Wah-Sha-She Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wah-Sha-She Park |
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 Wah-Sha-She Park
Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | Osage County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nearest city | Copan, OK |
| Area | 266 acres (108 ha) |
| Established | 1973 |
| Visitors | 15,000 (in 2012) |
| Governing body | Osage Nation |
Wah-Sha-She Park is a fun place to visit in Osage County, Oklahoma. It sits right on the shore of Hulah Lake. This park covers about 266-acre (108 ha) of land. It offers many cool activities for families and friends.
You can go boating, fishing, swimming, and camping here. Next to the park, there's a large area for hunting. There's also a special 2,000-acre (810 ha) Waterfowl Refuge. This refuge is a great spot for birdwatching.
The name "Wah-Sha-She" has a special meaning. Some say it comes from the Osage language. It means "the water people." Another idea is that the tribe called themselves Wah-Zha-Zhe. This was when a French explorer named Jacques Marquette met them. He wrote their name as Ouchage on his map in 1673. So, the park is named after the Osage people themselves.
Park History
Wah-Sha-She Park first opened in 1973. You can find it about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. To get there, take Oklahoma State Highway 99. Then, drive 10 miles (16 km) east on State Highway 10. It is also west of Copan, Oklahoma on State Highway 10.
Saving the Park
In 2011, the state of Oklahoma planned to close Wah-Sha-She State Park. This was part of a plan to save money. But on Labor Day that year, the Osage Nation stepped in. They decided to take over managing the park. The park land is actually owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Chief John Red Eagle of the Osage Nation explained their goal. He said the Osage people wanted more water fun on their land. This included swimming, boating, camping, and fishing. Taking over the park helped them start this goal.
In May 2012, the Osage Nation signed an agreement. This was with the Corps of Engineers. The agreement lasted until 2016. The Osage Nation would then decide if they wanted to continue.
A news report in 2013 shared good news. The tribe had made the park better. In 2012, about 15,000 people visited. By mid-2013, even more people had come to the park.
However, the park faced money problems later. In 2014, the money earned went down. It dropped from $50,000 in 2013 to $24,000. The costs to run the park also went up. They rose from $140,000 in 2014 to about $150,000 in 2015. Because of this, Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear told the Corps of Engineers that the Osage Nation would end their lease.
A Community Effort
In October 2014, a group of local people decided to help. They formed a non-profit group called the Hulah Lake Osage Association (HLOA). Their goal was to keep the park from closing for good.
The Corps of Engineers said the Osage Nation could not lease the park to a private group. But, if the Osage Nation still owned the lease, they could approve a sublease. This meant the Osage Nation could let another group manage it.
So, the Osage Nation subleased the park to HLOA. HLOA agreed to run and take care of the park. They would collect camping fees and keep track of the money. They also promised to keep the park clean and mowed. All this would be done by volunteers. As of 2020, HLOA was still keeping the park open. It was supported by the fees from campers.
