El Reno, OK Outdoor Activities
Recommended Outdoor Activities by Groupon Customers
A renowned speaker and family entertainer, Robin Ray Hocker––known by his professional clowning name, Chester––opened Chester's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in 2001 as a means of engaging kids in fun-filled outdoor activities. Snuggled amidst 25 verdant acres, his farm keeps visitors entertained throughout the year via a host of seasonal activities, hosting private picnics and cookouts in summer. As autumn unfurls, the farm's annual pumpkin patch returns to welcome families for fall-themed activities including a giant slide, pumpkin bowling, and a petting zoo. Groups can also put their navigational skills to the test in the farm’s three-acre Mystery Maze, meandering through spooky twists and turns made all the more tricky by a chance encounter with a ghostly pioneer or lost census taker. Afterward, guests can quiet chattering teeth by the warm glow of a bonfire, and outside picnic areas facilitate al fresco feeding frenzies throughout the day.
For the uninitiated, Maura Fliction, Kitty VonKlobber, Sweeney Quad, Taryn Bonesapart, and their fellow home-team derby girls will wage territorial track war for two 30-minute periods in each roller rumble, during which a designated jammer—usually the fastest, nimblest two legs on eight wheels—attempts to skate her way from the rear of the pack to lap opposing rollers. Running the gauntlet, the jammer must evade sexy but deadly hip thrusts, clotheslining arm guards, and a bank full of bounced body-checks (deemed void if cashed from behind). Points are rewarded each time the jammer passes an opposing skater, and the highest score wins the derby.
The breadth of water activities at OKC Riversport is nearly as diverse as the natural terrain and wildlife that surround their locations. Across Lake Overholser and the Oklahoma River, fleets of kayaks and standup paddleboards cut across the water. The sounds of drums fill the air as instructors teach students how to man the dragon boats—inspired by festive Chinese fishing vessels—or battle maritime knights. Pupils can discover a water sport for the first time or hone existing watercraft skills.
Like a fish with excellent breath control, OKC Riversport's visitors aren't regulated entirely to the water. There are 13 miles of riverside trails surrounding the area, beckoning cyclists and runners to test their mettle.
Pirates Cove Scuba's certified instructors imbue beginning or advanced pupils with the requisite knowledge and techniques for plunging beneath aquatic surfaces and stock a full selection of dive equipment to help them to breathe easier while below. After briefings expound on what participants should expect when underwater, one-hour introductory courses gradually familiarize students with navigating H2O while wearing scuba gear before they explore the unseen depths and sunken pool-noodle wrecks of Pirates Cove Scuba's pool.
Open-water certifications expand on introductory knowledge with further classroom and pool study. Full-certification-seekers conclude schooling during scheduled weekend lake trips, which include four dives in open-water environments that, if properly performed, earn former novices final certification and congratulatory smooches from impressed catfish. To keep divers submerging in style, Pirates Cove Scuba carries equipment from Dive Rite, Henderson, and Seadive, which aquanauts can don on trips to Cozumel and other tropical destinations booked through the dive shop's travel desk.
European Formula EK20 karts whiz by on Pole Position Raceway’s quarter-mile track, cruising at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. Spectators crank their heads to keep up. There’s no wind to battle against, no sun blinding the drivers’ eyes, and no birds rigging the race by dropping smoke bombs because all of Pole Position Raceway’s competitions happen inside. This is thanks to a fleet of electric-powered karts, which accelerate more quickly and hug curves more smoothly than gas-powered karts without dumping out clouds of exhaust.
To sate speed cravings, drivers simply arrive and drive—show up and nab one of 12 spots in the next race. Then with a DOT-approved racing helmet, they push the pedal to the floor for roughly 10 minutes, drafting their opponents to fly past them near the finish line. At the end of each race, drivers receive a SpeedSheet that displays their race results, fastest lap time, and the likelihood of getting their own action-movie franchise. For those seeking to dive deep into the world of racing, Pole Position Raceway offers driving clinics and youth racing camps, where younger racers pilot EK10 karts that peak at 20 mph.
