Altus AFB Outdoor Recreation

06/01/2026

This is going on “just down the road” at tomorrow!

🎉 Join Us for the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge 125th Anniversary Celebration! 🎉

We’re excited to invite the public to a special celebration marking 125 years since Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was established by President William McKinley in 1901. Join us as we honor the refuge’s past, present, and future—with a look ahead to the next century of conservation.

📅 When: June 2, 2026
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

📍 Where: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Headquarters
(¼ mile east of the Visitor Center) 21088 State Highway 115, Cache, OK

🎈 What to Expect:
• Public grand opening of our newly constructed headquarters building
• Remarks from refuge leadership, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives, and special guests
• A screening of a brand new refuge film by Peter Schriemer
• A special unveiling of a 100 year old time capsule from Lost Lake Dam (buried in 1926!)
• Sealing of a new 100 year time capsule filled with items from 2026 to be opened in 2126

📬 Time Capsule Letters – You’re Invited to Participate!
We’re collecting letters from the public to help tell today’s story to future generations. A small selection will be placed in the new time capsule.

You may use one of these prompts—or create your own:
• Share your hopes for the refuge’s future
• What should visitors 100 years from now learn from us in 2026?
• Why do the Wichita Mountains matter to you?

Submission Deadline: May 20
Submit your letter by:
• Dropping it off at the Visitor Center
• Mailing it to: Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge – Time Capsule Project
21088 State Hwy 115, Cache, OK 73527
• Emailing: [email protected] (Subject: Time Capsule Project)

Media RSVP: Evan Monnett
📧 [email protected]
📞 505 537 3783

This celebration is part of the Freedom 250 campaign, recognizing 250 years of America’s natural heritage and our shared commitment to conservation.

Stay tuned for updates here on our page or visit:
🌐 https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains

We hope to see you there—rain or shine!—FWS

05/28/2026

If you came to The Base Pool over the 23/24/25th weekend we may have your electronic device! Please stop by the pool Front Counter to identify and retrieve.

Base Pool 481-6377

05/27/2026

Got shade?!
We had intense straight winds finish off one of our Base Pool Shade canopies last summer but the installers are here today making us whole!
The pool is in great shape, the climbing wall cleaned and holds remapped, two lanes for lap swimming anytime we’re open, the baby/wading pool, the Tortoise & Twister slides, and all the fresh air you can consume! Life’s pretty good at The Base Pool.

05/23/2026

The Savage family was our first daily pass customer of the season at the pool earlier so they won free entry for the day! Congratulations Savage family. We’re glad you chose The Base Pool to cool your family on our opening day!

05/23/2026

04/17/2026

🐾 Barking News for the Altus AFB Pack! 🐾
Listen up, canines! Grab your favorite emotional support human and drag them down to the Excellence Park Base Dog Park this Saturday morning. We’re bringing the holy trinity of a good time: toys, treats, and totally pawsome vibes. Plus, we’re dragging along our favorite VIP (Very Important Pet-doc), Dr. Kenneth O’Hanlon from All Pets Medical Center. Come officially join the Pack, hang out, and let the tail-wagging commence!

Q: Why do dogs run in circles?
A: Have YOU ever tried running in a rectangle?!

04/17/2026

It's been a couple years back that we retired our "old" waterslides. They were there for quite a long time. Does anybody know the month and year Altus AFB's (old) slides shown in this reel were actually installed?

02/22/2026

We hiked (and climbed and crawled) the hills of “Charon’s Garden” in The Wichitas this morning. We refueled with “World Famous Meers” lunch before we drove to the top of Mt Scott to see all of Southwest Oklahoma from a high perch. It was a good day to be an Altus Airman on an ODR outing!

02/08/2026

Reserve your seat by calling ODR

Mon-Fri 8-5. 481-7696

Join Outdoor Recreation for an enjoyable hike to Charon's Garden Wilderness area in the Wichita Mountains, followed by a delicious lunch featuring a Famous Meers Burger. Afterward, we'll take a drive to the summit of Mt. Scott for breathtaking views of SW Oklahoma! The hiking segment is about 2 miles on a gentle trail. This event is free of charge!