Lake Eufaula State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Eufaula State Park |
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Lake Eufaula State Park, May 2007
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 Lake Eufaula State Park
Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | McIntosh County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nearest city | Checotah, OK |
| Area | 2,853 acres (1,155 ha) |
| Governing body | Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department |
Lake Eufaula State Park is a super fun place to visit in Oklahoma! It's a big state park, covering about 2,853 acres (that's like 2,150 football fields!). You'll find it in McIntosh County, right on the shores of Lake Eufaula. It's about 14 miles southwest of a town called Checotah.
This park has been around for a while. It opened in 1965 and was first called Fountainhead State Park. Later, in 2002, its name changed to Lake Eufaula State Park. Another nearby park, Arrowhead State Park, is now known as the Arrowhead Area within Lake Eufaula State Park.
There's so much to do here! You can go swimming at the beach or launch your boat from one of the ramps. Fishing is popular all year long, and there's a marina and a tackle shop if you need supplies. The park also has the Deep Fork Nature Center, where you can learn about nature. If you love being active, there are trails for hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding. Plus, you can camp overnight with your RV or in a tent!
Park Entrance Fees
To help keep the park nice and make improvements, there's a small entrance fee to visit Lake Eufaula State Park. This fee started on June 15, 2020.
- Daily Fee: It costs $10 per vehicle for a single day. If you live in Oklahoma and have an Oklahoma license plate, it's $8.
- Who Gets In Free: If you are an honorably discharged veteran or an Oklahoma resident age 62 or older (and your spouse), you don't have to pay the fee.
- Passes: You can also buy passes for three days, a week, or even an annual pass that lets you visit many state parks!
The Story of Fountainhead Lodge
Lake Eufaula State Park used to have a big hotel called Fountainhead Lodge. It had 202 rooms and was run by the state government. This lodge was built in 1965, at the same time as another lodge at Arrowhead State Park.
Over the years, the lodge faced some challenges. It closed in 1984. Later, in 1985, a group of people bought the lodge and spent a lot of money to fix it up. However, in 2005, the lodge was sold again. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation bought it. They decided to tear down the old hotel in 2008. At that time, they had plans to build a brand new resort in the same spot.
