Embark on a tour of three of Oklahoma City’s favorite Districts with 405 Magazine. First up: The Horizons District.
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We proudly present the first episode of our 2025 Cadillac-sponsored series, The Cadillac District Tour. We are excited to unveil this captivating journey that captures the essence of luxury and style.
This summer, Cadillac sent Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and travel influencer Matt Payne on a tour of three dynamic districts in Oklahoma City. From the bustling streets filled with boutique shops and local artisans to the tantalizing array of culinary delights, this series will spotlight the essence and charm of The Horizons, Wheeler and Stockyards districts. In this captivating three-part video series, Matt Payne Media takes us on an intimate journey into the heart and distinctiveness of each district. Follow along on Instagram as we debut a new video each summer month.
What sets Oklahoma City’s Horizons District apart? Simple: it’s massive. We’re not talking about a few shops and a food truck. This is a place where a waterpark is just the opening act. Okana Resort isn’t just a lazy river and splash pad; it’s a full-blown resort with enough food, entertainment, and sensory overload to keep an entire family buzzing for days.
Just steps away, the First Americans Museum stands as a powerful counterpoint, elegant, contemplative, and profoundly moving. This isn’t your average afternoon excursion. It’s a world-class cultural institution, on par with the Smithsonian, that brings history and heritage to life through exhibits, storytelling, and sacred art.
Horizons is a place where adrenaline and meaning coexist. In the span of a single day, you can feel your pulse quicken on a water slide and then be stilled by the quiet resonance of ancestral wisdom. That kind of harmony, between thrill and thoughtfulness, is rare.
What surprises me most is that all of this is here, in Oklahoma. I didn’t grow up with this version of the city. Back then, “entertainment district” meant a suburban mall with a pretzel counter and maybe a movie theater. But today, I can point to this neighborhood and say, “That’s where it all comes together: culture, excitement, reflection.” And that recalibration of expectations is thrilling in its own right.
My ideal day in Horizons begins at sunrise, with a quiet walk along the river, coffee in hand, letting the skyline stretch awake. Then, a slow wander through the museum, not for an exhibit, but for the simple act of looking. No itinerary. Just art, space, and story.
Lunch is a meal from one of the district’s newest culinary spots–something with spice and possibility. Then it’s on to Okana. I start with the slides, because sometimes joy begins with speed, before drifting into the lazy river with a cocktail, somewhere between an adventure and a nap.
The day wraps up at Smokehouse Social with a tomahawk steak, barbecue, and a few rounds on the golf simulator. Then, I wind down on my private deck, watching the sunset into the Oklahoma River, the city’s pulse now a quiet echo.
About Matt Payne:
Matt Payne is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, writer, photographer, and educator based in Oklahoma City. Payne was the Travel Editor of 405 Magazine and has been a contributing writer and photographer to National Geographic Traveler, Travel Age West, Explorer Magazine and many other travel publications.
