Lyons Ferry Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lyons Ferry State Park
Snake River Bridge, a major landmark of Lyons Ferry State Park
Lyons Ferry State Park Location in Washington (state)
Location	Franklin, Washington, United States
Area	168 acres (68 ha)
Elevation	1,191 ft (363 m)
Established	1971
Operator	Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Website	Lyons Ferry State Park

Lyons Ferry State Park is a fun place to visit in Washington. It's a public park where you can enjoy the outdoors. The park is located where two big rivers meet: the Snake River and the Palouse River. It's about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of a town called Starbuck.

The park sits right next to Lake Herbert G. West. This lake was formed when the Lower Monumental Dam was built on the Snake River in the 1960s. At Lyons Ferry State Park, you can go boating, fishing, and swimming. It's a great spot for water activities! The park is managed by two groups working together: the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps of Engineers also runs the Lyons Ferry Marina, which is a place for boats.

Park History

Lyons Ferry State Park is named after an old ferry service. A ferry is like a boat that carries people and cars across a river. This ferry crossed the Snake River for over 100 years! It stopped running in 1968. That's when a new bridge, called the Snake River Bridge, was built to take its place.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started building the park in 1969. Then, in 1971, they let the state of Washington use the land. So, it became a state park that year. It stayed a state park until 2002. At that time, the state had some money problems, so they gave the park back.

From 2002 to 2015, the Army Corps of Engineers ran the area as "Lyons Ferry Park" and "Lyons Ferry Marina." But in 2015, it became a Washington State Park again! This happened when a new agreement was signed. So, now it's back to being a state park for everyone to enjoy.