BEAVER LAKE — Hammers pinging on tent stakes and the aroma of campfire bacon will returned to Beaver Lake on Friday when six parks at the reservoir open for the 2011 visitor season.
Water and electricity will be turned on at the parks and camping will be available. Remaining parks open May 1.
Parks opening Friday were Horseshoe Bend, Hickory Creek, Prairie Creek, Lost Bridge North, Dam Site River and Dam Site Lake, said Michael Hurley, Army Corps of Engineers chief ranger for recreation at Beaver Lake.
Parks opening May 1 are Starkey, Indian Creek, Rocky Branch, Lost Bridge South and War Eagle.
Camping fees are $18 to $21 per site depending on amenities. The fee for day-use activities such as boat launching, picnicking and swim-beach use is $4 per day.
Day-use cost is paid at the entrance to each park. Credit cards, checks or cash are accepted.
An annual day-use pass is $30 and is valid at any Army Corps of Engineers park in the United States. These can be purchased at park entrances or at the corps’ Beaver Lake office, 2260 N. Second St., in Rogers.
“One thing new this year is that all of our campgrounds will have reservable sites,” Hurley said, “but not all sites are reservable.”
Campsites may be reserved online through the National Recreation Reservation Service, www.recreation.gov, or by calling the service at 877-444-6777.
“We collected over $1 million in recreation fees at Beaver last year. There aren’t too many other lakes that collect that much,” Hurley said.
The money goes into the United States general treasury.
“One thing we’re really trying to promote this year is the use of our grand shelter at Prairie Creek,” Hurley said. “It’s perfect for big-time events.”
The grand picnic shelter is the largest on the lake. Features include a full kitchen, a public address system, jumbo-sized grills and picnic-tables to accommodate large groups. The fee is $200 per day.
Smaller shelters at other parks may be reserved for $75 per day.
It’s no small chore to get every park at Beaver Lake ready to open, said Jason Verzani, manager of LJB Construction. The firm does contract work for the corps.
“We have to check every electric outlet in every park,” Verzani said as his crew worked at Prairie Creek park Wednesday.
“We do a preseason check on the septic system, clean filters and make sure any pumps are working,” Verzani said.
At Prairie Creek, workers built new roofs over picnic tables at some of the campsites this week. They have installed heavier-gauge electric lines at Horseshoe Bend park to handle 50-amp electric service.
Park attendants are among the first people visitors meet when they go to the lake. There are about 40 attendants total at the lake’s 11 parks. Some are paid. Others volunteer.
Attendants who work at parks that open on Friday went through a three-day training program this week to get ready. The rest will attend next month.
There are two days of classroom study and one day of computer work.
Some attendants have been at the same park for 20 years or more, Hurley said.
Gene and Pat Hamm have worked at Horseshoe Bend park for 33 years. They leave their winter home in Mission, Texas, to handle the cleaning chores at Horseshoe Bend.
They found Beaver Lake to their liking when they first visited in 1979. The Hamms heard about the park attendant program from another attendant.
“We enjoy what we do and the work isn’t that hard,” said Gene Hamm, a retiree. “We love to fish and love the lake.”
At the training this week, rangers encouraged the park attendants to talk up water safety to visitors.
Hurley told them the No. 1 cause of drowning is not wearing a life jacket. Adults not keeping a close eye on their children is another factor in drownings nationwide.
“Beaver Lake isn’t like a swimming pool,” Hurley told them. “There are drop-offs and it can be dangerous.”
No drownings occurred at Beaver Lake last year. One hundred eight people have drowned at the lake since it filled in the 1960s, according to corps figures. Not one was wearing a life jacket.
***
At A Glance
Hammers pinging on tent stakes and the aroma of campfire bacon will returned to Beaver Lake on Friday when six parks at the reservoir open for the 2011 visitor season.
Water and electricity will be turned on at the parks and camping will be available. Remaining parks open May 1.
Parks opening Friday were Horseshoe Bend, Hickory Creek, Prairie Creek, Lost Bridge North, Dam Site River and Dam Site Lake, said Michael Hurley, Army Corps of Engineers chief ranger for recreation at Beaver Lake.
