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Bull Shoals-White River State Park is a Arkansas state park in Baxter and Marion Counties, Arkansas in the United States. Containing one of the nation's best trout-fishing streams, the park entered the system in 1955 after the United States Army Corps of Engineers built
Initially a flood control and power generation measure, construction on Bull Shoals Dam began in 1947 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Upon completion in 1951, the Corps rented the shoreline to Arkansas, who used the site as a primitive camping spot with no amenities. The state began to upgrade the services at its parks in 1975, adding a wastewater treatment plant, restrooms, and campsites to the park. The park roads were also paved. A run down lodge, formerly used as an overnight stay for dam workers, was removed in 1979.
The park offers 103 riverside campsites, 30 class AAA, 1 class AA, 4 class A, 48 class B, and 20 tent sites. Two rent-a-camp and two rent-a- RV sites are also available. Picnic areas and pavilions are scattered throughout the park, along with trails through the surrounding woods. A marina contains boating equipment and also rents boats. The visitors' center offers programs, workshops, camps, boating and fishing exhibits and an aquarium. Tours of the power generation plant and other dam facilities are available for a fee.
Bull Shoals Lake is Arkansas's largest lake, and is well known as a trout hot spot.
Bull Shoals Dam
Bull Shoals Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the White River in northern Arkansas in the United States. The dam lies on the border of Marion and Baxter Counties, and forms Bull Shoals Lake, which extends well northwest into Missouri. Its main p ...
on the White River. The park runs along the shoreline of Bull Shoals Lake and the White River above and below the dam, and contains picnic areas, a marina, boat rentals, interpretive programs, and a visitors' center with gift shop.
History
Initially a flood control and power generation measure, construction on Bull Shoals Dam began in 1947 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Upon completion in 1951, the Corps rented the shoreline to Arkansas, who used the site as a primitive camping spot with no amenities. The state began to upgrade the services at its parks in 1975, adding a wastewater treatment plant, restrooms, and campsites to the park. The park roads were also paved. A run down lodge, formerly used as an overnight stay for dam workers, was removed in 1979.
Recreation
The park offers 103 riverside campsites, 30 class AAA, 1 class AA, 4 class A, 48 class B, and 20 tent sites. Two rent-a-camp and two rent-a- RV sites are also available. Picnic areas and pavilions are scattered throughout the park, along with trails through the surrounding woods. A marina contains boating equipment and also rents boats. The visitors' center offers programs, workshops, camps, boating and fishing exhibits and an aquarium. Tours of the power generation plant and other dam facilities are available for a fee.
Bull Shoals Lake is Arkansas's largest lake, and is well known as a trout hot spot. Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'') is a species of trout native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead (sometimes called "steelhead trout") is an anadromous (sea-run) form of the coasta ...
and brown trout
The brown trout (''Salmo trutta'') is a European species of salmonid fish that has been widely introduced into suitable environments globally. It includes purely freshwater populations, referred to as the riverine ecotype, ''Salmo trutta'' morph ...
of record size have been caught in the lake, with bream, catfish, crappie
Crappies () are two species of North American freshwater fish of the genus ''Pomoxis'' in the family Centrarchidae (sunfishes). Both species of crappies are popular game fish among recreational anglers.
Etymology
The genus name ''Pomoxis'' ...
and largemouth bass also plentiful. Swimming and other watersports are also welcome at the lake.
See also
*Arkansas Highway 178
Highway 178 (AR 178, Ark. 178, and Hwy. 178) is a designation for two east–west state highways in the Ozark Mountains. One segment begins near Flippin and runs east across Bull Shoals Dam to downtown Mountain Home. A second segment begins i ...
, highway which runs along the top of Bull Shoals Dam and into the park
References
{{authority control State parks of Arkansas State parks of the U.S. Interior Highlands Protected areas of Baxter County, Arkansas Protected areas of Marion County, Arkansas Protected areas established in 1955 1955 establishments in Arkansas