The park has been home to the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute since 1978. Young Oklahomans between 14 and 18 years old can apply and audition to study with well-known artists. The state spent $17 million to build a new Resort and Arts Conference Center, which opened on March 8, 2001. This facility, named Quartz Mountain Nature Park, became the property of the Oklahoma Board of Regents for Higher Education in 2002 before being turned back over to care of the Oklahoma State Park system in October of 2020.