North Eastern Oklahoma?

[ARKPAT]

No problem about a camp ground. I was trying to get something everyone was camping at that I could drive to after I get off work Midnight Saturday night and see some of you before you leave Sunday to go home. Some where from Grand Lakes to Springfield area I could drive to after work where everyone else is camping at.

Work schedule changes every eight weeks.



Pat

PS: Now if I can find my camera cable or the SD to USB adapter I can upload some ( 250 ) pictures ( I guess I need Photobucket also ) of the NEW Lake Fort Smith State Park and Camping areas. Also some pictures at some car show Gage and Andrew and other might like to see.

[Miriam C.]

We are always up for Grand Lake, almost. We would be interested to see Oolagah in Sept.



Anyone ever been to Prairie Creek on Beaver Lake (Arkansas) looks good on the map too. That is just East of Rogers.

[Bill P]

Well, I made it to Crawford SP this afternoon around 1. It’s about 20 miles from Pittsburg KS or Fort Scott KS. Pittsburg is the larger of the two towns; but not by much. Fort Scott has a nice old-fashioned downtown and the Fort Scott National Scenic Site right in the center of town. The Fort Scott National Scenic Site is a complete recreation of the 1850’s version of the Fort. It is really worth a few hours visit.

What can I say about Crawford SP?? Let me start by saying this is a hidden jewel. It was built by the CCCs from 1936 thru 1939 and has all of the charm that CCC parks always have. The park itself is small, only 500 or so acres, and the lake is tiny compared to the other state parks. The facilities are all modern and they have two very nice shower houses and a Marina that is a convenience store-snackbar etc.

There are two utility campgrounds and each site is a recent concrete pad that is about 20 x 35 feet square.

Also, one of the attractions here is a little interpretive trail about the CCC and their mission to help the employ the poor, hungry, and frightened American men during the depths of the Great Depression.

My Dad was in the CCCs for 3 years and helped in construction projects in Arkansas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Oregon. He served in the Marines in WW2 but his fondest memories were of his years in the CCC. My Dad seemed like just an ordinary American man when I was growing up, however, now I realize he, and my uncles, and most every other man of that generation weren’t ordinary men, they were giants.

Here's the pictures:



Here's the actual Lake. It is as small as it looks.


Here's a standard site with one utility.


Here's the wonderful CCCtrail.


And here's my site.


A group campground is available for reservation that has a terrific shelter house with a big fireplace (Somebody needs to tell Warpony) and has a panoramic view of the lake. There are 10 hardsites (as above) with electric, a new showerhouse, and a 20 foot fire pit. I think the going rate is $100 per night witha 2 night minimum. A park pass is also required and is $4. It is the best reserved campground in KS I have seen. Shady and just plain beautiful.

Now that being said, if this looks like the place, someone other than me needs to contact the park manager and make the necessary arrangements as I'll be on the road. I'm sure they want their $200 up front.

I spoke with the host and she mentioned that they may let us double up if we have more than 10 and ask nice. The sites will actually hold 3 TDs each with no problem. Remember, it's $200 for 2 or 10 people.

Count me in for my $$.

Bill

[Bill P]

BTW, 3 weeks on the road and this is what I look like.



I feel great but I look like my Dad. Cripes, my nose looks gigantic.

Bill

[Miriam C.]

Looks like you are getting a great tan and enjoying our favorite campground. There are electric sites on the other side too. I bet the shower water was really hot too. I am glad you are having a good time. The people who work there and the camp hosts are wonderful.

When the hatchery was up and running the fishing was fantastic there. It has slacked off lately.

[oklahomajewel]

Looks like you're no worse for wear!!! No beard, huh? You look different than I remember from back in the winter.

Thanks for the news and pics about that lake/campsite.
We should all try to camp there sometime .. Looks very clean and shady, it's just about 4 hours for me I think.

[Darren]

Looks like an awesome park Bill. Thanks for posting and have fun traveling.

[reo-ron]

Hey there's a small car show in FT Scott the first Saturday in Oct, I think it's the 4th.I already had plans to go. I'd REALLY like to go up and camp with some KS/MO folks (and anybody else) that weekend. I know this is the NE OK thread but I'm up for SW KS -Oct 3-5 any company?? If we can gather the commitments I'll give them a call and front the deposit. I know it's only 3 weeks before LCG but GOOD weather is only so many weekends. Let me know who else is game.
Ron-REO

[Darren]

I might be able to make it down for that weekend Ron. Were you thinking about staying at Crawford SP or somewhere else?

[Miriam C.]

http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/State- ... s/Crawford

You might find out the regular rates. We don't usually spend more than $20 for all utilities. Trying to remember.... We can probably make it up. Would have to be a really dramatic reason for us to miss it. So that is 4 If we can't get more than 10 inside we can go to the other site it has a bunch of electric sites and improved tent sites.




This is one site. They are big. The electric sites are on the inside and across the street.

[reo-ron]

I think Crawford SP looks like a great place for a small TTT gathering. The more I've thought about today the more I've decided to give it a try. I hope we can still do NE OK in Sept!
Ron

[Nic]

Well you guys are about to do it to me again! I'll be busy/out of town on the 19-21 weekend. Can we make it the next weekend, Sept 26-28 ??Please? If you don't need a lake, you can look at Osage Hills SP. It's a nice out of the way place east of Bartlesville. You can also look at a couple of the smaller lakes in NE OK , like Eucha or Spavinaw. If you want a larger Lake, then we can probally get some spots on Lake Oologah. A friend of mine is a "park host" at Oologah and we can probally get some spots all together. Let me know what ya think. If it's just gotta be the 19-21 then it's OK ,you'll just miss my smilin' face!
Ron

I too could go the weekend of 26th 27th and 28th. Ill try and get on here to keep my eye out for any news on thqt weekend.

[Nic]

Twin Bridges is on the north side of Grand Lake, right? and is a state park , so you cannot reserve ahead of time.


Oologah and Skiatook are about 75 and 100 miles from Joplin... closer for me and the Tulsa area folks... but maybe 200 miles from the KC area

I've been told Skiatook has a beautiful campground and lake

I'm up for either weekend. Can you KS and MO folks do some searching about any place there?

I'm at work so can mess around on the net TOO much.

I know that weekend of 26th , there is a big Fin & Feather craft festival near the south end of Lake Tenkiller. Snake Creek is pretty booked up , don't know anything about Chicken Creek... But the weather was GORGEOUS last year.

By the way, we're gonna be rainy all weekend in OKC they say ...

HEY! i am for REAL DOWN for a fin and feather thing that weekend. mostly because i live near there. hahaha.

[Nic]

8) We are always up for Grand Lake, almost. We would be interested to see Oolagah in Sept.



Anyone ever been to Prairie Creek on Beaver Lake (Arkansas) looks good on the map too. That is just East of Rogers.

OOOOHHHHH! GRAND LAKE!!!! That woud be cool! You know... i found this great DAMN site at the base of the Ft gibson Damn! EVER BEEN!!!? Its awsome!!!! With hook ups.

[Nic]

My parents always take their Frod Model As to Eureka springs each year in think near sept 11th. i have been wanting to take the teardrop. And branson is what... about an hour away? Just a thought.