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 would later become the
seat of the autonomous Chickasaw Nation.
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.
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 Chickasaw and Choctaw national boundaries were redrawn. Boggy Depot
ended up being in Choctaw territory, so many of the Chickasaws abandoned the town to
establish new settlements - such as New Boggy Depot- further west. 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. 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.
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 would later become the
seat of the autonomous Chickasaw Nation.
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.
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 Chickasaw and Choctaw national boundaries were redrawn. Boggy Depot
ended up being in Choctaw territory, so many of the Chickasaws abandoned the town to
establish new settlements - such as New Boggy Depot- further west. 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. 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.
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| A marker commemorates the Boggy Depot's Butterfield Overland Stage Coach stop. |
| An old, abandoned road upon which many men, horses, wagons, and history have traveled. |
| The Boggy Depot cemetery contains graves from the earliest settlers of Oklahoma (including that of Rev. Allen Wright, who coined the name "Oklahoma.") 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. |
| Ghostly Directions! Today, the site of Boggy Depot is a state park, tucked away along isolated roads and miles from any larger town. Its hidden location makes Boggy Depot an adventure to find - but it also lives up to its ghost town status. Boo! 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. |
| 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. I believe in ghosts. Though I didn't see anything, I believe I did witness something special. Whatever it was, I decided it was best to leave the cemetery (no, I didn't run, though I felt like it...) |
| Chickasaw Ghost Town: Boggy Depot |
Boo!
| 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. From Durant head north on hwy 69/75 to Tushka (6 miles south of Atoka). Once you see the sign for Tushka and the blinking school caution light, look for the sign for Boggy Depot State Park. Turn west on Boggy Depot Road and the park is 8 miles down that road. It's a heavily traveled and well maintained paved road. Boggy Depot Road stretches from the west end of Atoka County to close to 20 miles east. 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 znd the cover art shows him waist deep in the Boggy. I also noticed you have written a book on Bonnie and Clyde. Have you been to Strongtown to see the shootout location? There is also the Confederate Memorial Museum north of Atoka on hwy 69 to Stringtown. They have Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia including a purse found in the car stolen and abandoned by Clyde Barrow in Atoka County. Many believe the purse may have belonged to Bonnie Parker though it has not been proven since she wad in Texas at the time of the shootout. Well just wanted to share some info about my hometown! Shawna from Atoka, Oklahoma |
| Here's some great information (including much better directions!) from a reader: |
| Listen to / read this great NPR story 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 house that sits in a field. |