Wife rented a cabin on Lake Nocona, a place, admittedly, I have never heard of. It is about 4.5 driving hours away from me in NE Texas. Our visit is scheduled for mid-September. Anyone know the area, things to do around there etc.

Well, if you like golf, Nocona has a really nice course, Indian Oaks, and then there's Nocona Hills, which is really something. Not that far back to Gainesville and I 35 north to Winstar world casino if you like a little gambling. Gainesville also has a really nice zoo if you have kids, or even if you don't. Heading west from Nocona, if you want a really good steak, hit McBrides Steakhouse. The ribeye and quail is killer. You're a couple weeks late for the Muenster Germanfest, but depending on when you come up, Gainesville has a decent rodeo, and I think there's a ranch rodeo in Muenster but I'm not sure when that one is.

If you like craft beer, there is a brewery in Nocona that has decent beer and food. There is pizza place in downtown Nocona that has decent brick fired pizza.
If you want to experience the true Nocona locals, go hang out at the VFW hall.
The lake itself is a good bass fishing lake and has lots of crappie in it as well. Family friends used to have a ranch just outside Nocona and spent several weekend up there.

Red River Station in Saint Jo is a great, outdoor live music venue. It's an old lumber yard, that has been converted into a stage/bar area. It's usually open Friday and Saturday nights, and it's very family friendly!

https://www.redriverstation.com/

Far from Nocona, in the town of Alpine I had a bartender who told me he was from Nocona.

I asked if they all wore Nocona boots back home. He said they tried, but they sure as hell didn't wear Ariats!


Thus concludes my random story.

All the places mentioned are good. Muenster has Rohmer's for German food. Germanfest was back at the end of April though. From St Jo if you take FM 2382 (Next to the DQ) North, you'll have a nice drive out along the bluff. There's the 4R Winery and Blue Ostrich Winery and just west of there near FM 677 is Arche Winery. On 377 north of Muenster is Turtle Hill Golf Course. One of the tee boxes is on a cliff.

Also, that's North Central Texas...

Lake Nocona (Locals call it Farmers Creek Lake cause that is what they dam'd up to make it in 1959-1960).
Its around 1300-1400 acres and when full the deepest part is about 80 feet. It is a water supply lake for the county.
Right now its in good shape at about 85% full. It is a great largemouth bass fisheries as they have stocked native largemouth along with Florida strain. There is some timber on the upper end of the lake and grass around the banks.
Think it has two or three public boat ramps. Not a big lake but good fishing.