5 Reasons to Explore Guthrie, OK with Kids | What to See & Do

Guthrie is a unique, very small town that is surrounded by history.

It is THE ONE and only suburb of OKC that will not, and cannot become a cookie-cutter replica of all the other suburbs with chain restaurants and big-box stores.

The heart of the town, the downtown district, is protected historically and the town has made provisions to keep it exactly the way it is and has been since the early 1900s.

The Victorian architecture, quaint antique stores, mom & pop shops,  and small-town feel give Guthrie a kind of magic I have not experienced anywhere else.

If you have not traveled north on I-35 to this hidden gem yet I am going to give you five REALLY good reasons why you should give Guthrie a go.

Beacon Drive In Theater 

This quickly became one of our family favorites in Guthrie. At one point in Oklahoma there were over 100 drive-in theaters, and over time, the Beacon is hanging on as one of only five remaining in Oklahoma today. Run by the Powell’s who have had the Beacon in their family for four generations, it is truly a unique family experience. So on a warm summer night or crisp fall evening, load the kids up in their pajamas and head on over to the Beacon in Guthrie. Make sure to bring cash!                           

Guthrie Downtown District

Guthrie’s downtown district is a step back in time, with over 2,000 historically preserved buildings that were built in the 1890s and early 1900s, and are filled with antique shops, delicious family-owned restaurants, the Pollard Theater, and mom & pop shops galore. I love taking my in-laws from Georgia downtown and just spending the day shopping and eating.

It is so difficult to choose because there are so many great choices in downtown, but I will say I tend to gravitate towards these downtown gems: Stacy’s Place (the fried green tomatoes are to die for), Boom-a-Rang Diner (breakfast all day is my jam), Boutique 206 (super cute clothes), Guthrie Bicycles (the owner Kent is so nice and extremely knowledgeable), & Rick’s Fine Chocolates (the mocha is dangerously delicious).

In the summertime, downtown hosts Red Brick Nights, which is quickly becoming my Guthrie favorite with food trucks, a kids area, and fantastic music, including Guthrie’s hometown favorites the Byron Berline Band.

Downtown Guthrie

Guthrie’s Territorial Christmas

Talk about a town taking full advantage of the history and magic of the Holidays. During the Territorial celebrations, Guthrie has a tree lighting ceremony, a lighted parade, and the entire downtown is transformed back to the Victorian era. The costumes and people are extremely fun and entertaining. This is one event that the entire town comes out to get involved with the fun! Definitely check the website for the many seasonal events during the Holidays. 

Guthrie 89er Celebration

This is by far my kids’ most favorite Guthrie event. Every April in Guthrie, we celebrate the birth of our State from the first land run on April 22, 1889. The downtown is transformed with a carnival, chuck wagon feed, food trucks, parade, and sideshows depicting life in Oklahoma from 1889. This celebration has been held in Guthrie since the first year after the land run, so to say that it is steeped in history is barely doing it justice. This is a fantastic event to bring the whole family out for.          

My little man enjoying 89er days.

The Guthrie Dominion House

I most definitely saved the best for last! Dominion House is a wedding/events venue, boutique hotel, has a gourmet restaurant (602 Bistro), and is a historical staple to the Guthrie backdrop. The Dominion house was built by the Freemasons in the 1920s to serve as a children’s orphanage, hosting over a hundred children in its early days. The facility included a large gym and a swimming pool. It closed as an orphanage in the late ’70s and laid dormant for many years before being bought, completely renovated, and ultimately transformed into the gem it is today. If you are looking for a romantic getaway or a girls weekend I would absolutely suggest you try the Dominion House. It is such a gorgeous property that offers a luxurious getaway close to the metro. They even offer igloo dining on the property in the Winter!                                

Dominion House
Dominion House

Guthrie is one of the best-kept little secrets left in this state, and I felt it was my obligation to fill you all in. So if you’re looking to entertain people from out of town, or looking for a weekend getaway, you should definitely look North towards good old Guthrie. It is a historical gem, and I feel so lucky to be a part of this amazing community. 

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katyjohnson
I was born and raised in Edmond, OK and after high school I attended NSU in Tahlequah where I majored in broadcast journalism. I met my husband Will while in school and we moved to his home town of Tulsa to begin our family where we resided for 8 years. We were relocated back to OKC about 3 years ago and while I really miss my Tulsa friends, I absolutely LOVE being home. We have 3 crazy, super loud, extremely fun kiddos ages 8, 6, and 4. My kids are my everything and I could have never anticipated the roller coaster of chaos that is my life now. We live on 5 acres in Guthrie and I am terrified and also very excited for this next chapter in our lives. My favorite things are spending time with family & friends, music, going to the lake, reading, gardening, cherry blow pops, Dr. pepper, crafting, cleaning, and fireworks. We are trying to raise our kids to be kind, loving, respectful human beings and to truly understand that no two humans are the same and to love people for who they are. I am very excited to share my sweet yet crazy family with you and connect with other moms!

8 COMMENTS

  1. Awesome! When you’re in town again, let us know we would love to see you in a GuthrieAmerica tee. We are GuthrieAmerica across all social platforms. #ChooseGuthrie

    • Thank you Heady! I have seen the shirts and follow the Guthrie America Instagram! ? We absolutely love this community and I am happy to support it in any way possible. I’m pretty sure we have a mutual friend (Mr. Jeff Ball), so I will make sure to ask him where to get a shirt!
      Thank you for reading & commenting. ?

    • Thank you for reading Debbie. ?
      Magical is the perfect word to describe our little town. I have been so impressed with Guthrie since moving here and can not wait to learn more. The community and people in it truly make it a special place for me so far. ?

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