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Lake Murray State ParkThis Is The Largest Of The Oklahoma State Parks
The largest and oldest of the state parks in Oklahoma is Lake Murray State Park. It is spread over 12,500 acres and includes the beautiful clear waters of Lake Murray which has a surface area of 5,700 acres. The lake gets its name from the former Oklahoma state Governor, William H. Murray who held office between 1930 and 1934. Lake Murray State Park originated in 1933 when the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began what was to be the very first of the Oklahoma State Parks. Built on land that had once belonged to the Chickasaw Nation, around 17,000 men were used on this job creation scheme during the years of the Great Depression, they laboured for about $1.25 a day in wages.
The lake was completed in 1937 and opened the following year. Another building projest also taking place in the park at the same time was the Tucker Tower. Named after Senator Fred Tucker it was supposed to be built in the fashion of a European castle. However, work on the tower was stopped in 1935 because it was costing too much and taking too long.
The tower was eventually completed by the Oklahoma State Parks service and opened in 1954. It has one roofed and two open patio areas which are 60 feet above the level of the lake. The top of the tower is another 65 feet above that. From its top the views over the lake and surrounding country are stunning. Tucker Tower is now a nature center but it was originally a geological museum from its opening until 1981. The centerpiece of the museum was a meteorite that was found in the park`s lands in the 1930`s. It was the fifth largest in the world ever to be found and is estimated to be over 90 million years old. It is still on display at the tower in Lake Murray State Park alongside many other fascinating exhibits.
Park FacilitiesThe park boasts the Lake Murray Lodge where visitors can book either a suite, ordinary rooms or cabins. There is also a meeting room for hire. Nine different RV campgrounds dot the park with over 300 sites all with full hook ups and showers and restrooms close by. There is also a virtually unlimited number of sites where guests can pitch their tents. Other superb facilities include an airstrip for light aircraft, an ATV area for quod bikes, dirtbikes and motor bikes. A fishing tackle and bait shop, marina with boat hire, golf course and pro shop, beach, swimming pool, horse riding stables, baseball diamond, softball field, tennis and badminton courts and horseshoe pits. The facilities seem to be endless and all are first class. Park ActivitiesAs well as enjoying every type of water sport possible on the crystal clear waters of Lake Murray there is golf, tennis, badminton, baseball, softball, horse riding, hiking, biking, dirtbiking, motorbiking and even horseshoes. Guests can also rent boats at the marina and enjoy some excellent fishing while others may want to just relax or visit the nature center at Tucker Tower. If you are interested in contacting Lake Murray State Park to ask for reservations or anything else, here are some useful phone numbers -
If you would like to download a map of the park which shows the position of all the facilities,
just click here.
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