Parks opening May 1 are Starkey, Indian Creek, Rocky Branch, Lost Bridge South and War Eagle.
Camping fees are $18 to $21 per site depending on amenities. The fee for day-use activities such as boat launching, picnicking and swim-beach use is $4 per day.
Day-use cost is paid at the entrance to each park. Credit cards, checks or cash are accepted.
An annual day-use pass is $30 and is valid at any Army Corps of Engineers park in the United States. These can be purchased at park entrances or at the corps’ Beaver Lake office, 2260 N. Second St., in Rogers.
“One thing new this year is that all of our campgrounds will have reservable sites,” Hurley said, “but not all sites are reservable.”
Campsites may be reserved online through the National Recreation Reservation Service, www.recreation.gov, or by calling the service at 877-444-6777.
“We collected over $1 million in recreation fees at Beaver last year. There aren’t too many other lakes that collect that much,” Hurley said.
The money goes into the United States general treasury.
“One thing we’re really trying to promote this year is the use of our grand shelter at Prairie Creek,” Hurley said. “It’s perfect for big-time events.”
The grand picnic shelter is the largest on the lake. Features include a full kitchen, a public address system, jumbo-sized grills and picnic-tables to accommodate large groups. The fee is $200 per day.
Smaller shelters at other parks may be reserved for $75 per day.
It’s no small chore to get every park at Beaver Lake ready to open, said Jason Verzani, manager of LJB Construction. The firm does contract work for the corps.
“We have to check every electric outlet in every park,” Verzani said as his crew worked at Prairie Creek park Wednesday.
“We do a preseason check on the septic system, clean filters and make sure any pumps are working,” Verzani said.
At Prairie Creek, workers built new roofs over picnic tables at some of the campsites this week. They have installed heavier-gauge electric lines at Horseshoe Bend park to handle 50-amp electric service.
Park attendants are among the first people visitors meet when they go to the lake. There are about 40 attendants total at the lake’s 11 parks. Some are paid. Others volunteer.
Attendants who work at parks that open on Friday went through a three-day training program this week to get ready. The rest will attend next month.
There are two days of classroom study and one day of computer work.
Some attendants have been at the same park for 20 years or more, Hurley said.
Gene and Pat Hamm have worked at Horseshoe Bend park for 33 years. They leave their winter home in Mission, Texas, to handle the cleaning chores at Horseshoe Bend.
They found Beaver Lake to their liking when they first visited in 1979. The Hamms heard about the park attendant program from another attendant.
“We enjoy what we do and the work isn’t that hard,” said Gene Hamm, a retiree. “We love to fish and love the lake.”
At the training this week, rangers encouraged the park attendants to talk up water safety to visitors.
Hurley told them the No. 1 cause of drowning is not wearing a life jacket. Adults not keeping a close eye on their children is another factor in drownings nationwide.
“Beaver Lake isn’t like a swimming pool,” Hurley told them. “There are drop-offs and it can be dangerous.”
No drownings occurred at Beaver Lake last year. One hundred eight people have drowned at the lake since it filled in the 1960s, according to corps figures. Not one was wearing a life jacket.
***
Opening Day For Parks
• Army Corps of Engineers parks at Beaver Lake that opened Friday were Horseshoe Bend, Hickory Creek, Prairie Creek, Lost Bridge North, Dam Site River and Dam Site Lake.
• Parks to open May 1 are Starkey, Indian Creek, Rocky Branch, Lost Bridge South and War Eagle.
• Reserve campsites online at www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.
• The telephone number for the corps’ Beaver Lake office is 479-636-1210.
Source: Army Corps of Engineers
Opening Day For Parks
• Army Corps of Engineers parks at Beaver Lake that opened Friday were Horseshoe Bend, Hickory Creek, Prairie Creek, Lost Bridge North, Dam Site River and Dam Site Lake.
• Parks to open May 1 are Starkey, Indian Creek, Rocky Branch, Lost Bridge South and War Eagle.
• Reserve campsites online at www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777.
• The telephone number for the corps’ Beaver Lake office is 479-636-1210.
Source: Army Corps of Engineers