Attractions » Monkey Island – Grand Lake’s Playground
If you are looking for the #1 place to have fun at Grand Lake, then look no further than Monkey Island.
Centrally located between the commercial hub of Grove and the wide-open, deep boating waters of South Grand Lake, Monkey Island has a perfect mix of resort amenities, lake access, and bars and restaurants to help you make the most of your Grand Lake Living!
The luxury Shangri-La Golf Club, Resort, Marina, and Conference Center is absolutely the centerpiece of Monkey Island, and for good reason.
With 27 holes of championship golf, plus other amenities such as a resort hotel & conference center, private fine dining, a resort pool with aquatic slide, pool and lakefront dining, a full-service marina including boat rentals, spa, and fitness center, plus a fantastic and all-new Activity Park featuring tennis, pickleball, a whiffle ballpark, and more – Shangri-La has what you need to make the most of your time at Grand Lake.
But that just gets you started, as Monkey Island has so much more.
Monkey Island has an active and engaged group of residents who work non-stop to improve the quality of life for both full-time residents and visitors.
One of the most popular features is the recently completed Monkey Island Trail (built with ALL donated funds), a 5-mile paved walking and riding trail that follows along Highway 125 and connects Tera Miranda Resort to Shangri-La, and all of the bars, restaurants, and amenities in between.
It’s a community and amenities like this that make Monkey Island truly special.
But, if you’ve landed on this page, you are likely looking for a little more information on Monkey Island. Below you will find some featured places to stay and eat.
Of course, the Shangri-La Resort and Conference Center is the headliner here.
This beautiful full-service resort and conference center is the only one of its kind on Grand Lake.
Besides the hotel, there are several great vacation rentals on Monkey Island. Here is a rundown of several featured properties and places to stay for your Monkey Island getaway.
Featured attractions and things to do in the Grand Lake area.
The GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center, located at the West end of the Pensacola Dam in Langley, OK., is dedicated to greater ecosystems and lake management and education in Northeast Oklahoma.
And it is the home of the FREE Pensacola Dam tours every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Update – No Dam Tours in 2020 due to Covid-19
The Ecosystems & Education Center is the home to the offices for GRDA permits, where people can find and submit applications for any kind of dock, event or construction permits that may be needed.
And the central location of the GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center provides a perfect location for the GRDA Police & Lake Patrol to headquarter throughout the busy lake season with easy access to both Grand Lake & Lake Hudson.
While the public benefits in many ways from this beautiful facility in Langley, ultimately it’s the Grand River Dam Authority who gets to use the Ecosystems & Education Center on a daily basis as a management tool for the entire Grand Lake region.
The facility is open year-round to the public with information on Grand Lake, Lake Hudson and the surrounding area of Northeastern Oklahoma.
If you’ve ever wanted to ride in a helicopter, then you don’t want to miss a fun flight on one of our helicopter rides around Grand Lake and Northeast Oklahoma. There are several tour options to choose from.
You could choose a helicopter tour that takes you over the dam, where you’ll see beautiful views of the water from above, or take a private tour all the way to Chief’s stadium or an ATV track for a thrilling ride. Our pilots help you customize a tour experience that fits the vibe of your visit to Oklahoma.
With private tours this easy to customize at a cost most can easily afford, you don’t want to miss out on elevating your Grand Lake experience. Check out our list of air tours on our website at https://flygrandlakehelicopter.com/ to choose your favorite or customize your own experience for one of the best helicopter rides over Grand Lake.
Har-Ber Village Museum, located along the shores of Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma, is the site of a pioneer-era village and history museum of over 100 exhibits displayed inside authentic log cabins and reproduction buildings.
You can experience the history and ecology of the Grand Lake area through self-guided tours, which includes a walk through the grounds with several historic buildings include a relocated schoolhouse, jail, and 16 log cabins.
The museum has an active calendar of special events throughout the year for local residents and visitors alike.
Har-Ber Village also includes a nature trail, cafe, and an events center that regularly hosts community events.
Your best bet to make sure you have the current hours, locate the museum and find the latest on any events taking place is to visit the Har-Ber Village website HERE.
Lendonwood Gardens is an eight-acre botanical garden near Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma.
Shady pathways meander through more than 1,200 different types of plants, including an amazing collection of rhododendrons, many varieties of daylilies, and several varieties of dogwoods.
Lendonwood is home to the Oklahoma Garden, featuring “Oklahoma Proven” plantings as identified by Oklahoma State University. These are plants that thrive in our unpredictable climate.
