This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
but says, “I think the Oklahoma side of the lake is a little more family oriented. We have a lot of accommodations for people who want to camp or stay in simple cabins al- though we do have facilities for those who want a bit more luxury.”


Several small resorts offer a variety of services and accom- modations and there are a few, new, off-the-water motels available.


Although the lodge is gone, there’s still plenty of camping and RV space at Lake Texoma State Park. Other park ame- nities include a swimming beach, nature center and hiking trails. Alberta Creek Resort in Kingston, rents ski boats, skis, tubes and sea-doos. For land-lubbers, golf is big at Chickasaw Pointe, one of Oklahoma’s premier public courses. And you’ll get great views of the lake from 16 of its 18 holes. Other area courses include Winstar at the west end of the lake and nine-hole Bun- combe Creek Golf Course in Kingston. Oklahoma’s third-largest lake, Grand, not constrained by Corps of Engineer’s restrictions, features the most round-the-lake development. Restaurants, accommodations and entertain- ment opportunities abound. Busy year-round with fi shermen angling for bass, crappie, bluegill and catfi sh, the lake hosts a number of tournaments during the year. This October, fi shermen from 40 states will pursue shares of the $150,000 purse in the American Bass Anglers AFT National Championship. And the 2013 Bassmaster Classic will be held


on the lake.


Last summer several of Oklahoma’s lakes were hit with algae blooms. Grand, being the largest and busi- est of these lakes, got the most publicity. Blue-green algae is a free-fl oating microscopic organism that is naturally present in lakes. The only time it becomes a problem is when the population explodes (blooms) to a level at which the toxins it produces become danger- ous to humans. Conditions last summer—high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in the lake, high temperatures and calm winds—created perfect conditions for the al-


gae to grow.


Executive Director of the Grand Lake Association Tad Jones comments, “The thing that’s frustrating is that it’s a natural occurrence and it’s actually cleaning the lake. It’s bad for the week or so that it’s there but the week after, it’s better than it was before—but no one ever remembers that part of it.”


State parks are dotted all around the lake. The fi ve lake parks now are labeled by area under the name Grand Lake State Park—so Cherokee State Park is called Cherokee Area at Grand Lake State Park, etc. All of the areas—Chero- kee, Disney/Little Blue, Bernice, Honey Creek and Twin Bridges—have boat ramps and camping; most have hiking trails. Cherokee features the nine-hole Grand Cherokee Golf Course just below the Pensacola Dam and Twin Bridges includes lake huts.


Best of the Rest in the East


Size doesn’t necessarily matter when it comes to the lakes people love. Every- one has a favorite for different reasons. For many, Tenkiller is the only place they’ll go. Noted for its clear waters, it’s home to Oklahoma’s only underwater park for scuba divers. Don’t scuba? This is the place to learn. Ozarks Electric Cooperative members Brook and Kevin Dudley own Cook- son Bend Cabins and Marina on the lake and can meet lots of needs. They rent ski boats, skis and tubes and, this year, have added stand-up paddle boards. Among the attractions at Tenkiller State Park are cabins, a nature center, swimming beach and swimming pool. Some of the cabins are pet friendly. State facilities also star at Fort Gibson Lake. Sequoyah State Park is home to Western Hills Guest Ranch. In addition to all the lake activities, guests here can enjoy horseback riding, golf and tennis.


Beavers Bend State Park is another of Oklahoma’s gems. Set on beautiful Broken Bow Lake, amenities here include a lodge, cabins, golf, horseback rid- ing, a nature center and hiking trails. In addition to lake fi shing, trout fi shing on the Mountain Fork River is a draw.


Outside the park, cabins and houses, available for rent, dot the pine-cov-


ered hillsides. There are accommodations for all guests but since discovery by upscale metroplexers from Dallas and Fort Worth, offerings here have been kicked up several notches. Finicky foodies are delighted with the quality fare at Choctaw Cooperative member Chad Sargent’s Abendigo’s Grill and those looking for the luxury of a marvelous massage head for Body Harmony Day Spa owned by Choctaw Electric Cooperative member Valerie Skiles. Coopera- tive member Chandra Rickey’s elegant Lago Vista Bed and Breakfast lives up to its name with views of Broken Bow Lake from its balconies. Lake Murray, site of Oklahoma’s fi rst state park, remains a favorite with a number of Oklahomans. Fed by water from springs and small creeks, the lake’s clear waters make it a mecca for fi shing, swimming and scuba diving. The state park offers added attractions including the lodge and cabins, horseback rid- ing, golf and the popular Tucker Tower Nature Center. Kaw Lake, near Ponca City, has great camping areas—there’s even a horse camping area located handily at the start of the Five Fingers Equestrian Trail. Pontoon boats are available for rent at the McFadden Cove Marina. Accord- ing to Kaw Lake Association Director Kathy Tippin, “Because we’re a little less developed than some of the other lakes, even on a busy holiday there’s plenty of room for people to spread out and enjoy jet skiing, fi shing, swimming and boating.”


Lake Eufaula Lake Altus-Lugert 18 OKLAHOMA LIVING Lake Tenkiller


All photos courtesy of Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168  |  Page 169  |  Page 170  |  Page 171  |  Page 172  |  Page 173  |  Page 174  |  Page 175  |  Page 176  |  Page 177  |  Page 178