Guide to Lake Murray State Park
Just a few miles southeast of Ardmore, on the edge of the Carter and Love County lines, you will find Oklahoma’s oldest and largest state park – Lake Murray State Park. On April 10, 1933, the Oklahoma legislature purchased the land that now is the park, and construction soon began on the 12,496-acre recreational area and man-made lake encompassing 5,728-acre. The Works Progress Administration built camping areas, hiking trails, and picnic tables. Nearly 90 years later, Lake Murray State Park is still one of Oklahoma’s most beautiful areas to explore and relax, especially during the warmer months. Read below for a guide to the state park!
Where To Stay
Lake Murray Lodge
Lake Murray Lodge is the perfect spot if you’re looking for comfort and great views during your stay! The lodge has 32 lakeside guest rooms with private balconies with the perfect view of the lake and is perfect for two or a larger group. Take in the scenery while you sip your morning coffee on the expansive patio. Lake Murray Lodge is also a great place to host an event or conference, with meeting and board rooms on-site.
What To Do
Tucker Tower
On the edge of the lake stands a large tower – Tucker Tower. This structure was built in the 1930s as a private retreat area for Oklahoma’s governors. It was modeled after a European castle that Oklahoma state Senator Fred Tucker took a picture of while serving during WWI. However, this building never served its original purpose because the project was never fully financed. Now it serves as the Lake Murray Nature Center and houses many artifacts about the area. This is a great place to start your hike and a day of exploring Oklahoma's history. And I think it’s the best place to take pictures of the lake!
Lake Murray Water Sports and Mini Golf
Just down the street from the Lake Murray Lodge, you’ll find a fun and colorful dock perfect for a day of play. This is the Lake Murray Water Sports and Mini Golf! This business is open seasonally (April 15th– September 15th), and is the perfect spot to cool off and have fun during the summer. You can rent a variety of boats including kayaks, paddle boats and party barges. If you want to take a dip in the water, you can splash around on the water slides and trampolines. Attached to the water sports area is mini golf with 18 holes.
Lake Murray Riding Stables
If you want to see the park from a different point of view, visit the Lake Murray Riding Stables to explore the park on horseback. This business is also open seasonally (March – November) and is a great outdoor activity for everyone to enjoy – it’s a great group activity or for venturing out solo! Rides are available every hour from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and last around 45 minutes. You can always go for a hayride if horseback rides aren’t your favorite.
Other Activities:
Downtown Ardmore is only nine miles from the state park. This is a great place to find unique stores and fun dining. A delicious pizzeria in downtown Ardmore is Ten-Star Pizza. This pizza place is a great place to bring kiddos or for a fun date night. From classic cheese to one-of-a-kind pizzas, you can find anything you want on the menu.
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly activity, the Urban Air Adventure Park on the outskirts of Ardmore is a great place to have fun. This 30,000-square-foot facility has wall-to-wall trampolines, a trampoline dunk court, a trampoline dodgeball arena and climbing walls. Talk about a fun day!
We can’t wait for you to visit Chickasaw Country! Remember to take pictures and tag us on Instagram using #VisitChickasaw during your visit to Lake Murray State Park.