by Yasmina Platt
Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2017 issue
In previous articles, I have been detailing sample air trails or air tours, but if you prefer a destination instead, Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula, formerly known as Fountainhead State Park, may be a good option for you. Situated between Fort Smith, Arkansas to the east, Tulsa, Oklahoma to the north, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to the west, and Dallas, Texas to the southwest, Lake Eufaula is a reservoir on the Canadian River, 27 miles upstream from its confluence with the Arkansas River. It is the largest-capacity lake in the state of Oklahoma with a volume of 2,099,000 acre feet, a surface area of 102,000 acres, and 600 miles of shoreline.
Airports
While charted, Carlton Landing Field (91F), owned by Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation, is indefinitely closed according to the Chart Supplement (formerly the Airport Facility Directory or A/FD).
Eufaula Municipal Airport (F08) and Fountainhead Lodge Airpark (0F7) may be unattended, but they both have 3,000 foot runways. I would recommend you call them before landing for a condition update. And keep in mind that neither airport has fuel. The Fountainhead Creek Golf Course is next to 0F7 and the Lake Eufaula Marina is not too far either. They offer boat rentals, have a fish store, and sell pizza, among other things.
If those runways are not long enough, McAlester Regional Airport (KMLC) or Henryetta Municipal Airport (F10) are not too far, but you would need a rental car to get to the lake from either airport.
Camping or Glamping
RV and tent camping can be found all around the park, some with beautiful lake views.
Don’t want to “rough it” camping? How about glamping? There’s no tent to pitch, no sleeping bag to unroll, no air mattress to pump, and no fire to build to cook. And what if I tell you it could be in a yurt? Yep! Fun! Lake Eufaula State Park has a campground (or glampground) that rents three yurts for overnight guests looking to camp without the hassle of leaky tents, bulky camping gear and dirty conditions. Every yurt comes equipped with heating/air conditioning, all bedding, a microwave, mini fridge, electricity and television. There is no running water inside the yurts, but the restrooms are located close by.
Things To Do and See
Lake Eufaula, the largest lake in Oklahoma, offers a wide variety of activities to make your camping trip enjoyable. Boat rentals, marinas, fishing, boat ramps, nature center, ATV riding trails, hunting, hiking and biking are just a few of Eufaula’s amenities and activities.
Lake Eufaula State Park has many outdoor activities for you to enjoy during your flying excursion. You can hike one (or more) of the many hiking trails, cast a line in the lake or Kid’s Fish Out Pond, visit the Nature Center, go swimming in the lake or enjoy the sandy beach area, rent a boat at the local marina, go horseback riding, or just sit back and relax and enjoy the shores of the lake.
For more information or to book a camping site, visit the OK State Park and the Travel OK websites.
Life is short! Fly safe and fly often!
