Heavener Runestone Park

08/28/2026

SAVE THE DATE! There is a Raid coming this fall! OCTOBER 24th and 25th!! More details to come! See you there!

08/13/2026

Wow! Look at this amazing event. Look at her go. This is what they are calling “The Balance of Ratatorsk”.

08/06/2026

🚨🚨 voting ends tomorrow at 10p central! We need to get her voted in! Get to clicking! 🚨🚨🚨

One of our very own local Photographers, Kim Salvensen entered one of the most amazing photos of Runestone into a photography competition! Let’s all support her and go vote for her photo!

Please vote for my photo in the America’s Favorite Photos competition 🤩

America’s Favorite Photos: Discover your new favorite photos!

08/06/2026

Did you know:

During the long summer months, the historic Norse people stepped away from winter pastimes to engage in vigorous outdoor sports, team ball games, and feats of strength that doubled as military training.

Knattleikr: A chaotic, highly physical team ball game played with bats/sticks and a hard ball. It resembled a mix of modern hockey, rugby, and lacrosse, and matches often lasted an entire day.

Glíma: A specialized form of traditional Norse wrestling where opponents gripped each other's belts, testing balance, speed, and leverage rather than brute force.

Swimming Contests: Competitions that tested endurance, where men swam as far out to sea or across lakes as they could.

Mounted and Seated Tug-of-War: Variations like tautrekk (pulling a rope while seated with feet pressed against an opponent) or mounted variations testing core power and stability.

Strength and Martial Contests

Stone Lifting: Young men proved their worth and status by attempting to lift massive, specified boulders (sometimes weighing over 300 pounds).

Archery and Spear Throwing: Precision contests where warriors threw spears (spydkast) or shot arrows at distant targets to sharpen focus and combat readiness.

Foot Races: Fast-paced running matches held across varied outdoor terrain to test raw speed and stamina.

Mind and Verbal Games

Hnefatafl: An asymmetric tactical board game (often called the king's table) played outdoors or indoors, simulating a battle to capture or escape with a king.

Flyting: A competitive verbal duel or poetic exchange of insults, testing wit, vocabulary, and composure under pressure.

(Copied from google)

06/26/2026

The Heavener Runestone in Oklahoma bears mysterious Norse-like carvings. Explore the debate over whether Vikings explored deep into North America long before Columbus.

06/21/2026

We can’t wait to celebrate this year’s 4th of July with you and your family!

05/29/2026

Catch all the Friday vibes from this young drengr, Zachary. May your weekend be as bright as that smile! The park is open from 8am to dark everyday for all your weekend merrymaking. Góðan dag!

05/27/2026

BIG THANK YOU to the cadets with Thunderbird Challenge Viking Platoon and their leaders for their hard work and dedication to perking up the park this past weekend!

After camp was up on Friday morning, the cadets went to work on various tasks coordinated and supervised by volunteer Brent Perdue, the Operations Chair for Friends of Heavener Runestone, who camped overnight with the group.

The young men compassed the campground and day use areas dedicating time to clean up and clear out each camp site and picnic pavilion before shifting their attention to the Amphitheater in the late afternoon. Finally, the evening ended with an after-dinner bonfire to dispose of the remaining brush and trimmings.

Their tremendous work ethic, great attitude, and respectful presence is always welcomed and appreciated and is a clear reflection of the exemplary leaders who pour into these cadets. We are grateful for your time and service, and we look forward to the next campout!

If you have an organization, club, or group that is interested in volunteering at the park, let us know!

05/17/2026

🔥🔥2026 Viking Festival @ Heavener Runestone Park🔥🔥

Now accepting applications for festival vendors!

Follow the link below to complete your application...
https://form.jotform.com/250646711125148

05/13/2026

Local artist Anne Sue Wilcox recently completed this masterpiece after visiting the park. She drew inspiration from the large stone staircases that descend into the valley.

It perfectly captures the wonder and whimsy waiting to meet you along the trail.

Thank you for visiting and sharing this gorgeous vision with us, Anne!