I know exactly what you mean! I went to HS in north Texas (currently live in DFW) and not once did my family ever consider SE Oklahoma a camping destination. By chance my wife went to a yoga retreat in Broken Bow and was so impressed she forced my to make the drive and we explored the whole area. It’s a hidden gem that many Texans never realized existed because Oklahoma. Earlier this year we bought 20 acres just outside the national forest (2 acres separate us from a trailhead) and plan to build a cabin soon.