edThe name “Monkey Island Oklahoma” originates from stories of a large number of monkeys on the island in Grand Lake O’ The Cherokee. Before the Cherokee Nation settled in Oklahoma in the early 1800s, the area was inhabited by various species of primates.
During the Cherokee’s travels, a large number of monkeys either escaped or were released onto the island, where they remained until the early 1900s. This gave rise to the island’s moniker, which has since been embraced by visitors.