Uncovering “Secret Oklahoma”: Travel Writer Matt Kirouac Shines Light on the Sooner State’s Hidden Gems

A new book, “Secret Oklahoma: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure” releases August 15 from author and journalist Matt Kirouac and takes readers through all of Oklahoma’s quirks and mysteries. 

The Journal-Tribune received an advanced copy of the book, and had the chance to speak with author Kirouac on his collection of statewide secrets and spotlights. 

Locally, the book features “Stone Lion Inn” in Guthrie, Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater, and The Marland Mansion in Ponca City.

Oklahoma may be best known for its tornadoes, cowboy culture, and chicken-fried steak, but travel writer Matt Kirouac wants readers to look beyond the stereotypes.

In his latest book, Secret Oklahoma: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure (Reedy Press), Kirouac peels back the layers of the Sooner State to reveal surprising history, cultural milestones, offbeat attractions, and hidden culinary treasures that even lifelong Oklahomans may not know about.

“This book became an extension of the stories I love to tell—those rooted in discovery, diversity, and a little mystery,” Kirouac said. “I wanted to debunk the flyover country myth and show people how fascinating Oklahoma really is.”

A transplant from New Hampshire and Chicago, Kirouac first visited Oklahoma in 2017 when his brother began dating an Oklahoman. That one visit sparked a sense of curiosity that eventually led him to move to Oklahoma City in 2020. Since then, he's embraced the state not just as home, but as an inspiration.

“Oklahoma is far more welcoming, friendly, and open-minded than people assume,” he said. “There’s a real sense of community here, and both Oklahoma City and Tulsa have this mix of big-city energy and small-town charm.”

From Viking runes carved into ancient sandstone to alligator-inhabited wetlands, the book spotlights Oklahoma's unexpected variety—geographically, culturally, and historically. It also challenges what many people think they know about the state.

Kirouac said most outsiders picture Oklahoma as flat farmland and cow towns, but in fact, the state is one of the most geologically diverse in the nation. “There are swamps, ancient mountains, and more manmade lakes than any other state. It’s wild how diverse the topography is,” he said.

The book highlights destinations ranging from the Viking-inscribed Heavener Runestone in the east to the “No Man’s Land” of the Oklahoma Panhandle, which lacked formal governance for decades in the 1800s.

He also dives into the rich legacy of Oklahoma’s 50+ historically all-Black towns, including Boley, home to one of the nation’s oldest Black rodeos.

“I was very intentional about centering BIPOC and LGBTQ+ stories,” Kirouac said. “Oklahoma history is so much more than cowboys. I didn’t want this to be just another book about cis white men in boots.”

Kirouac also quite literally ate his way across Oklahoma during his research. From the iconic onion burgers of El Reno to the pecan pies of Pie Junkie in Oklahoma City, the book doesn’t shy away from celebrating the state’s culinary identity—pecan pie and all.

“My favorite story is about onion burgers,” he said. “They were invented in El Reno during the Great Depression and are still served at classic joints like Robert’s Grill and Sid’s Diner. My husband actually grew up a block from Johnnie’s Grill, so this chapter was personal.”

The book also pays homage to food history like the 1917 birth of Girl Scout Cookies in Muskogee and Eischen’s in Okarche, the oldest bar in the state.

One of the book’s most poignant sections explores the life of Lynn Riggs, a part-Cherokee, gay playwright from Claremore who wrote Green Grow the Lilacs, the play that inspired Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

“Most people have never even heard of Lynn Riggs,” Kirouac said. “His sexuality and Native heritage contributed to his erasure from the narrative. He’s a queer icon and deserves to be recognized.”

Kirouac said he hopes readers walk away with not only a deeper appreciation for Oklahoma, but a hunger to explore the hidden corners of places often dismissed as ordinary.

With a background writing for publications like Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and AFAR, Kirouac brought his signature blend of curiosity and storytelling to Secret Oklahoma. The result is part travel guide, part cultural celebration, and part myth-busting manifesto.

“I want people—Oklahomans and outsiders—to feel surprised, inspired, and maybe even proud,” he said. “This state has so much to offer. You just have to look beyond the tumbleweeds.”

Kirouac isn’t slowing down. He and his husband are building their LGBTQ+ travel brand, The Gay Lane, complete with a podcast and YouTube channel. They also run Kirouac Creative, a queer-focused travel consultancy.

He’s also working on more nonfiction projects rooted in his own journey as a queer traveler and road tripper.

“There’s so much power in storytelling,” Kirouac said. “It helps people see a place more fully—and maybe even see themselves a little differently, too.”