With nearly 90,000 individual votes cast in the 2014 Best of Chickasaw Country poll, supporters for some of south-central Oklahoma’s most prominent tourism destinations have made their opinions known. Officials with Chickasaw Country today announced the winners in 12 categories for this year’s fan-based, two-phase poll.
Paige Williams, director of tourism for the Chickasaw Nation Department of Commerce, said there was a 300-percent increase in voting compared to last year’s vote count of close to 30,000. She counts the increase as a positive indicator that awareness of Chickasaw Country as a travel destination is growing.
“There are many factors that contributed to the significant vote increase,” said Williams. “We have focused heavily on growing our footprint not only among the communities within Chickasaw Country but also in digital communities that exist online to show tourists the depth and quality of attractions, restaurants and festivals this region has to offer. This strategic tourism initiative has been met with immeasurable support from business owners as well as many chambers of commerce all working together to enhance the local economies across south-central Oklahoma.”
2014 Best of Chickasaw Country Winners include*:
Best Attraction
Bedré Fine Chocolate – Davis (Murray-34%)
Best Barbecue
Pigskins BBQ – Ada (Pontotoc-39%)
Best Boutique
Prairie Rose Gifts & Collectibles – Duncan (Stephens-34%)
Best Casino
Newcastle Casino – Newcastle (McClain-39%)
Best Family-Friendly Venue
Lazer Zone Family Fun Center – Ada (Pontotoc-38%)
Best Festival
Okie Noodling Festival – Pauls Valley (Garvin-27%)
Best Golf Course
WinStar Golf Course – Thackerville (Love County-36%)
Best Lake
Lake Texoma – Kingston (Marshall-34%)
Best Live Performance Venue
Arbuckle Ballroom – Davis (Murray-31%)
Best Lodging
Artesian Hotel – Sulphur (Murray-58%)
Best Museum
Chickasaw Cultural Center – Sulphur (Murray-38%)
Best Overall Dining
Fork Café – Pocasset (Grady-30%)
The 2014 Best of Chickasaw Country poll began in early January with a nominations phase that was followed by a voting phase, which ended February 25. Votes were cast on www.ChickasawCountry.com as well as the organization’s Facebook page – facebook.com/ChickasawCountry.
In 2014, nearly 50 Oklahoma-owned businesses and attractions were represented across 12 categories. Visit ChickasawCountry.com for a full list of 2014 winners and nominees.
