In relation to most Oklahoma towns, which were either founded upon the Sooner land rush or along rail road stations, Boggy
Depot got its start very early. By the late 1830s, Boggy Depot centered the Choctaw/ Chickasaw Nation, served as a stop along
the military road from Fort Washita to Fort Smith, and for a while become the seat of the autonomous Chickasaw Nation in 1855.
Early Beginnings
Boggy Depot grew in importance as cowboys along the Shawnee cattle trail, and travelers on the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach route,
passed through the town. Some enterprising men erected a toll bridge across Boggy Creek, supplanting the ferry crossing. Boggy
Depotians (if that's what they called themselves) built Oklahoma's first Masonic Lodge above a church, and a large school house
accommodated the area's families. After 1855, Boggy Depot served as the seat of the Chickasaw Nation when the Chickasaws bought the
western portion of the Choctaw Nation for their own separate nation. However, the new survey between the nations found Boggy Depot to
lie in Choctaw territory. Thus, the seat of Chickasaw government moved to Tishomingo. Still, Boggy Depot continued to thrive.
By the eve of the Civil War, Boggy Depot held all the trappings of a good sized town. An apothecary, mortuary, blacksmith shop, bakery,
hotel, and dry goods store ensured that the town dominated as a trading center. One could also find a flour mill, cotton gin, bois d'arc seed
mill (which sold seeds to farmers who made bois d'arc fences), and a salt works. A Confederate camp comprised of mostly Chickasaw and
Choctaw soldiers was established just west of the town, and a Union ambush resulted in several deaths.
Lost Town
After the war, the KATY railroad cut a swath about 12 miles east of Boggy Depot along the Shawnee cattle trail, and Atoka gained
prominence along the tracks. This led to the population and commercial decline of Boggy Depot. The Boggy Depot post office stopped
accepting mail in 1883.
Today, Boggy Depot consists merely of a few open fields in a small state park. A museum commemorates the town. All of the old buildings
are gone, although markers indicate what used to be where. The cemetery is the only visible remnant of this busy and interesting
Chickasaw town.
Depot got its start very early. By the late 1830s, Boggy Depot centered the Choctaw/ Chickasaw Nation, served as a stop along
the military road from Fort Washita to Fort Smith, and for a while become the seat of the autonomous Chickasaw Nation in 1855.
Early Beginnings
Boggy Depot grew in importance as cowboys along the Shawnee cattle trail, and travelers on the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach route,
passed through the town. Some enterprising men erected a toll bridge across Boggy Creek, supplanting the ferry crossing. Boggy
Depotians (if that's what they called themselves) built Oklahoma's first Masonic Lodge above a church, and a large school house
accommodated the area's families. After 1855, Boggy Depot served as the seat of the Chickasaw Nation when the Chickasaws bought the
western portion of the Choctaw Nation for their own separate nation. However, the new survey between the nations found Boggy Depot to
lie in Choctaw territory. Thus, the seat of Chickasaw government moved to Tishomingo. Still, Boggy Depot continued to thrive.
By the eve of the Civil War, Boggy Depot held all the trappings of a good sized town. An apothecary, mortuary, blacksmith shop, bakery,
hotel, and dry goods store ensured that the town dominated as a trading center. One could also find a flour mill, cotton gin, bois d'arc seed
mill (which sold seeds to farmers who made bois d'arc fences), and a salt works. A Confederate camp comprised of mostly Chickasaw and
Choctaw soldiers was established just west of the town, and a Union ambush resulted in several deaths.
Lost Town
After the war, the KATY railroad cut a swath about 12 miles east of Boggy Depot along the Shawnee cattle trail, and Atoka gained
prominence along the tracks. This led to the population and commercial decline of Boggy Depot. The Boggy Depot post office stopped
accepting mail in 1883.
Today, Boggy Depot consists merely of a few open fields in a small state park. A museum commemorates the town. All of the old buildings
are gone, although markers indicate what used to be where. The cemetery is the only visible remnant of this busy and interesting
Chickasaw town.
| The remains of the Butterfield Overland Stagecoach route are clearly visible. |
| The Boggy Depot cemetery contains graves from the earliest settlers of Oklahoma (including that of Rev. Allen Wright. The wall that surrounded these graves of prominent people has been dismantled by later settlers needing stones to build their houses (dismantling cemeteries is a surprisingly common American practice!). Along the wall, I found an old, folded piece of paper with a message written in ink: "Contact me if I can use these rocks." No name, date, or address was given, which I thought peculiar. |
| To get to Boggy Depot, you'll have to do some winding around. From Durant, take OK 78 north, then take OK 48 north at the fork all the way to Wapanucka. In Wapanucka, go east on OK 7, then turn onto N3760 Road (named something else; it's the 3rd street about 2-3 miles east of Wapanucka). There will be a sign on OK 7 indicating the road to Boggy Depot State Park. Or, you can take Park Road off US 75/69 between Atoka and Tushka. |
| This hand carved, neglected stone in the cemetery provided me with more than a photo opportunity. I had been taking pictures in the cemetery and upon rounding this stone, I smelled perfume. The scent was pretty strong, although no one was around me. I could not see flowers on any of the graves, and I don't wear perfume myself. My camera started acting up (weird squiggly lines across the screen) moments later. |
| Chickasaw Ghost Town: Boggy Depot |
| Hi there. I came across your site while doing research on Oklahoma and the Civil War. I'm proud to say I'm from the Boggy Depot area (Tushka which also has a fascinating history). Technically I'm not from Boggy but I live on Boggy Depot Rd. I wanted to tell you there is a much better way to get to the park than the directions on your site. Incidentally Jerry Cantrell guitarist for Alice In Chains was raised in the area. Lain Lake Road just south of Boggy is named for his grandparents. In fact he titled his solo album Boggy Depot and the cover art shows him waist deep in the Boggy. Well just wanted to share some info about my hometown! Shawna from Atoka, Oklahoma |
| From a Reader: |
| Listen to / read NPR on the fate of Boggy Depot. My comments are in the middle of the story. Tribes Save Boggy Depot Park After State Spending Cuts |
| Surrounding Boggy Depot are still remains of the past, like this wattle and daub cabin that sits in a field. |
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| The Park has come under the direction of the Chickasaw Nation. It is still a park but not under state control. Read about other ghostly adventures on my Blog. |
| The plat for Boggy Depot, 1902, on blueprint paper, shows that the town had shrunk considerably after being bypassed by the MKT line. (OHS) |
| Crossing the Boggy River in the early 20th century. OHS. |
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| Questions or comments? E-mail me: robin@redriverhistorian.com |
| Directions! |