Welcome to South Grand Lake, a popular part of Oklahoma’s Grand Lake with a bustling population of full-time and part-time homeowners enjoying the lake living lifestyle just an hour Northeast of Tulsa.
Looking for something in particular? Go ahead and hit these links to jump to information about:
- Where to Eat in the South Grand Lake area
- Shopping and Services around South Grand Lake
- Where to Stay around South Grand Lake
The South Grand Lake area is generally acknowledged to include the Duck Creek arm of the lake on the north and working to the Southwest along the lake through the communities of Ketchum and Langley, then wrapping across the Pensacola Dam to the Town of Disney and on to the Drowning Creek arm of the lake on the south and east.
Speaking of the Pensacola Dam, it is certainly the #1 attraction of the area, as it is the longest multiple-arch dam in the World and attracts visitors from around the globe every single year.
Plus, the area below the dam, and the additional spillways just to the east, have become a playground for off-road enthusiasts, eagle watching, fishing, and more.
Typically, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, tours of the dam are available through the GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center in Langley. Those tours, however, must be by appointment.
With its natural beauty, friendly atmosphere, beautiful lakefront homes, great fishing, and wide lake and deep channel for some of the best boating in the country, plus the easy access to Tulsa, South Grand Lake has become a community of its own.
Whether you’re here for a day trip or a longer stay, there’s plenty to do and see. You’ll find great spots to eat with views of the lake, unique shops, and marinas for all your boating needs.
Looking for a place to stay? We’ve got you covered there as well, especially with some great South Grand Lake vacation rentals.
So, on this page I hope to share some of the best of what the South Grand Lake area has to offer – let’s explore!
The Communities of South Grand Lake
The South Grand Lake area covers a lot of real estate, but there are a handful of communities where the majority of the places to eat, shops, and services can be found.
Duck Creek and Cleora
The Duck Creek arm of Grand Lake is generally the busiest cove on the lake as it is lined with private homes and docks, but is also home to 4 of the largest marinas on the lake: Arrowhead and Cherokee Yacht Clubs and Marinas, Safe Harbor Harbors View Marina, and Ugly John’s Thunder Bay.
It’s also home to the legendary Duck Creek Fireworks every 4th of July.
Cleora is the community – although unincorporated at this time – that is at the back of Duck Creek. There has been an uptick in activity in the Cleora area with a new retail center set to have tenants start opening in early 2024.
Ketchum
Ketchum is home to THE High School of the South Grand Lake region, attracting students from throughout the area.
The town, along with Langley, is really the retail hub of the area, with several restaurants, a couple of convenience stores, and other retail shops and services.
Langley
The Town of Langley, at the west end of the Pensacola Dam, is the retail hub of the South Grand Lake area, thanks to the presence of Reasor’s Grocery Store.
Langley also has several restaurants, a couple of hardware stores, boutiques, and a growing number of vacation rentals right in town.
Disney
Located on the east end of the Pensacola Dam, Disney has so much going on that it has its own page on this website.
Disney is a destination for visitors from throughout the region with its world-class off-roading and rock crawling that is easily accessible from town.
But you’ll also find great places to stay, the legendary Mooney’s Sunset Bar and Grill (and hotel) as well as The Dam Hotel at Disney Island Outfitters
Anyway, click the link to find out more about Disney, Oklahoma.
Where to Eat
Spread out among the area South Grand Lake area are several great places to eat and get a cold drink.
Check out these Featured South Grand Lake Area restaurants and bars, and then read on for a little more info on what you might be looking for.
Burger Barn and More
Beau’s Delicatessen and Market
Besides these great options, you might be looking for something in particular, like breakfast.
The Cove Club does serve breakfast on Sundays only, otherwise, your best breakfast options would be The Chicken Coop in Langley or Stuffin’s in Ketchum.
Additionally, The Lighthouse Supper Club in Ketchum and The Artichoke, located north of Langley, are popular higher-end dinner options.
Retail and Shopping
The South Grand Lake area is also home to several great shops, boutiques, and retail establishments.
Whether you are looking for that perfect Grand Lake gift, or some gear to get you on the water, you’ll find it.
There are also 3 hardware stores in the immediate area for all of your home and project needs. Those are Walker’s Hardware and Ace Hardware in Langley, and Jones Hardware in Ketchum.
Check out these Featured Local businesses:
Beau’s Delicatessen and Market
Brooks Wilson Art
Where to Stay
Finally, let’s talk about where to stay.
This area of Grand Lake is primarily residential, but there are still plenty of places to stay.
With a high concentration of vacation rentals, plus a few campgrounds and resorts mixed in, you should be able to find that perfect spot.
Here you will find several of the Featured Places to Stay in the South Grand Lake area:
So, there you have it – kind of a broad overview of the South Grand Lake area.
We are always working to make this website better, and will continue to improve this page to bring you the absolute best info on the South Grand Lake area.
Enjoy your time!