Roman Nose State Park Lodge

Five years ago, we were driving back from a relative's 90th Birthday party in Dodge City, when we came upon the most beautiful little Oklahoma State Park outside of Watonga called Roman Nose. We said we would be back someday to stay and it's taken us this long to return.Roman Nose State Park, named after Cheyenne Chief Henry, is one of the original seven Oklahoma State Parks. A former Cheyenne winter camp, the park is set in a beautiful canyon, surrounded by gypsum rock cliffs. Roman Nose boasts a stunning golf course, stables for horseback riding, hiking trails, WPA buildings, an enormous spring fed swimming pool and two spring fed trout stocked lakes.The Lodge, originally constructed in 1956, was renovated in 2010 to reflect the natural landscape of the surrounding area and it is gorgeous. It has a Frank Lloyd Wright feel to it. There are 22 rooms and it has its own swimming pool. There's a gift shop inside and a wall full of Oklahoma travel brochures in the lobby. There are a few snacks and beverages at the desk.The park also has Cabins, Tee Pees and other camping areas as well as a General Store that handles horse, canoe, kayak, and paddleboat rentals in addition to feeding people with a wonderful restaurant!It's a long walk from the drop off point of the parking lot to the actual doors, across the wide lobby, and down the hall to any of the rooms. After checking in, which was seamless, we chose one of hotel style luggage carts and took it all the way outside. From there, it was simply no problem; but there is no one to help you with your luggage. You are on own as far as I could tell.We had secured our Lakeside King room online using a Senior discount. If you stay on a Friday or a Saturday, you have to stay both nights; but we were staying a Sunday. The Lodge is simply stunning. So much interior wood and rock and historic photos. We found everything to be very clean which was wonderful.I would say the pool was the highlight really. We were out there for an hour or so and had this great big beautiful pool all to ourselves. Sundays are slow apparently. It was a lovely setting with towels thoughtfully provided at poolside. Perfect. We were prepared for no microwave and found a community microwave out in a hallway alcove. With only a few people staying there on Sunday, I was okay with it; but really would have preferred one in our room.We slept well. There's a ceiling fan and room darkening blinds. We were very comfortable.We did discover the next morning that the coffee maker didn't work. It wasn't a big deal as there was fresh coffee on a utility cart out in the hallway. We had missed a continental breakfast from 6 - 9. Probably our loss. The description from the desk had sounded pretty yummy; but we slept in.There is a closed restaurant where the communal living room with fireplace and deck entrance used to be. Honestly, that was disappointing to see; but we were allowed deck access through a large meeting room. The view from the deck is terrific. A sweet place for coffee, unfortunately the umbrellas aren't up. Still, the tables and chairs are in use.We checked out and drove up canyon to the General Store for lunch. I've reviewed that, too. Scrumptious burgers! We love this park and the Lodge! It's an Oklahoma treasure.https://www.travelok.com/state-parks/roman-nose-state-park

Literally the best my mom and my moms best friend works there 10/10Def recommend anyone in watonga to come up

Absolutely fantastic food, ambiance, and service! The restaurant looked new, had a lot of menu options and the staff was very knowledgeable. Kudos to Brooklyn for recommending the best chicken sandwich I've had in years! I plan to be back in a few weeks to try a few more options...and the pizza!

With so many great state parks, our family has decided to get out there and enjoy them. We stared with Roman Nose State Park, as it is a quick drive from OKC and it has and on-site hotel with the Lodge. Book online through the Oklahoma tourism site; they request that you book two days, and you once you are there you will want to book more. We have a 4 year-old, so camping must involve electricity and plumbing. More on the actual park in a separate review on the park, but the location is just down the hill from the golf course. The lobby is cheerful and Covid protocols are followed. Check in was easy. The rooms are lovely, wifi, TV, lots of storage, and a view of the park. We had a queen with a twin in the room. Good for sleeping 3. We ate at the Foggy Bottom cafe for dinner on both nights. Dinner is where this place shines. They great you with apple fritters. I had the catfish dinner on night one; the hubby had the burger. Both were very good and filling. The 4 year-old had chicken nuggets (made from white meat tenders) and fries both nights. Night two, the hubby had the prime rib and I had the bone in pork chop. The chop was the winner...thick, and juicy. Amazing. The hubby was having dinner envy. We finished the evening with ice cream. Vanilla and Huckleberry...(sans Val Kilmer). Friendly staff, but a bit under experience or overwhelmed. I would not eat breakfast here again. The 4 year-old loved her scramble and pancakes... the pancakes were very good. But the big issue was the service. I ordered, then I ordered for the 4 year-old, and then hubby ordered (he and I ordered the same thing)... only 4 year-old and hubby received food. Minutes dragged on... the waiter thought we ordered only one breakfast between hubby and I. It took another forever to get my breakfast, which was nothing like the description and lacked any and all flavor. We had better luck at the daylight donuts in Watonga. The room has a mini fridge, good for water, fruit and a quick meal to be stored for hiking and picnicking. However, there is no microwave in the room... odd? The pool is not heated (not a complaint, just a fact). The playground is pretty nice. Overall, nice rooms, good location in the park, good dinner option, the rate was reasonable and we enjoyed the overall experience so much we can't wait to come back. I would like to see a fire pit (safely done) in the back area by the pool or something for gathering in the evening or early coffee outside.

The lodge is a nice building with literal lodge rooms inside. There is a small gift shop and I spent too much money there (LOL). They have tons of brochures abs books about travel in Oklahoma. There were chairs and couches to sit in, a nice restaurant, a help desk, etc. I definitely would enjoy coming and staying here

Not the best service at the restaurant but a amazing park and hiking trails and springs but the food service isn't the best

The first time we were here at Foggy Bottom here at the Lodge the menu was really disappointing, this time I am really pleased at the selection. They have rally expanded the selection and the food is much improved as well

I went here a ton growing up. Very pretty and affordable.

Oklahoma State Parks need to get their act together. This is a jewel of a park that has gone through renovations and it looks lovely but the infrastructure is a mess. The staff is trying their best to compensate for broken air conditioning in the lodge, tepid water NOT HOT in the showers, bugs (centipede in the restaurant, ants and scorpions in the bathrooms) and the service in the restaurant is awful. The wait staff are trying and are pleasant but the kitchen is a mess. Took 2 hour to get a hamburger. We also rented the Turkey Roost dining hall for a large family reunion. Apparently the AC went out two weeks prior to our event and we weren't told. They brought in fans and a portable unit only because we made a polite but insistent request that the contract we signed was for air conditioned space. I don't know what you are doing with all your casino revenue but out some money and management back into your state parks.

First, I want to point out that the staff at the lodge were all courteous, kind, and helpful. They did as much as they could with the limited resources they had. They had packaged bagels and toaster waffles available for breakfast. That's were the food options ended. If you are going for a whole lodge experience, then stop. Your food options are a mile drive to the local bait shop where food is available or a 14-mile round trip drive into Watonga for convenient store sandwiches or Sonic drive in. It's hard to understand why a restaurant dining room is locked up and a completely equipped kitchen isn't being used. You can't blame not having employees available because a full functioning staff was just laid off.