Forums



Travel, Recreation Message Board. Please share your trips & Tips


Red Earth

 

  Useful Resources

Search the ShopOklahoma Site           Oklahoma Business' Add Your URL Check our  Yellow Pages and our Classifieds

Location: In SE Oklahoma close the beautiful Ouachita National Forest  amid a dramatic backdrop of dogwood, northern spruce and ponderosa pine trees — this park offers sporting enthusiasts some of the finest fishing and hunting in Oklahoma.
two miles south of Wister on U.S. 270.  Other nearby communities are Poteau, 8 miles to the northeast and Heavener, 9 miles southeast.  There are 3 lighted boat ramps, 1 unlighted gravel ramp, a pool with bathhouses. Hiking trails include a 3/4 mile self-guided nature trail which winds through the forest up a rocky ridge that runs through the park; and a 5-mile round trip trail. Groups will find 6 fully equipped bunkhouses in a group camp facility that sleeps 96 people and has a full kitchen and dining hall.  Other descriptions are below.

Features/Facilities:

1,220 Park Acres
7,300-Acre Lake Wister
2,000-Acre Waterfowl Refuge
15 Cabins (All with fireplace)
5 Camping areas, 172 Campsites
Assigned Campground
Group Camp (capacity of 100)
Swimming Pool & Beach (Open Memorial Day through Labor Day)
Boating & Water Skiing

Gift Shop
Grocery 

Nearby:

Talimena Skyline Drive, Spiro Mounds, Heavener Runestone State Park, Wildlife Management Hunting Area


Pricing:
Average Price: $7.00 - $19.00,Group Rate: $275.00, Maximum Price: $53.00 - $83.00

Telephone Number(s):
Business Phone: 918-655-7756,Fax: 918-655-7274, Business Phone: 918-655-7212 (cabins)

Location:
2 miles S of Wister on US-270.  

Contact Name(s):
Mr. Rick Sanders

General Amenities/Services:
Cabins, Campground, Children's Activities (Unsupervised): Gift Shop, Grocery Store, Ice Machine, Parking (Free), Public Restroom, Public Telephone, Snack Bar/Shop, Vending Machines, Public Pool/concession stands

Hours & Days of Operation:
Park open year round/cabin office closed on Christmas Day

Hours & Days of Operation:
Park Office: In season - 8AM to 5PM 7 days a week all year.  Campgrounds and Cabins are open 7 days a week, year-round. Swimming Pool open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Call for more info regarding mini golf, and canoe rental availability and lake tours.

Price Description:  Prices are subject to change without notice

Cabins range from $53 per night for a one bedroom.  Parkview cabin (sleeps 4) and is
 $63.  Lakeview is $78 for a two bedroom (sleeps 4).

Campsites range from $19 for an  RV site w/all utilities to $13 for a site w/water & electric to $7 for a regular campsite w/no utilities.  Discounts are determined by:  # of people, time of season, site location, etc. may affect rates. Group picnic shelters can be rented for $35 per day. The Group Camp facility can be rented for $275 per day for groups up to 50 people w/ a $3 charge for each additional person. Call for info on  mini golf, canoes, etc. 

Prices subject to change without notice.


Discounts Accepted:
C.E.O. program, Children Free with Parents, Family camping discount membership cards are available, Free Admission, Good Sam Club, Government Employee Discount on government businesss.   Handicapped/disabled persons may receive discounts, Off season rates will be slightly lower, Senior Discount (Other), Senior discounts apply to Okla. residents & reciprocating states

Check-In Time:
3PM - cabins, 5PM - campground

Check-Out Time:
12PM - cabins,5PM - campground

Reservation/Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation Deadline, Deposit is Refundable, Reservation Deposit Required, Reservations for cabins always recommended; campsites are first come - first served.

Payment Methods Accepted:
Credit Card(s), Money Orders, Personal Checks, Security bonds for group deposits, Travelers' Checks

Type of Events Hosted:
Conference, Retreat, Reunion

Other General Policy:
Camping stays over 14 nights require extension from manager, Children Allowed, Group Rates Available, Groups have a minimum stay requirement, Pets Allowed, Pets allowed on leash in park; pets are allowed in some cabins

Maximum Group Capacity:
100

Tour Group Services:
Advance Tour Group Reservations Required, Motorcoach Parking (Free), Tour Guide Available (Free)

Minimum Advance Notice:
72:00

Average Time for Group Tour:
2:00

Minimum Number of People for Group Rate:
20

Preferred Group Tour Size:
35

Equal Accessibility Services:
2 cabins have accessible entrances to front door & restroom, Comfort Stations: 1 in Victor Area, 1 in Wards, & at the pool, Group Camp has accessible comfort station & 1 bunkhouse entrance, Handicap Parking Near Entrance, Pool is fully accessible including hoist to enter water, park office, cabin offices have accessible entrances, Signage Throughout Facility, Toilets with Grab Bars, Wheelchair Accessible Entrance, Wheelchair Accessible Toilets, Wheelchair Accessible Walkway

Other Destinations at Property/Event:
Talimena State Park, Heavener-Runestone State Park, Oauchita National Forest, Talimena Skyline Drive, Wildlife Management Area, & Spiro Mounds and Robbers Cave are within driving distance.


