Grove Chamber of Commerce

Living the Grand Life in Grove

Grove, the largest city on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, is the retail, housing and water sport center for its eastern shores. Accessible to thousands of visitors each year, and with two airports serving the area, Grove is a short 76-mile drive from Tulsa, and a 43-mile drive from Joplin, Missouri.

With more shoreline than California (over 1,300 miles), Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is a popular destination for weekend visitors looking to unwind beside its sparkling waters, and summer travelers making the most of the lake lifestyle.

New residents and business owners are welcomed daily in Grove, which boasts a rich and colorful history and an enterprising attitude while retaining small-town traditions, warm hospitality, and solid values. Recently rated by Rand McNally, the Wall Street Journal and Retirement Places Rated as one of the top retirement areas in the nation, Grove is attracting an increasing number of new residents and retirees looking to discover what Living the Grand Life is all about.

The rolling hills surrounding Grove and Grand Lake come alive in the spring with breathtaking views of dogwood and redbud trees displayed against dark green native cedars and pines, revealing Grove’s climate as our best-kept secret where everyone enjoys moderate weather with four distinct
seasons.

The perfect summer setting for long days on the water and viewing magnificent sunsets from the back of a slow-cruising boat are enhanced by clear blue skies, clean air and warm temperatures. Fall brings brilliant Ozark foliage colors of crimson, gold and burgundy; brisk morning air and temper-
ate weather, and later the occasional snows of winter add up to Living the Grand Life in Grove.

Precipitation

Average annual rainfall 27.37 inches

Average Temperature (DEGREES F)

HIGH LOW

January 46 35

July 82 69

Grove’s Colorful
Past is Rich in History

Grove is rich in history and heritage. Pioneer, cowboy and Indian heritage has turned what was once wilderness into the fastest growing town in Oklahoma. From horse-drawn carriages to huge cabin cruisers on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, the area has definitely seen it all.

Most people are not aware of the opportunities and resources this once sleepy little town claims; however, these assets have not always been here. It has taken many years and much effort to develop the beautiful Grove area and the waters of the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees that surround our wonderful town.

Cherokee Indian families settled in the area in the 1860s during the Trail of Tears; and French traders trapped wildlife along our riverbanks. Grove’s natural springs and groves of trees became identifying landmarks for the early travelers.

Grove has always been a welcoming place for residents and travelers. In fact, since 1817 it has been a well-known trading center with fertile valleys and clear streams. The blanketing woods that cover the hills of the countryside are sites where the many struggles and battles occurred that molded Grove into what it is today.

During the Civil War, Federal troops referred to the Grove area as Round Grove in their official reports. Other names for the area included Monroe Grove, named for a Cherokee family that owned the land before the Civil War; and Tablor’s Grove, named for Dr. Tablor, an early settler. The area was most frequently referred to as Grove Springs, since it was a small settlement near a freshwater spring that served as a resting place for travelers along the Texas Road.

Springs was dropped from the town name in 1888 when Captain Remsen applied for a post office, thus creating the name Grove.

In the early years the arrival of many new settlers prompted the community to organize. But even before the laying out of the town site and the creation of Grove there was an elected board of trustees, or town council, which governed the town and made the crucial decisions.

In 1940, the Pensacola Dam was completed with the Grand River being dammed up to form Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, bringing electricity to the Cherokee Nation in Indian Territory. In the process the town of Grove was almost completely surrounded by water.

The construction of Sailboat Bridge on the north and Honey Creek Bridge on the south connected Grove to surrounding towns and Grove began to boom.

Grove continued to thrive and, as the years passed, new businesses were attracted to the area. The Grove Hospital was founded in 1963; the Grove Public Library was established in 1964; and in 1968 HarBer Village, the largest antique museum in the United States, was created.

Echoes of these times past are reflected in many of the stores in the downtown area, the never-ending coves of the lake water, and in the faces of current-day residents - an enthusiasm for tomorrow’s future that makes Living the Grand Life in Grove so special!