McGee Creek State Park | |
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Location | Atoka County, Oklahoma, United States |
Nearest city | Antlers, OK |
Coordinates | 34°19′48″N 95°51′42″W / 34.33°N 95.861667°W[1] |
Area | 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) |
Visitors | 55,609 (in 2021)[2] |
Governing body | Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department |
www |
McGee Creek State Park is a state park in southern Oklahoma. The park is on the south side of McGee Creek Reservoir, which impounds the waters of McGee Creek. Created in 1985 the reservoir provides flood control. The park is approximately 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) and the reservoir is approximately 3,800 acres (1,500 ha). Its main staple is recreational and sport fishing. The main fish fished for in this park include Crappie, Sunfish, Largemouth bass, and Channel catfish. The McGee Creek Wildlife Management area is located between the two arms of the reservoir.[3]
Bear and deer are among the animals present. Shortleaf pine, though near its western limit, is abundant.[4]
When the park, the lake and the Wildlife Management Area are considered together, the total protected area around the lake is about 20,000 acres (8,100 ha).[5]
McGee Creek Natural Scenic Recreation Area is connected to with McGee Creek State Park. Both are a part of the McGee Creek Wildlife Management Area. The Natural Scenic Recreation Area is located in the top northeast area of the wildlife refuge.[6] Activities in the Scenic Recreation Area include horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and bouldering.
Proposed park closure in 2018
[edit]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. McGee Creek State Park is on this list. This list represents approximately one-half of the parks remaining after the department closed seven parks in 2011.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "McGee Creek State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
- ^ "Evaluation of Oklahoma's State Parks". Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT). March 31, 2022.
- ^ "McGee Creek State Park". Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
- ^ http://www.ouachitamaps.com/McGee%20Creek.html
- ^ "McGee Creek Lake, Oklahoma, USA." Lake lubbers.com. Accessed August 28, 2015.
- ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
- ^ Fultenberg, Lorne. "Half of Oklahoma state parks could close with budget cuts." KFOR News. March 13, 2017. Accessed November 1, 2017.