Lake Eufaula State Park is a

Oklahoma state park Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New ...

located in McIntosh County,

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

on Lake Eufaula. It is southwest of Checotah. The park was formerly known as Fountainhead State Park. Fountainhead, together with the neighboring

Arrowhead State Park The former Arrowhead State Park, now known as the Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park is a Oklahoma state park area located in northern Pittsburg County, Oklahoma on a peninsula of Eufaula Lake. It is located near the city of Canadian, ...

, were created in 1965. Fountainhead's name was changed to Lake Eufaula State Park effective November 1, 2002. Arrowhead is now known as the Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park. 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. On Hummingbird Beach, there is an 18-hole disc golf course. The park also has campsites for RV and tents, as well as three yurts.

Fees

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park and 21 others effective June 15, 2020. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an Oklahoma license plate or Oklahoma tribal plate. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Oklahoma residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Oklahoma residents. The 22 parks are: * Arrowhead Area at Lake Eufaula State Park * Beavers Bend State Park * Boiling Springs State Park * Cherokee Landing State Park * Fort Cobb State Park * Foss State Park * Honey Creek Area at Grand Lake State Park * Great Plains State Park * Great Salt Plains State Park * Greenleaf State Park * Keystone State Park * Lake Eufaula State Park * Lake Murray State Park * Lake Texoma State Park * Lake Thunderbird State Park * Lake Wister State Park * Natural Falls State Park * Osage Hills State Park * Robbers Cave State Park * Sequoyah State Park * Tenkiller State Park * Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park

Fountainhead Lodge

The park was formerly home to Fountainhead Lodge, a 202-room state-run

resort A resort (North American English) is a self-contained commercial establishment that tries to provide most of a vacationer's wants, such as food, drink, swimming, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping, on the premises. The term ''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

. The lodge was never very profitable, and the state was threatened with foreclosure on both Arrowhead and Fountainhead by the

federal government A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...

in 1983. The lodge closed in December, 1984, and was deeded to the U.S.

Economic Development Administration The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides grants and technical assistance to economically distressed communities in order to generate new employment, help retain exist ...

. In 1985, the lodge was sold to a group led by Melvyn Bell of

Little Rock, Arkansas (The Little Rock, The "Little Rock") , government_type = council-manager government, Council-manager , leader_title = List of mayors of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_ ...

. By 1990, Bell Equities had invested millions of dollars in upgrades. In 2005, the lodge was sold at

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

auction An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition ex ...

to the

Muscogee (Creek) Nation The Muscogee Nation, or Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is a federally recognized Native American tribe based in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The nation descends from the historic Muscogee Confederacy, a large group of indigenous peoples of the South ...

, 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.

References

{{authority control 1965 establishments in Oklahoma Nature centers in Oklahoma Protected areas established in 1965 Protected areas of McIntosh County, Oklahoma State parks of Oklahoma