Things to Do in Red Oak

Gazing over Cedar Creek Reservoir’s glassy waters, a large tiki hut bustles with visitors donning sun hats. Inside, the shop’s staff helps guest rent boats and water toys, or fill up on snacks for the day’s lake outing. A gas dock fuels voyages and the open-air Tiki Hut restaurant refuels those returning from their journeys with tropical drinks, lunch, dinner, and views of the water’s water color paintings. :m]]

Bunkers fashioned from metal barrels and tires protect inhabitants from volleys of enemy fire, as the smell of grilled hamburgers wafts through the air. Madddogz’s outdoor paintball fields immerse players in friendly combat while giving spectators, family, and friends a place to celebrate special occasions. Players can hunt their opponents in wooded areas littered with wrecked airplanes, used tires, and wooden fences in games of elimination or all-out battles. Meanwhile, civilians can mingle with their friends inside covered picnic areas while enjoying a packed lunch or cooked meats from the grill.

Each weekend through the harvest season, YesterLand Farm welcomes visitors of all ages to explore several acres’ worth of classic country activities, whether they’re just experiencing their first falling leaves or feeling nostalgic for autumns of old. More than 30 attractions spring up around the open fields, from a restored 1952 miniature train to a small ferris wheel and a vintage rollercoaster. As explorers try to navigate a corn maze’s dense stalks, guests can head to collect gourds to make into smaller pumpkins. Both when the sky starts to darken and during the day, Yesterland stays aglow with handheld beams in the flashlight maze and campfires, around which visitors roast hot dogs and s’mores over terrifying tales of ghosts and deciding college majors.

Drivers careen at a blinding 85 miles per hour around the track at Dallas Karting Complex. In order to take the wheel of a high-speed Rotax DD2 karts, racers must pass a few tests, including achieving a 74-second lap time on the 0.8-mile track, reaching 16 years of age, and being able to recite three quotes from The Fast and the Furious in iambic pentameter. Drivers who don't meet the high-octane criteria or are interested in a simpler ride can zip around the track's 17 turns in lower-speed karts, starting at the 30-miles-per-hour cadet carts for kids aged 7–15 or the karts for adults that burn rubber at highway speeds. The 25-acre facility has enough room to host racing parties for kids and adults, as well as corporate meetings to discuss the feasibility of commuting to work in a Rotax DD2.

It’s a quiet afternoon in Rhome when the tranquil plains suddenly erupt with whoops and hollers. A pair of tandem skydivers has just seemingly dropped out of nowhere and is high-fiving and cheering while they fall. One has done this drop countless times and the other is about to check the adrenaline-fueling activity off his bucket list.

The staff behind Thrillzown makes it their goal to see activities such as skydiving get crossed off of lists. In doing this, they offer hot air balloon rides, ziplining, and hang-gliding, along with a host of other activities. They can also advise hesitant customers on the appropriate thrill to partake in, pointing out which jaunts are more serene versus which ones make Superman nervous.

The trusty team of quarter horses at Broken Bow Ranch escorts visitors over the sprawling pastures and winding trails that grace the 1,200-acre working cattle ranch. Their owner, Gay Leigh Bingham, draws upon 25 years of experience when teaching new riders the subtleties of proper horsemanship. During private and group riding lessons, she aims to teach riders the proper way to confidently command a horse so they can ride comfortably on trails or help equine companions practice self-control when trotting through apple orchards. Not content to stop at the saddle, Ms. Bingham also invites visitors to enjoy her land for such pastimes as duck hunting and paintball.