklahoma, there’s plenty of options for those looking to trek the great outdoors without having to give up comfortable amenities. About a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Fort Worth, Broken Bow offers the classic camping experience: hiking, boating, fishing – all the good stuff. Broken Bow Lake, perhaps the area’s claim to fame, has 22 miles of seemingly endless clear water framed by the stunning cliffs of the Ouachita Mountains.
And the best part is, you get to go home to a gorgeous cabin, take an actual shower and sleep on an actual bed. Here are five cabins that offer travelers luxury accommodations in the middle of the woods.
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The Grand Lodge
The Grand Lodge, by Broken Bow Vacation Cabins
brokenbowvacationcabins.com
One of Broken Bow’s newest cabins is The Grand Lodge, built just this year. The single-story, four-bedroom and four-bath cabin, with memory foam king beds in every room, is made especially for small corporate retreats, family reunions and other group trips. The kitchen, designed with a granite island and custom-painted soft touch cabinets, is decked out with stainless steel appliances. On the days you need a rest, the cabin sports plenty of indoor games like shuffleboard and 5-foot-tall giant Jenga. Outside, the 1,500-square-foot covered deck features a hot tub, fireplace and 55-inch TV. It all sits less than two minutes from Hochatown, a community known for famed Broken Bow restaurants like Grateful Head (pizza), The Blue Rooster (southern) and Abendigos (American).
Hidden Acres
Hidden Acres Cabin, by Hidden Hills Cabins
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The stately Hidden Acres Cabin features a modern design inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright – 24-foot-high, 55-foot-wide glass windows stretch from top to bottom, giving visitors a panoramic view of the surrounding wildlife. Inside, the cabin holds five bedrooms and three full baths, along with an optional bunk house that has two sets of bunk beds and an additional bath if you need it. On the days you don’t feel like cooking over a fire, a full kitchen is outfitted with stainless Bosch appliances. Outside, a 1,300-square-foot covered deck includes a hot tub and wood-burning fireplace. The cabin also borders an open meadow for outdoor activities and connects to the Ouachita National Forest trails.
Nature House
Nature House, by Creative
Escapes
beaversbendcreativeescape.com
For an outdoorsy experience with a modern vibe, Creative Escapes’ Nature House stands out with its contemporary architecture, characterized by a steep, sloped roof that deviates from the traditional cabin designs in Broken Bow. Still, the wood-paneled interior retains the house’s cabin-esque vibe. And while the inside has board games, DVDs and cable TVs, Nature House gives guests plenty of reasons to chill outside – an outdoor deck, fire pits, eight-person hot tub and playground for the kiddos.
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Majestic Mountain Lodge
Majestic Mountain Lodge, by Beavers Bend Luxury Cabin Rentals
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The Majestic Mountain Lodge is what Beavers Bend Luxury Cabin Rentals calls its “crown jewel,” just minutes from the main entrance of Broken Bow Lake. The cabin boasts floor-to-ceiling windows and individual sound systems in the living room and bedrooms so you can play music from your phone via Bluetooth. The exterior features an upstairs balcony and downstairs covered deck, along with a beautiful breezeway that also acts as a seating area. If you’re planning a trip for a large party, this two-story cabin can sleep up to 28 people.
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Iron Horse Lodge
Iron Horse Lodge, by Blue Beaver Luxury Cabins
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Blue Beaver offers cabins ranging between one to six bedrooms, one of the largest being the six-bedroom, five-bath Iron Horse Lodge. The cabin has a full kitchen, which can be stocked with your favorite grocery items, flowers, chocolates or wine if you ask in advance. There’s also an outdoor fire pit for roasting marshmallows in the evening. Then after dinner, you can relax on the covered back porch and listen to the sounds of the forest – all while sitting in a hot tub. If you’re sore from hiking all day, in-cabin massages can also be purchased separately.