Buffalo Springs

Buffalo Springs is one of the historic spring sites in the Platt District of Chickasaw National Recreation Area at Sulphur. The spring and its surrounding trails belong to the older landscape of Platt National Park, where mineral and freshwater springs were central to the area's identity as a health resort and federal recreation destination. The setting combines natural water features with designed park elements created during the early twentieth century and New Deal era. Stonework, shaded paths, bridges and picnic areas help show how the National Park Service and Civilian Conservation Corps shaped the landscape while trying to retain a natural appearance. The spring itself is less dramatic than a waterfall, but it is part of the hydrological system that gives the park its lush character. Buffalo Springs is best visited as one stop on a longer walk through the historic district. Nearby Travertine Creek, Antelope Springs and Little Niagara reveal different expressions of the same spring-fed environment. Together, these sites explain why Sulphur developed around water and why this compact corner of Oklahoma received federal protection so early in the state's history.