Velma-Alma, OK
Velma-Alma is a humble, community-loving town with a beautiful countryside of meadows and flowing creeks.
Proud home to country music legend Joe Diffie, the 125-year-old annual Old Settler's Picnic, and the tasty Chuckwagon BBQ, this quaint town has all the small-town charm needed for a day trip of history, fun and food!
What to Do
As Velma developed over the years, the community became more interested in entertainment and social events. The town wanted something more entertaining than taffy pulls and country dances for the younger generations. In 1890, the Old Settlers’ Picnic began an annual town tradition still cherished and celebrated today. Families would travel for miles in wagons to camp and enjoy the free community picnic. Ranchers would gladly furnish the main dish, usually barbecue, and ladies would provide complementary dishes of their own. In addition to the picnic, families also participated in local games, such as a mule-pulled swing and a variety of races and contests.
The longest continuously running free rodeo began years later and is currently a main feature of the picnic. A carnival was also added to further the entertainment, and later in 1950, the Old Settlers’ Group Picture was added to enable decades of memories of a time-honored tradition to be treasured by new old settlers for years to come. Each year, every local and visitor is welcomed into the annual picture, so come revel in being an old settler for the day! L.L. Humphreys Park serves as the venue for this annual event.
Where to Eat
Besides the annual Old Settler's Picnic, travelers today also enjoy visiting the area to view the breathtaking scenery, learn more about country music legend Joe Diffie or savor a meal at the local eatery, Chuckwagon BBQ & Grill.
Chuckwagon BBQ & Grill is a locally owned and operated restaurant located on the corner of Highway 7 and Hargrove Street in Velma. This BBQ & Grill offers a large, warm and inviting family dining atmosphere. The menu includes lunch and dinner options for hearty-style cuisine, including BBQ, seafood, American, Mexican, salads, sandwiches, specialty burgers, and desserts. The restaurant also caters to several events with attendance ranging from 30 to 400. Chuckwagon BBQ & Grill is sure to satisfy the taste buds!
The Doo-Whop is a small, local restaurant that knows a thing or two about feeding big appetites. The restaurant lives by its slogan, “It ain’t food if it ain’t fried!” Serving everything from fried pickles and mozzarella sticks to chicken-fried steaks and curly fries, this restaurant is passionate about fried food.
History
Velma, located in Stephens County, is a humble, community-loving town. The first to settle in the area were the early Plains Indians, who chose to make their home in the beautiful countryside of Velma. The flowing creeks, wooded areas, flint for arrows, oil springs for medicinal use, and abundance of wild game created an ideal environment for the families of the Plains Indians. The large meadows and grasslands were suitable for many travelers, such as explorers, army scouting units, the pony express, and stagecoach or wagon settlers. Soon after settlers began dwelling in the area, the first county-wide store, church, and school were developed. A post office was established in 1886, and the name Velma was chosen after Velma Dobbins, the daughter of Mr. Dobbins, a general store operations manager for one of the first businesses in town owned by Jim Doak. The store, known as Doak’s Store, was established in 1883.
The Velma-Alma School District Movement began with the building of the first school, only a few miles east of Velma, around 1885. The building was poorly constructed of cottonwood lumber; however, it was the first school in what is now Stephens County. Shortly after opening, the institution began to increase attendance, and the school closed. A new school opened in the same location as the Doak’s Store in 1893. In 1903, Judge J.W. Marshall taught an average of 50 students at a subscription school in a large residential home. Each student paid $1 per month in tuition. In 1915, a new school building was constructed in Velma and used until 1941, serving students from grade school through high school.
In 1946, the superintendents of the Alma and Velma school districts, along with their respective school boards and community members, started a movement to form the Velma-Alma School District. Other small districts incorporated in the movement include Caddo, Colley, Countyline, Santa Fe, Center Grove, Arthur, Prairiedale, Stoner, Valley View, Payne, Harrisburg and Loco. The Velma-Alma district is currently providing elementary through high school education and offers an array of extracurricular academic, social and athletic opportunities.