The garden is open year around during daylight hours with maps and information for self-guided tours are available inside the entrance at the gatehouse.
Lendonwood’s Welcome Center and Gift Shop is open seasonally Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Zena Suri Alpacas is located near the shores of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, in far northeastern Oklahoma, on 78 peaceful acres.
Make plans to come and visit, hand feed, and pet. Check out our yarn and roving sale. Find out why alpaca is one of the most wonderful fibers in the world!
We pride ourselves in raising Suri alpacas that produce fine, lustrous fleece while being easy to handle. Our goal is to continually provide customers with a wide selection of outstanding full Peruvian genetics in an assortment of beautiful colors.
Please call before coming. Our phone number is 804-389-2579.
We do require masks in enclosed areas and reservations for both the tour and the store, but we can often arrange these on the same day and even at your preferred time.
Pensacola Dam, which holds back the waters of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee, is truly one of the most impressive sites in Oklahoma.
State Hwy 28 runs across Pensacola Dam from Langley on the west end to Disney, which is actually an island community, at the east end of the Dam.
Further east, through Disney, are two more flood-control spillways, which create Disney Island.
Pensacola Dam is open daily for FREE Tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day (Update, due to Covid-19, there are no Dam Tours in 2020) from 9 am to 4 pm and you can also schedule tours throughout the year with groups of 10 or more by calling 918-782-4726.
The GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center is located at the west end of the dam in Langley and is open year-round for all of your Grand Lake area information.
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park is located on the northwestern corner of Grand Lake in the small town of Bernice.
The 88-acre park area boasts 150 primitive tent sites and 33 RV sites with water and 50 amp electric hookups. There are also two comfort stations with hot showers located on either side of the park. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park, and there is one covered shelter.
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park also offers several activities for kids of all ages. With two playgrounds, a swimming beach, a nature center, a wildlife feeding area, and two wildlife watchtowers, the whole family is certain to find something to enjoy. The park also features one mile paved walking and jogging path that is handicapped accessible.
If you are going to be spending some time on Monkey Island, chances are you are going to stay busy.
Whether you will stay booked up with a tee-time at Shangri-La, or want to rent a boat, maybe do a little shopping, stock up on groceries, go hang out at The Anchor – there are plenty of options.
Here are a few:
Featured attractions and things to do in the Grand Lake area.
The GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center, located at the West end of the Pensacola Dam in Langley, OK., is dedicated to greater ecosystems and lake management and education in Northeast Oklahoma.
And it is the home of the FREE Pensacola Dam tours every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Update – No Dam Tours in 2020 due to Covid-19
The Ecosystems & Education Center is the home to the offices for GRDA permits, where people can find and submit applications for any kind of dock, event or construction permits that may be needed.
And the central location of the GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center provides a perfect location for the GRDA Police & Lake Patrol to headquarter throughout the busy lake season with easy access to both Grand Lake & Lake Hudson.
While the public benefits in many ways from this beautiful facility in Langley, ultimately it’s the Grand River Dam Authority who gets to use the Ecosystems & Education Center on a daily basis as a management tool for the entire Grand Lake region.
The facility is open year-round to the public with information on Grand Lake, Lake Hudson and the surrounding area of Northeastern Oklahoma.
If you’ve ever wanted to ride in a helicopter, then you don’t want to miss a fun flight on one of our helicopter rides around Grand Lake and Northeast Oklahoma. There are several tour options to choose from.
You could choose a helicopter tour that takes you over the dam, where you’ll see beautiful views of the water from above, or take a private tour all the way to Chief’s stadium or an ATV track for a thrilling ride. Our pilots help you customize a tour experience that fits the vibe of your visit to Oklahoma.
With private tours this easy to customize at a cost most can easily afford, you don’t want to miss out on elevating your Grand Lake experience. Check out our list of air tours on our website at https://flygrandlakehelicopter.com/ to choose your favorite or customize your own experience for one of the best helicopter rides over Grand Lake.
Har-Ber Village Museum, located along the shores of Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma, is the site of a pioneer-era village and history museum of over 100 exhibits displayed inside authentic log cabins and reproduction buildings.
You can experience the history and ecology of the Grand Lake area through self-guided tours, which includes a walk through the grounds with several historic buildings include a relocated schoolhouse, jail, and 16 log cabins.
The museum has an active calendar of special events throughout the year for local residents and visitors alike.
Har-Ber Village also includes a nature trail, cafe, and an events center that regularly hosts community events.