Recreation Activities
Biking (Mountain)
Biking (Road Bike)
Bird Watching (water fowl refuge)
Boating (Power)
Boating (Sail)
Camping
Canoeing
Fishing - Lake is well stocked with northeastern blue gill, channel catfish, sandbass, small and largemouth bass, black bass, crappie.

Hiking - Trails
Hunting - 30,000 acres set aside for game and whitetail deer public hunting during season as set by both Federal and State laws. Hunting License Information
 
Jogging
Kayaking
Swimming
Water Skiing
Wildlife Viewing
Windsurfing.

Recreations Facilities:
Bike Trail (Mountain), Boat Launch, Golf Course (Miniature), Hiking Trail, Lake on Property, Lake Access, Nature Center, Nature Trail, Outdoor Grill, Picnic Shelter, Picnic Tables, Playground (Outdoor), Swimming (Beach), Swimming Pool (Outdoor), Volleyball Court

Recreation Services:
Lifeguard on Duty, Nature Programs, Tours 

Recreation Rental Services:
Canoe Rental, Picnic Shelter Rental

Lake Acreage
7,300 plus acres

Educational Activities
Nature programs

Accommodation Amenities:
Cabins at group centers, Fire Wood Available, Flush Toilets in Campgrounds, Kitchen/Dining Hall at Campground, Kitchen/dining hall is in the Group Camp facility, LakeView cabins, Outdoor Grill at Campsite, Picnic Table at Campsite, Sanitary Dump for RVs, Security Patrols, Showers in Campground

In-Room Amenities:
Air Conditioning, Coffee Maker, Color TV for your VCR, Cooking Utensils, Fireplace, Kitchen, Linens Provided, Movie Rental, Private Bathroom, Refrigerator, Rollaway Bed

Number of Cabins/Cottages:
15

Total Number of Camp Sites:
197 - 4 RV campgrounds and 2 tent camping areas with a sanitary dump station located in each RV campground and comfort stations located in all campgrounds except primitive areas.  

Quarry Island has 8 RV sites with water, electric and sewer hookups & 25 tentsites.  

Victor Area has 8 RV sites with water, electric and sewer hookups (2 are pull-thru sites) , 53 RV sites with water and electric hookups (7 pull-thru) and 5 tent sites.

Dam Area has 8 RV sites with water and electric hookups and 20 tentsites.

Wards Area has 25 RV sites with water/electric (4 are pull-thru sites)

Wister Ridge #2 has 20 tentsites

Eagles Roost Area has 20 sites available, is an area set aside for primitive camping (no utilities or amenities available). 

Number of tent Camp Sites:
90

Number of Camp Sites w/ Water & Electric:
86

Num. of Camp Sites w/Water, Elect. & Sewer:
16

Lake Wister State Park, located within the Winding Stair Scenic Byway in southeastern Oklahoma, is a gateway to the beautiful Ouachita National Forest. The Poteau River, which flows into Lake Wister, is the only river in Oklahoma that flows in a northerly direction, having its origins in the Ouachita Mountains to the south and east. The land now covered by the 7,300 acre lake (w/115 miles of shoreline) had been the home for various prehistoric tribal groups for thousands of years, long before the mysterious Spiro Mounds were constructed. In the 1830's the Choctaw Nation was forced to relocate to the area where they established homes, farms, and a strong tribal government with well established laws. The Choctaw Lighthorsemen were famous for their courage in bringing law and order to Indian Territory, and the home of Peter Cosner, one of their leaders, is located near Lake Wister. Heavener Runestone State Park, home of the famous runestone scribed by Nordic explorers, is also located nearby. With 1,220 scenic acres to enjoy and explore, Lake Wister State Park offers many recreational activities including hiking, camping, swimming, canoeing, bicycling, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, water skiing, mini golf, volleyball, and naturalist programs and activities. A 2,000 acre Waterfowl Refuge is also featured, but hunting can be found at Wister Wildlife Management Area. Camping facilities include 15 lakeview or parkview cabins with heat, air, fireplace, and television; there are 16 modern RV sites w/ all utilities, 86 sites with water and electricity, and 90 regular campsites w/ no utilities. Other facilities available are 5 comfort stations (4 w/showers), 186 picnic tables, 4 group picnic shelters, a gift shop and grocery store, 2 lighted boat ramps, 1 unlighted gravel ramp, a canoe and paddleboat rental, a multipurpose playcourt, 4 playgrounds, a nature center, a miniature golf course, a volleyball court, a lake swimming beach, and a swimming pool with bathhouses. Hiking trails include the Lone Star Interpretative Trail, a 3/4 mile self-guided nature trail which winds through forest and up to a rocky ridge that runs through the park; and Lighthorseman trail 3.2 miles one way or 6.4 round trip.  Multi-purpose (hiking and mountain bikes). Groups wishing to have their retreat at Lake Wister will find a fully equipped 6 bunkhouse group camp facility that sleeps 96 with a full kitchen and dining hall. Visitors to Lake Wister State Park will find a rewarding getaway at one of Oklahoma's most scenic locations.