Oklahoma State Highway 49
Encyclopedia
State Highway 49 is a 30-mile (48 km) long state highway in the U.S. state
of Oklahoma
. It runs from State Highway 54 in Kiowa County
to Interstate 44 near Lawton
. Part of the highway runs through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge; this portion of SH-49 carries no signage identifying it as such. It has no lettered spur routes.
SH-49 was established in 1939. Originally it turned south in the refuge to serve Cache
; its present-day routing was established in 1973.
at SH-54 south of Cooperton
and heads due east. The highway crosses into Comanche Co.
about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of that point. The road continues east for about two miles more, where it makes a ninety-degree turn to the north. It continues north for around a half-mile (0.8 km), then angles northeast. It then enters the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Through the refuge, SH-49 is unsigned
, appearing only as a nameless road. Inside the refuge, the speed limit drops to 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h), with a night speed limit of 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h).
Upon entering the refuge, the highway curves around to the southwest. SH-49 passes in between Big Four Mountain (elev. 2233 feet (680.6 m)) and Sunset Peak. The road then drops down to Antelope Flat, where it crosses the stream that feeds Caddo Lake, as well as passing near the lake itself. It serves as the northern terminus of Indiahoma Road, which heads south towards French Lake, the trailhead of the Dog Run Hollow hiking trail, and many of the peaks in the southwest part of the refuge, before eventually serving the town of Indiahoma
south of the refuge. After the Indiahoma Road intersection, it crosses the stream that forms French Lake. At the Boulder Turnoff, it intersects the road leading to Lost Lake and Eagle Mountain. The road then curves northeast to bypass Quanah Parker Lake and its campsite. The road then curves due south towards the Cache Wye.
At the Cache Wye, SH-49 intersects State Highway 115, which is also unsigned. Motorists on eastbound SH-49 that continue straight at the junction will be put on southbound SH-115; to continue east, a left turn must be made. SH-49 and SH-115 are effectively concurrent east of the Cache Wye, although signage is still not posted. The two highways turn northeast, then curve back around to the east. SH-115 then splits off to the north, while SH-49 continues a general eastbound heading.
SH-49 continues through the eastern part of the refuge. It serves as the primary access to Mount Scott
, with an access road connecting the highway to the mountain's summit. SH-49 then passes between Elmer Thomas Lake and Lake Lawtonka
before exiting the refuge. At this entrance to the park, there is an "end SH-49" assembly posted on westbound SH-49. This is an error, as SH-49 exits the other side of the park, and ODOT
does not list two different SH-49s.
After leaving the refuge, SH-49 passes through the south side of Medicine Park
. Running south of Mount Cummins, it meets the southern terminus of State Highway 58. Four miles (6.4 km) later, it ends at I-44 exit 45.
(US-62 had not yet been shifted to the freeway north of town), and entered the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, following present-day SH-115 until the Cache Wye. SH-49 then emerged from the refuge near Medicine Park
and followed the remainder of its present day routing.
The portion of highway between the Cache Wye and Cache itself was renumbered to become part of SH-115 in 1962. The same year, the portion of road leading west from the Cache Wye to SH-54 was added to the highway, bringing it to its present-day extent. At this time, the road between SH-54 and the Cache Wye was gravel. It was paved in 1973.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. It runs from State Highway 54 in Kiowa County
Kiowa County, Oklahoma
Kiowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 10,227. Its county seat is Hobart.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of . is land and is water....
to Interstate 44 near Lawton
Lawton, Oklahoma
The city of Lawton is the county seat of Comanche County, in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the southwestern region of Oklahoma approximately southwest of Oklahoma City, it is the principal city of the Lawton Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Part of the highway runs through the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge; this portion of SH-49 carries no signage identifying it as such. It has no lettered spur routes.
SH-49 was established in 1939. Originally it turned south in the refuge to serve Cache
Cache, Oklahoma
Cache is a city in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,796 at the 2010 census. It is an exurb included in the Lawton, Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
; its present-day routing was established in 1973.
Route description
SH-49 begins in Kiowa CountyKiowa County, Oklahoma
Kiowa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 10,227. Its county seat is Hobart.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of . is land and is water....
at SH-54 south of Cooperton
Cooperton, Oklahoma
Cooperton is a town in Kiowa County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 20 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cooperton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
and heads due east. The highway crosses into Comanche Co.
