Lake Murray (Oklahoma) facts for kids

Map of Lake Murray and Lake Murray State Park.

Lake Murray is a large, man-made lake in south central Oklahoma. It's near the city of Ardmore. The lake is named after Oklahoma Governor William H. Murray. It was created by building a dam across two creeks called Anadarche and Fourche Maline.

The lake covers about 5,700 acres (23 km²). It is completely inside Lake Murray State Park, which is Oklahoma's biggest state park. The park has over 12,500 acres (51 km²) of wild natural areas. There's a lodge and resort run by the state on the west side of the lake. Many visitors stay there, and it's a great base for cabins and campgrounds around the lake.

On October 12, 2001, Lake Murray State Park became the first state park in Oklahoma to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized for its important history and design.

Park History

The idea for a lake here started in 1929. A man named George C. Gibbons thought it would be a good spot for a wildlife refuge with a lake. Senator Elmer Thomas also became interested in the plan. He tried to get money from the government for the project.

Then, William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray became Governor of Oklahoma in 1931. The Great Depression was happening, and many people needed jobs. Governor Murray saw that building a park and lake would create lots of work. People would build it, and then others would work there later.

In 1933, the Oklahoma government set aside money to buy land for the park. They bought about 10,000 acres (40 km²) in Carter and Love Counties. The park and the new lake were named Lake Murray after Governor Murray.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build the park. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men. They built many of the park's structures and facilities. The park's design followed a style called "National Park Service Rustic." This style uses natural materials like stone and wood to blend with the environment. It was also used in famous parks like Yellowstone.

Lake Murray State Park Lodge opened in 1951. It was the first of seven state-owned resort lodges in Oklahoma. In 2013, the state decided to build a new lodge. The new lodge was finished in 2017.

Park Activities and Features

Lake Murray State Park is Oklahoma's oldest and largest state park. The state bought the land for the park in 1933.

During the Great Depression, two special programs helped build the park. These were the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Thousands of people worked on the park project. They also started building a unique castle-like building called Tucker Tower. Lake Murray State Park was the first state park built in Oklahoma.

The lake was finished in 1937 and opened to the public in 1938. Work on Tucker Tower stopped in 1935. It was left unfinished for many years. The tower was designed to look like a European castle. A local politician, Senator Fred Tucker, took photos of a castle during World War I, and the tower was named after him.

Today, Lake Murray is a great place for all kinds of water sports. You can go fishing, boating, and swimming. Lake Murray Lodge has rooms, suites, and cabins for visitors. It also has a restaurant.

There are many other fun things to do at the park:

• Boating, swimming, and fishing
• Golfing on an 18-hole course
• Picnics and camping
• Horseback riding and hayrides
• Hiking, biking, and rollerblading
• Miniature golf and paddle boating

The park also has an area for ATVs, motorcycles, and dirt bikes. You can find an airstrip, a marina with boat rentals, and a swimming beach. There are also stables for horses and a remote control airfield for hobbyists. The park has nine RV campgrounds with over 300 RV sites. There are also many places for tent camping. All campgrounds have restrooms and showers.

Lake Murray State Park is very popular. In 2011, it had over 1.7 million visitors. It also earned a lot of money from activity fees, which helps support the park.

Lake Description

Lake Murray
Lake Murray Location in Oklahoma Show map of Oklahoma Lake Murray Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Carter / Love counties, Oklahoma, US
Coordinates	34°02′59″N 97°04′20″W / 34.0496°N 097.0721°W / 34.0496; -097.0721
Lake type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	Anadarche Creek, Fourche Maline Creek
Primary outflows	Fourche Maline Creek
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	5,728 acres (2,318 ha)
Water volume	153,520 acre⋅ft (189.36 hm3)
Shore length1	67 miles (108 km)
Settlements	Ardmore, Oklahoma
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Murray is a man-made lake. It was created by building an earthen dam across the Anadarche and Fourche Maline Creeks. The main reason for building it was for people to use it for fun and recreation. The lake has a surface area of about 5,728 acres (23 km²). Its shoreline stretches for about 67 miles (108 km). The dam was finished in 1937.

Engineers from Oklahoma Agricultural & Mechanical College, now called Oklahoma State University (OSU), helped plan the dam. The WPA started building the dam in 1935. It was completed and given to the state on March 5, 1938. The dam has a concrete center covered with earth and rocks.

Tucker Tower

Tucker Tower, on the southern shore of Lake Murray

Tucker Tower was first planned as a summer home for Governor William H. "Alfalfa Bill" Murray. This was to thank him for helping to get the lake and park built. The design was based on photos of a European castle. These photos were taken by Fred Tucker, a World War I veteran and Oklahoma state senator. The tower is named after him.

The tower is made of limestone found right at the park. It is five stories tall with a viewing deck at the top. There's also a two-story section that was meant to be a living area. The inside was not finished when money ran out in 1935. No governor ever stayed there. Years later, floors and a spiral staircase were added. The whole building was turned into a museum.

The tower reaches 65 feet (20 meters) into the air from its first-floor patio. This gives amazing views for miles around. The patio itself is about 60 feet (18 meters) above the lake. The tower has covered and open patios. There's a path lined with trees and flowers from the parking lot. You can find shaded benches along the path to watch birds and wildlife.

Tucker Tower opened to the public in 1954 as a geology museum. It showed off a special meteorite found at the park in the 1930s. This meteorite, called the Lake Murray Meteorite, is still on display. It's the largest of its kind ever found and the fifth largest in the world. It was cut in half to show its inside. This gives a rare look into the 90-million-year-old object.

In 1981, the tower became a nature center. It has many exhibits, including:

• The Lake Murray Meteorite
• Bones of a mastodon found nearby
• A collection of animal skulls
• Exhibits about fossils, Lake Murray's history, insects, fish, and wildlife
• Displays about local legends and rock specimens

Tucker Tower was closed for a big update and reopened in 2013. The update cost about $3 million. It added a 4,000 square foot (372 m²) section. The nature center now has a classroom and exhibits about local geology, wildlife, and the people who first lived there.

Park Fees

To help pay for park improvements, the state started charging an entrance fee for this park and 21 others on June 15, 2020. The fees are charged per vehicle. They start at $10 per day. Oklahoma residents with an Oklahoma license plate pay $8. Veterans who were honorably discharged and Oklahoma residents age 62 and older (and their spouses) do not have to pay fees. You can also buy passes for three days, a week, or an annual pass for all 22 state parks that charge fees.

National Register of Historic Places

Lake Murray State Park was the first state park in Oklahoma to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It was added to the list on October 12, 2001. This listing recognized the park for its connection to special programs during the Great Depression. It was also recognized as a large, well-preserved example of a "Recreational Demonstration Area" in Oklahoma. The park's design also shows the National Park Service's ideas for state and national parks. The park has had a big positive impact on the local economy.

Location

You can reach Lake Murray by taking Interstate 35 to Exit 24. Then, drive east about 2 miles (3 km) on State Highway 77S. Highway 77S goes all the way around the lake. This makes it easy to get to all parts of the lake.

Images for kids

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  Graphic map of Lake Murray & Lake Murray State Park.

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  Tucker Tower, on the southern shore of Lake Murray