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Lake Murray Ardmore, OK
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( Links Below)
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Completed in 1937, Lake Murray Resort Park was Oklahoma's first state park--the
first of its kind in the state to offer modern, first class facilities, state
owned and operated, open to the public, and at a highly popular recreational
spot. The first lodge in the state park system was built at Lake Murray in 1949
and is still a favorite destination. Also Oklahoma's largest state park, Lake
Murray Resort Park covers 12,496 acres of land and surrounds Lake Murray, a
5,728 acre lake with 150 miles of shoreline. Up until the Civil War this area
was home or hunting ground to Indian tribes including the Caddo, the Osage, the
Comanche, the Chickasaws, and the Choctaws. After the Civil War, the Indians
were forced to sell their lands to farmers and ranchers. Construction of the
reservoir and park facilities was completed by the National Park Service and the
Civilian Conservation Corps. Fishing, boating, and all water sports, including
scuba diving, are found at Lake Murray. Other activities include golfing,
picnicking, camping, horseback riding, hayrides, hiking, biking, roller blading,
swimming, miniature golf, paddle boating, and a variety of sports. Sports
facilities include an 18 hole golf course with a pro shop, 3 tennis courts, 3
softball fields, a baseball diamond, 2 horseshoe pits, a badminton net, and a
volleyball net. An airstrip, a bait & tackle shop, 2 grocery stores, a
marina with rentals and enclosed fishing dock, a swimming pool (with a changing
house), a swimming beach, a riding stable, a remote control air field for
hobbyists, a scuba outfitter, a paddleboat/cruise/water sport concession, a
miniature golf course, a game room, an indoor pool, and a unique nature center
and museum (Tucker Tower Nature Center) are some of the other facilities found
in the park. Picnickers will find over a 100 tables, 7 group picnic shelters,
and a picnic gazebo. For campers, there are 56 modern (water, electric, ewer) RV
sites, 212 sites with water and electric, 185 regular campsites - 15 with cement
tent pads, and unlimited primitive camping in the surrounding woods. Less rugged
lodgings can be found at the Lake Murray Lodge with 50 rooms and suites, 7
meeting rooms, The Apple Bin restaurant, and the Parlor (food, drinks, &
country music); or, rent one of 81 cottages (some with kitchenettes and lake
views). Groups may rent one of three large camps with bunkhouses, community
centers, and kitchens. Visitors can enjoy a ranger program at the nature center,
or hike, ride, or bike one of the many trails: Buckhorn Nature Trail (a 3 mile
shoreline trail), Anadarche Creek Trail (a 1.2 mile shoreline trail through
bottomland forest), Elephant Rock Multi-Use Trail (a 1 mile trail for walking,
roller blading, or bicycling), Pear Orchard Motorcycle Use Area (10 miles of
trails for dirt bikes and 3 or 4 wheel ATV's), a 2 mile equestrian trail, or (if
not being used by the Okla. Field Trial Association) approximately 10 miles of
trail riding in the Field Trial Area. Rentals available include motor boats,
sailboats, paddle boats, water bikes, jet skis, canoes, or cruise boats. Hickory
Creek public hunting area is located adjacent to the southern border of the
park. Lose yourself on the trail of fun at Oklahoma's largest resort
destination.
Lake Murray Links
Event and Attraction Information
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Lake
Murray State Park Home Page - A
quick summary of this crystal clear freshwater lake noted for its small
mouth bass fishing and boating.
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History
of Lake Murray - Written by Ardmoreite Robert (Bob) Allen,
geologist, this documentary ties the unusual geology that enabled the Lake
Murray dam to be built and the WPA workers of the time. Please see
the section on the Geology of the Arbuckle Mountain area, which has
tombstone-like rock outcroppings found in very few places in the world.
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Lake
Murray Photos - Lots of photos of this State Park......may
take a while to load depending on your modem speed. Please be
patient, it's worth it!
| Locator Map |
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Pricing
Minimum Price:6.00 - 18.00,Group Rate:200.00 - 250.00,Maximum Price:53.00 -
275.00
Telephone Number(s)
Toll Free: 800-257-0322,Business Phone: 580-223-4044,Business Phone:
580-223-6600 (lodge), Business Phone: 580-223-6613 (golf), Fax:
580-223-4052,Business Phone: 580-223-2109 (nature), Business Phone: 580-223-9339
(marina)
Location
Located halfway between Oklahoma City and Dallas, just east of I-35
Directions
Take Exit 24 or 29 off I-35, south of Ardmore; then 3 miles E on SH 70, 1/10
miles S on scenic 77.
Year Built/Event Started 1937
General Amenities/Services
Accommodations, Airstrip, Automatic Teller Machine (ATM), Banquet Facilities,
Cabins, Campground, Chapel available, Children's Activities (Supervised),
Children's Activities (Unsupervised), Gift Shop, Grocery Store, Ice Machine,
Parking (Free), Public Restroom, Public Telephone, Recreation specialist on
staff to help you plan your activities, Restaurant, Shuttle Service (Free),
Snack Bar/Shop, Television (Big Screen), Vending Machines, Worship Services
Holiday Hours & Days of Operation
Campgrounds always open; some facilities may be closed during winter holidays.
Hours & Days of Operation
Park office: (In season) 8am - 5pm, 7 days a week; (Off season) 8am - 5pm,
Monday thru Friday. Most of the campgrounds are always open, year round. Golf
course open from dawn to dusk. Call for hours for the marina, stables, grocery
stores, and concessions.
Recreation Activities
Biking (BMX Trail), Biking (Mountain), Biking (Road Bike), Bird Watching,
Boating (Power), Boating (Sail), Camping, Canoeing, Fishing, Golf, Hay Rides,
Hiking, Horseback, Riding, Hunting, Jogging, Kayaking, Paddle boating, Scuba
diving, Skating (In-Line), Swimming, Tennis, Water Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
Recreations Facilities
Badminton net, Ball Field, Bike Trail (Bicycle), Bike Trail (Mountain), Boat
Dock, Boat Launch, Boat Storage, Enclosed fishing dock, Fishing Dock, Golf
(Driving Range), Golf (Pro Shop), Golf (Putting Green),G olf Course, Golf Course
(Miniature), Group camps & lodge have clubhouses/community centers, Hiking
Trail, Horseback Riding Stable, Horseback Riding Trail, Horseshoe Pits, Indoor
pool coming soon, Lake on Property, Lake/River Access, Marina, Nature Center,
Nature Trail, Off Road Vehicle Trail, Outdoor Grill, Picnic Shelter, Picnic
Tables, Playground (Outdoor), Remote Control Airfield, Scuba training area,
Swimming (Beach), Swimming Pool (Outdoor), Tennis Court, Volleyball Court
Recreation Services
Bait & Tackle Available, Boat storage, sales, & service, Lifeguard on
Duty, Loading/unloading docks, gas dock for boats, LP Gas Fill, Nature Programs
Recreation Rental Services
Bike Rental (Bicycle), Bike Rental (Mountain), Boat Rental (Fishing Boat), Boat
Rental (Paddle), Boat Rental (Pontoon), Boat Rental (Power) Boat Rental (Sail),
Boat slip rental, Canoe Rental, Golf Cart Rental, Golf Club Rental, Horse
Rental, Jet Ski/Wave runner Rental, Paddle boats, Picnic Shelter Rental, Scuba
Rental, Water bikes
Number of Golf Holes 18
Lake Acreage 5728
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