Your best bet to make sure you have the current hours, locate the museum and find the latest on any events taking place is to visit the Har-Ber Village website HERE.
Lendonwood Gardens is an eight-acre botanical garden near Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma.
Shady pathways meander through more than 1,200 different types of plants, including an amazing collection of rhododendrons, many varieties of daylilies, and several varieties of dogwoods.
Lendonwood is home to the Oklahoma Garden, featuring “Oklahoma Proven” plantings as identified by Oklahoma State University. These are plants that thrive in our unpredictable climate.
The garden is open year around during daylight hours with maps and information for self-guided tours are available inside the entrance at the gatehouse.
Lendonwood’s Welcome Center and Gift Shop is open seasonally Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Zena Suri Alpacas is located near the shores of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, in far northeastern Oklahoma, on 78 peaceful acres.
Make plans to come and visit, hand feed, and pet. Check out our yarn and roving sale. Find out why alpaca is one of the most wonderful fibers in the world!
We pride ourselves in raising Suri alpacas that produce fine, lustrous fleece while being easy to handle. Our goal is to continually provide customers with a wide selection of outstanding full Peruvian genetics in an assortment of beautiful colors.
Please call before coming. Our phone number is 804-389-2579.
We do require masks in enclosed areas and reservations for both the tour and the store, but we can often arrange these on the same day and even at your preferred time.
Pensacola Dam, which holds back the waters of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee, is truly one of the most impressive sites in Oklahoma.
State Hwy 28 runs across Pensacola Dam from Langley on the west end to Disney, which is actually an island community, at the east end of the Dam.
Further east, through Disney, are two more flood-control spillways, which create Disney Island.
Pensacola Dam is open daily for FREE Tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day (Update, due to Covid-19, there are no Dam Tours in 2020) from 9 am to 4 pm and you can also schedule tours throughout the year with groups of 10 or more by calling 918-782-4726.
The GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center is located at the west end of the dam in Langley and is open year-round for all of your Grand Lake area information.
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park is located on the northwestern corner of Grand Lake in the small town of Bernice.
The 88-acre park area boasts 150 primitive tent sites and 33 RV sites with water and 50 amp electric hookups. There are also two comfort stations with hot showers located on either side of the park. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park, and there is one covered shelter.
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park also offers several activities for kids of all ages. With two playgrounds, a swimming beach, a nature center, a wildlife feeding area, and two wildlife watchtowers, the whole family is certain to find something to enjoy. The park also features one mile paved walking and jogging path that is handicapped accessible.
The GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center, located at the West end of the Pensacola Dam in Langley, OK., is dedicated to greater ecosystems and lake management and education in Northeast Oklahoma.
And it is the home of the FREE Pensacola Dam tours every summer from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Update – No Dam Tours in 2020 due to Covid-19
The Ecosystems & Education Center is the home to the offices for GRDA permits, where people can find and submit applications for any kind of dock, event or construction permits that may be needed.
And the central location of the GRDA Ecosystems & Education Center provides a perfect location for the GRDA Police & Lake Patrol to headquarter throughout the busy lake season with easy access to both Grand Lake & Lake Hudson.
While the public benefits in many ways from this beautiful facility in Langley, ultimately it’s the Grand River Dam Authority who gets to use the Ecosystems & Education Center on a daily basis as a management tool for the entire Grand Lake region.
The facility is open year-round to the public with information on Grand Lake, Lake Hudson and the surrounding area of Northeastern Oklahoma.
If you’ve ever wanted to ride in a helicopter, then you don’t want to miss a fun flight on one of our helicopter rides around Grand Lake and Northeast Oklahoma. There are several tour options to choose from.
You could choose a helicopter tour that takes you over the dam, where you’ll see beautiful views of the water from above, or take a private tour all the way to Chief’s stadium or an ATV track for a thrilling ride. Our pilots help you customize a tour experience that fits the vibe of your visit to Oklahoma.
With private tours this easy to customize at a cost most can easily afford, you don’t want to miss out on elevating your Grand Lake experience. Check out our list of air tours on our website at https://flygrandlakehelicopter.com/ to choose your favorite or customize your own experience for one of the best helicopter rides over Grand Lake.
Har-Ber Village Museum, located along the shores of Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma, is the site of a pioneer-era village and history museum of over 100 exhibits displayed inside authentic log cabins and reproduction buildings.
