There’s something special happening in Chickasha, and if you were at this week’s groundbreaking, you could feel it in the air. Shovels turned dirt on a project that signals what many of us have known for a while now: national big-box retailers are choosing Chickasha . These new additions, set to open in 2026, aren’t coming here by accident. They’re coming because Chickasha is growing, thriving, and proving itself to be a destination. Our population has officially surpassed 17,000 , and our trade area now reaches over 120,000 people . That’s a powerful number, and it’s attracting powerful opportunities. But what’s even more exciting is that we’re nowhere near finished. More homes are going up across the community, and new businesses at the Industrial Park are gearing up to bring jobs, investment, and long-term stability. Momentum isn’t just building…it’s accelerating. And here’s the best part: this success isn’t happening because of luck. It’s happening because people here work together. From City Hall to local businesses, from volunteers to residents who simply want a better tomorrow, our schools, the Chamber, the EDC, Chickasha is proving that collaboration is our greatest strength. When we show up for each other, good things follow. When we plan boldly, progress follows. When we speak with one voice, opportunity listens. Mayor Grayson put it perfectly at the groundbreaking when he said the three words that define today’s Chickasha are: Unified. Thriving. Unstoppable. Those aren’t just words, they’re a reflection of who we’ve become and who we intend to be. Unified in purpose. Thriving in growth. Unstoppable in spirit. And if the last few months are any indication, Chickasha’s brightest days aren’t ahead of us—they’ve already begun and that’s # TheGoodStuff .

It’s that time of year when Chickasha leans into all the hoopla with the Leg Lamp and the result feels a bit like watching a hometown inside joke grow into a regional tradition, then into a full-blown cultural beacon. The glow from that sculpted stocking seems to draw people the way a campfire pulls storytellers. All over town…the affection shows. A&E Grill has suited up their team in holiday Leg Lamp t-shirts, turning every server into a moving reminder that grit, humor, and good food are the triple-threat of a thriving business. You can almost track the seasons by the outfits: football starts, temperatures drop, and suddenly the staff is dressed in soft-cotton holiday cheer, carrying burgers and beverages beneath that iconic lampshade. Ben & Jay’s keeps their Leg Lamp shining in the window like a lighthouse for nostalgia-seekers. Long before the rest of the country caught on, they understood that this quirky symbol wasn’t just a movie prop, it was a story starter. Visitors wander in, point, laugh, reminisce, and then enjoy a great dining experience. “Ralphie’s Restaurant” will open up soon as the creative couple behind Shakespeare Wine venture out to their second venue, just a half block from the 40 foot Leg Lamp. With their previous experience, many expect great things to come from their new restaurant. This new place is a completely separate business from the Air BnB down Chickasha avenue called Ralphie’s House. Shane Henry and Maggie McClure are not just the incredibly talented musicians behind the music videos of Hometown Christmas and Christmas Town, they are also the creative minds behind their tribute house to the movie “A Christmas Story.” And over at The Crafty Queen, our Community’s unofficial ambassador of Tourism, Pamela Prather has already sold several dozen officially licensed Leg Lamps this season. They’re heading out the door under the arms of tourists, families, and road-trippers who’ve detoured off the highway because they heard about “that giant lamp in Oklahoma.” Each one becomes a tiny ambassador once plugged into a living room somewhere far away. Even beyond Chickasha’s borders, the Leg Lamp continues its improbable rise. The Leg Lamp documentary “Fragile”, filmed right here, is finding a comfortable home on streaming platforms and introducing thousands of viewers to the story behind the story. What began as a hometown passion project now beams itself into living rooms nationwide, carrying with it a piece of our community’s creativity and grit, with a little laughter thrown in too. And just this past Sunday, The Oklahoman ran a feature story on how the Leg Lamp has boosted Chickasha’s local economy. Increased tourism, higher foot traffic downtown, and visitors staying longer and spending more. Turns out a single fiberglass leg can kickstart quite a bit of commerce. What some once thought was just a novelty has gone on to pay real dividends for restaurants, retailers, hotels, and the entire holiday season. The truth is simple: the Leg Lamp is no longer just ours. It belongs to every visitor whose face lights up when they see it for the first time. It belongs to the people who proudly wear it on a t-shirt, display it in their window, or watch the documentary with friends. And it belongs to the businesses that lean into the fun each year, building a warm and weirdly wonderful seasonal tradition that only Chickasha could pull off. The lamp keeps glowing, and Chickasha keeps growing and that’s #TheGoodStuff .