Comanche County, Oklahoma
Comanche County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Built on former reservation lands of the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache in Indian Territory, Comanche County was open for settlement on August 16, 1901 by lottery. The region has three cities and seven towns as well as the Fort Sill...
about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of that point. The road continues east for about two miles more, where it makes a ninety-degree turn to the north. It continues north for around a half-mile (0.8 km), then angles northeast. It then enters the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Through the refuge, SH-49 is unsigned
Unsigned highway
An unsigned highway is a highway that has been assigned a route number, but does not bear conventional road markings that would normally be used to identify the route with that number...
, appearing only as a nameless road. Inside the refuge, the speed limit drops to 45 miles per hour (72.4 km/h), with a night speed limit of 35 miles per hour (56.3 km/h).
Upon entering the refuge, the highway curves around to the southwest. SH-49 passes in between Big Four Mountain (elev. 2233 feet (680.6 m)) and Sunset Peak. The road then drops down to Antelope Flat, where it crosses the stream that feeds Caddo Lake, as well as passing near the lake itself. It serves as the northern terminus of Indiahoma Road, which heads south towards French Lake, the trailhead of the Dog Run Hollow hiking trail, and many of the peaks in the southwest part of the refuge, before eventually serving the town of Indiahoma
Indiahoma, Oklahoma
Indiahoma is a town in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 344 at the 2010 census. It is included as an exurb in the Lawton, Oklahoma, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
south of the refuge. After the Indiahoma Road intersection, it crosses the stream that forms French Lake. At the Boulder Turnoff, it intersects the road leading to Lost Lake and Eagle Mountain. The road then curves northeast to bypass Quanah Parker Lake and its campsite. The road then curves due south towards the Cache Wye.
At the Cache Wye, SH-49 intersects State Highway 115, which is also unsigned. Motorists on eastbound SH-49 that continue straight at the junction will be put on southbound SH-115; to continue east, a left turn must be made. SH-49 and SH-115 are effectively concurrent east of the Cache Wye, although signage is still not posted. The two highways turn northeast, then curve back around to the east. SH-115 then splits off to the north, while SH-49 continues a general eastbound heading.
SH-49 continues through the eastern part of the refuge. It serves as the primary access to Mount Scott
Mount Scott (Oklahoma)
Mount Scott is a prominent mountain just to the northwest of Lawton Oklahoma rising to a height of above sea level. It is located in the Wichita Mountains near Fort Sill Military Reservation and lies in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible...
, with an access road connecting the highway to the mountain's summit. SH-49 then passes between Elmer Thomas Lake and Lake Lawtonka
Lake Lawtonka
Lake Lawtonka is a lake in Comanche County in the state of Oklahoma in the United States.The lake is 2 square miles in area. It is formed by a dam 60 feet high and 375 feet long across Medicine Bluff Creek...
before exiting the refuge. At this entrance to the park, there is an "end SH-49" assembly posted on westbound SH-49. This is an error, as SH-49 exits the other side of the park, and ODOT
Oklahoma Department of Transportation
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is an agency of the government of Oklahoma responsible for the construction, maintenance, and regulation the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
does not list two different SH-49s.
After leaving the refuge, SH-49 passes through the south side of Medicine Park
Medicine Park, Oklahoma
Medicine Park is a town in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States, situated in the Wichita Mountains near the entrance to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Medicine Park has a long history as a vintage cobblestone resort town. Medicine Park is also located near the city of Lawton and Fort...
. Running south of Mount Cummins, it meets the southern terminus of State Highway 58. Four miles (6.4 km) later, it ends at I-44 exit 45.
History
SH-49 was added to the state highway system in 1939. At this time, SH-49 began at US-62 in CacheCache, Oklahoma
Cache is a city in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 2,796 at the 2010 census. It is an exurb included in the Lawton, Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(US-62 had not yet been shifted to the freeway north of town), and entered the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, following present-day SH-115 until the Cache Wye. SH-49 then emerged from the refuge near Medicine Park
Medicine Park, Oklahoma
Medicine Park is a town in Comanche County, Oklahoma, United States, situated in the Wichita Mountains near the entrance to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. Medicine Park has a long history as a vintage cobblestone resort town. Medicine Park is also located near the city of Lawton and Fort...
and followed the remainder of its present day routing.
The portion of highway between the Cache Wye and Cache itself was renumbered to become part of SH-115 in 1962. The same year, the portion of road leading west from the Cache Wye to SH-54 was added to the highway, bringing it to its present-day extent. At this time, the road between SH-54 and the Cache Wye was gravel. It was paved in 1973.