A gentle breeze and clear blue Oklahoma sky provide the backdrop for singing, chirping and whistling birds as you set foot onto the winding path leading into the Chickasaw Cultural Center.
Chants of stomp dancers echo in the distance as you wind your way through lush green grass past sturdy Oaks and delicate multicolored flowers surrounding a nine-foot tall bronze Chickasaw warrior.
Natural stone buildings and great timbers seem to grow out of the Oklahoma soil around the plaza where a demonstration of the ancient stomp dance is taking place outside the exhibit hall.
Before entering any of the many buildings on the 109 acre campus, visitors begin to understand why the Chickasaw Cultural Center earned a RedBud Award as "Outstanding New Attraction" in Oklahoma.
Judy Godfrey, a retired museum professional from Texas, was visiting the day after the cultural center received the honor. She was asked if she thought the judges made a good choice.
"Absolutely," she said emphatically. "You can understand why. It is exquisite in the materials and the architecture. The material the architects chose - the copper, the stone the wood is all beautiful.
"It is so quiet, she continued. "It's nice to hear the birds. And every time you go somewhere else, there's another vista to the natural world that surrounds the center."
Her companion, Larry Godfrey quickly agreed.
"It's beautifully done. The display is wonderfully done - user friendly, very informative," he said. "It's nice to be able to touch things. That's a wonderful feature. In most museums you can't touch things."
Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said that the award is a tribute to the Chickasaw people.
"This cultural center is built on the ideas, imagination and creativity of Chickasaws from all walks of life," said Gov. Anoatubby. "Chickasaw people presented the vision of a place which would incorporate nature, history, culture, life ways and tradition to become a center of our culture and enable us to share the Chickasaw story with the world."
Amanda Cobb-Greetham, administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Division of History and Culture, gave credit to tribal leadership.
"Under Governor Anoatubby's leadership, the CCC has achieved its vision--as the center of living Chickasaw culture and as a world class tourist destination," said Ms. Cobb-Greetham. "We are thrilled that the Chickasaw Cultural received the Redbud Award for Best New Attraction.
"More than 100,000 people have visited the cultural center since our opening. Recognition as a Redbud Award winner will encourage even more people to share in this amazing vision."
Scott Jackson, a Chickasaw visiting for the first time, said that the cultural center does a great job of keeping nature intact and adding a modern flair while still maintaining the integrity of Chickasaw heritage.
"It's not just what you see, it's what you taste, what you feel and what you experience," said Mr. Jackson.
World-wide attraction
Visitors have come from around the world. Janet Reubin, who works in the welcome center, said she has met visitors from Germany, Japan, Scotland, Ireland and Bangladesh who are equally impressed.
"All these people come back to tell me that the center exceeded their expectations," she said.
Binod Manandhar, from Kathmandu, Nepal, said his visit to the cultural center soon after it opened in 2010 was a "true learning experience."
"The exhibits were very informative and interesting. I learned a lot about the Native American culture, traditions and origin," said Mr. Manandhar, who was in Oklahoma visiting relatives. He added that he was "very impressed by the grand physical structures and facilities, especially the Traditional Village."
Home town appeal
Local residents also appreciate the center.
Dr. Randi Hobbs, who eats lunch at the cultural center at least once a week with colleagues Mitzi Madron and Tiffany Wilson, was asked why they make the trip out of town for lunch.
"It feels like you're not in Sulphur anymore. It is beautiful out here," she said, motioning to the view out the huge window wall of the café'. "I think everyone should come here at least once. You can learn a lot."
Ms. Madron said that the food is different than what you will find in town, and the service is excellent.
"They have our orders memorized and they know our names," she said. "I think we take this for granted. I used to play here when I was a kid."
Dr. Hobbs said that the award is great for the town of Sulphur, adding that she thinks it is the start of something bigger.
Greg Franks, a fourth grade teacher Greenville Elementaryat Greenville Elementary in Holdenville, Okla. said it was a great field trip for his students.
"The Spirit Forest is amazing. The architecture around here is amazing," he said. "I'm going to bring my kids and my wife here as soon as I get a chance. It's amazing. It exceeded my expectations."
Donna Underwood from Oklahoma City said she was impressed by the Spirit Forest, which provides several opportunities to listen to traditional Chickasaw oral stories.
"I like the stories. As I sat here in the dark listening to the stories I thought about the ancestors telling the stories to the children through the years," she said, adding that it "must have just been fascinating for the kids.
"It was fun. It made me think I was a kid again."
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid was named co-recipient of the RedBud Award for Outstanding New Attraction in Oklahoma.
Gov. Anoatubby said that it was encouraging that Native American attractions tied for the honor.
"Chickasaw Nation and Cherokee Nation attractions receiving this recognition underscores that Native Americans are vital to the state's growing tourism industry," said Gov. Anoatubby. "Beyond that, these attractions help people understand how closely the fabric of tribal history and state history are woven together."
More than 100 Redbud entries in 16 categories were evaluated by a slate of out-of-state tourism industry and marketing professionals. Judging criteria covered customer service and experience, marketing effectiveness, media relations, variety of audiences reached, value, and overall creativity. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department partners with the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association to present the annual RedBud Awards.
The Redbud Awards were held during National Tourism Week (May 5 – 13) which recognizes the importance of tourism to the national and local economies. Direct travel expenditures in Oklahoma generate more than $6.2 billion for the state's economy annually and support jobs for 74,900 residents.
