Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation

The Department of Tourism and Recreation is led by the executive director, who is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. The current executive director is Shelley Zumwalt, who was appointed on October 12, 2022.

Administered by the executive director, the Department began in 1931 when the Oklahoma Legislature appropriated funds for the land on which Lake Murray is located.  In 1951, Lake Murray State Park also became the site for the first of seven state-owned lodges.  Through the years, park, lodge, and tourism programs rested in the Planning and Resources Board, the Department of Commerce and Industry, and the Industrial Development and Park Department.  In 1972, the legislature created the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department which is made up of four divisions.

The Division of State Parks operates the Oklahoma State Parks System.

The Oklahoma Film and Music Office promotes the film and music industry by actively recruiting film and music productions.

The Travel Promotion Division markets Oklahoma through regional, national, and international advertisement and travel promotion programs such as Travel Information Centers, “Discover Oklahoma” television show, and “Oklahoma Today Magazine”, and Oklahoma’s tourism information site, “TravelOK.com.”

In 2018, tourism was Oklahoma’s third largest industry and contributed $9.6 billion to Oklahoma’s economy in direct visitor spending, $708 million dollars in state and local taxes, and supported 103,600 jobs throughout the state.  

On April 25, 2022, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation cancelled its contract with Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen, a restaurant owned by Brent Swadley, after Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency found the department had paid Swadley's nearly $17 million for "financial losses, management fees and capital improvements." Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater called for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to open a criminal investigation into Swadley's and for Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd to conduct a forensic audit.[3]

• Executive Director
  • Administrative Services Division - central offices of the Department, coordinates the fiscal activities of the operating divisions, provides financial information, fiscal control, and payroll, personnel, purchasing, and vendor payment services.
  • State Parks Division - operates the state parks, lodges and golf courses under the jurisdiction and control of the Department, researches and develops statistical information and economic development and planning assistance to the Department and to communities throughout the state, and also administers federal grant funds for outdoor recreational development
  • Travel Promotion Division - formulates information and marketing plans and programs designed to attract tourists to the state and oversees the dissemination of information concerning the State's public and private attractions, lodges, parks and recreational facilities, provides assistance to cities, public and private associations and organizations in the promotion of special events of local or historical interest and in the solicitation of conferences, meetings and conventions. Maintains the official Oklahoma travel and tourism website. The division is also responsible for publication of Oklahoma Today magazine and production of Discover Oklahoma television show, which airs weekly on network stations in Oklahoma and north Texas.
  • Oklahoma Film and Music Division- works with in-state and out-of-state music and film industry officials to promote, support and expand the music and film activity in the state of Oklahoma

• List of Oklahoma state parks

• "Official Website". Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department (Travel Promotion Division). Retrieved February 5, 2019.
• List of Oklahoma state parks