Lake Eufaula State Park is a 2,853-acre (11.55Â km2) Oklahoma state park located in McIntosh County, Oklahoma. It is 14 miles (23Â km) southwest of Checotah. The park was formerly known as Fountainhead State Park. The name was changed effective November 1, 2002.
The park has a swimming area with a beach, and multiple boat ramps. Fishing is possible year-round, and a marina and a tackle shop are located within the park. The Deep Fork Nature Center is located within the park; and there are hiking, mountain bike, and equestrian trails. The park also has campsites for RV and tents.
Fountainhead LodgeEdit
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The park was formerly home to Fountainhead Lodge, a 202-room state-run resort hotel financed by state bonds and federal economic development loans. Fountainhead was one of two lodges built on Eufaula Lake in 1965, the other being Arrowhead Lodge at Arrowhead State Park. The lodge was never very profitable, and the state was threatened with foreclosure on both Arrowhead and Fountainhead by the federal government in 1983. The lodge closed in December, 1984, and was deeded to the U.S. Economic Development Administration. In 1985, the lodge was sold to a group led by Melvyn Bell of Little Rock, Arkansas. By 1990, Bell Equities had invested millions of dollars in upgrades. In 2005, the lodge was sold at sheriff's auction to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, who subsequently demolished the hotel in 2008. At the time of demolition, the Muscogee Nation had plans to build a new resort at the same location.
Proposed park closure in 2018Edit
In March 2017, the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation published a list of 16 state parks that may be closed to help offset a reduction in its budget for 2018. Lake Eufaula State Park is on this list. This list represents approximately one-half of the parks remaining after the department closed seven parks in 2011.
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