You can experience the history and ecology of the Grand Lake area through self-guided tours, which includes a walk through the grounds with several historic buildings include a relocated schoolhouse, jail, and 16 log cabins.
The museum has an active calendar of special events throughout the year for local residents and visitors alike.
Har-Ber Village also includes a nature trail, cafe, and an events center that regularly hosts community events.
Your best bet to make sure you have the current hours, locate the museum and find the latest on any events taking place is to visit the Har-Ber Village website HERE.
Lendonwood Gardens is an eight-acre botanical garden near Grand Lake in northeastern Oklahoma.
Shady pathways meander through more than 1,200 different types of plants, including an amazing collection of rhododendrons, many varieties of daylilies, and several varieties of dogwoods.
Lendonwood is home to the Oklahoma Garden, featuring “Oklahoma Proven” plantings as identified by Oklahoma State University. These are plants that thrive in our unpredictable climate.
The garden is open year around during daylight hours with maps and information for self-guided tours are available inside the entrance at the gatehouse.
Lendonwood’s Welcome Center and Gift Shop is open seasonally Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Zena Suri Alpacas is located near the shores of Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, in far northeastern Oklahoma, on 78 peaceful acres.
Make plans to come and visit, hand feed, and pet. Check out our yarn and roving sale. Find out why alpaca is one of the most wonderful fibers in the world!
We pride ourselves in raising Suri alpacas that produce fine, lustrous fleece while being easy to handle. Our goal is to continually provide customers with a wide selection of outstanding full Peruvian genetics in an assortment of beautiful colors.
Please call before coming. Our phone number is 804-389-2579.
We do require masks in enclosed areas and reservations for both the tour and the store, but we can often arrange these on the same day and even at your preferred time.
Pensacola Dam, which holds back the waters of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee, is truly one of the most impressive sites in Oklahoma.
State Hwy 28 runs across Pensacola Dam from Langley on the west end to Disney, which is actually an island community, at the east end of the Dam.
Further east, through Disney, are two more flood-control spillways, which create Disney Island.
Pensacola Dam is open daily for FREE Tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day (Update, due to Covid-19, there are no Dam Tours in 2020) from 9 am to 4 pm and you can also schedule tours throughout the year with groups of 10 or more by calling 918-782-4726.
The GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center is located at the west end of the dam in Langley and is open year-round for all of your Grand Lake area information.
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park is located on the northwestern corner of Grand Lake in the small town of Bernice.
The 88-acre park area boasts 150 primitive tent sites and 33 RV sites with water and 50 amp electric hookups. There are also two comfort stations with hot showers located on either side of the park. Picnic areas are scattered throughout the park, and there is one covered shelter.
Bernice Area at Grand Lake State Park also offers several activities for kids of all ages. With two playgrounds, a swimming beach, a nature center, a wildlife feeding area, and two wildlife watchtowers, the whole family is certain to find something to enjoy. The park also features one mile paved walking and jogging path that is handicapped accessible.
Besides these great options, there are a handful of other popular places to eat.
Bailey’s Bistro and Chickanellas are both great breakfast and lunch options on the island while The Road Hog, located at Littlefield’s Corner at the entrance to Monkey Island has great BBQ. And The Shebang has been serving great food and fun to Monkey Islanders for years.
Monkey Island is also popular for its nightlife, with places like the Blind Swine, Big Shots, and Monkey Island Pub offering live music and dancing most weekend nights.
Where did the name Monkey Island come from?
Not an island at all, actually a 6-mile-long peninsula into Grand Lake, there have been a lot of stories about how Monkey Island got its name but one thing remains true… there have been no real monkeys on the island. Well, maybe some pets and some folks acting like monkeys, but that’s about it.
Anyway, the story goes that some folks from the Bernice area had gone to the Tulsa Zoo about the time the Pensacola Dam was being built and the lake was getting ready to be formed, and they had themselves a fine Sunday that included watching and feeding the monkeys, who were all kept on a small island with a moat around it.
Soon after, a reporter from the Tulsa World came through the Bernice area to do a story on the changes that the lake would bring, and these folks pointed towards what would become known as Monkey Island and said something to the effect of “over there will be Monkey Island, that’s where the monkeys will be kept”.
That story was printed in the Tulsa World a few days later, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Monkey Island is a hub of activity, from golf, fishing, and boating on Grand Lake, to great dining and a happening live music scene.
Whether you are looking to buy a boat, do some fishing, enjoy some great food and fun, or you just want a quiet getaway – for a weekend or a lifetime – you can do that at Monkey Island.
