Greenleaf State Park Explained

Greenleaf State Park
Map:Oklahoma
Map Alt:A map of Oklahoma showing the location of Greenleaf State Park
Location:Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States
Nearest City:Braggs, OK
Coordinates:35.6243°N -95.1702°W
Established:1939
Visitation Num:181,592
Visitation Year:2021
Visitation Ref:[1]
Governing Body:Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
Url:http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.3236

Greenleaf State Park is located near Braggs, Oklahoma, and is situated around the 9301NaN1 Greenleaf Lake. Greenleaf Lake was built in 1939.[2] There is an 18miles hiking trail that begins inside the park and makes its way around Greenleaf lake and into the adjacent government land of Camp Gruber.[3]

Greenleaf State Park is one of Oklahoma's original seven parks and one of its most scenic and family-oriented. The park includes Lake Greenleaf as well as cabins, campgrounds, family recreation facilities and nature hiking trails.

Greenleaf Lake

According to Caneday et al., the normal elevation of Greenleaf Lake is 510feet above sealevel, and the surface area is 920acres. The capacity is rated at 14720acre.ft. The shoreline is 14miles.

Park Accommodations

Cabins

The lake cabins and other facilities at Greenleaf State Park were built in the 1930s by the CCC, WPA and German prisoners-of-war (POWs). The original buildings, constructed of native stone, remain a lasting and beautiful tribute to the skill of those who built them. Originally, the park had 14 one-bedroom cabins approximately 350square feet in size that included bathrooms, kitchens, heating and air-conditioning, dishes, linens, and satellite TV. Some even included a fireplace.[4]

Added in 1994, Cabin 15, or "Cabin on the Lake" was designed to meet the challenges of campers with physical disabilities. Donated by Telephone Pioneers of America, a national organization of active and retired Southwestern Bell employees, the $90,000 campsite was, at that time, one of three handicap accessible cabins in the nation.[5] [6]

Campground

The park features recreational vehicle (RV) campgrounds, with a total of 158 campsites, classified as "Full Modern (21), Semi-modern (79) and Primitive tent sites. The principal differences are that 8 Modern sites have 50-amp electric service hookups and 13 Modern sites have 20-amp hookups. Semi-modern sites include 17 50-amp hookups and 62 30-amp hookups. The Primitive tent campsites have no electric or water hookups. All of these sites share use of a community building, pavilion, enclosed shelter, outdoor shelter, seasonal fast food grill, 18-hole miniature golf course and laundry center. Guests will also enjoy the splash pad, mini golf course, swim beach, heated fishing dock, amphitheater, nature center, playgrounds, hiking trails, horseshoes, volleyball courts and basketball courts.[4]

Activities

The park naturalist offers astronomy programs, campfire programs, party barge tours of Greenleaf Lake and hay wagon rides, as well as arts and crafts, storytelling, nature hikes and more. No jet skis or wave runners are allowed on Greenleaf Lake. The kids' pond allows children 16 and under to fish at no charge with no permit required. The park also offers activities such as wildlife viewing, holiday events and boating on Greenleaf Lake.[4]

Fees

To help fund a backlog of deferred maintenance and park improvements, the state implemented an entrance fee for this park and 21 others effective June 15, 2020. The fees, charged per vehicle, start at $10 per day for a single-day or $8 for residents with an Oklahoma license plate or Oklahoma tribal plate. Fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans and Oklahoma residents age 62 & older and their spouses. Passes good for three days or a week are also available; annual passes good at all 22 state parks charging fees are offered at a cost of $75 for out-of-state visitors or $60 for Oklahoma residents. The 22 parks are:[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 31, 2022 . Evaluation of Oklahoma’s State Parks . Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT).
  2. https://www.hometogo.com/oklahoma/greenleaf-state-park/ "Greenleaf State Park Cabins." Home to go.
  3. Web site: Greenleaf State Park . Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department . January 6, 2013.
  4. http://www.exploretheozarksonline.com/activities/parksnature/stateparks/oklahoma/greenleaf/camping.html "Greenleaf State Park Cabins and Campground." Explore the Ozarks."
  5. Web site: Cabin allows access to great outdoors State park improvements help meet needs of disabled . newsok.com . May 3, 2017.
  6. Web site: Cabin on the Lake Brochure . May 9, 2017 .
  7. Web site: Plan unveiled to implement fees at some state parks starting next week. Carmen Forman, The Oklahoman, June 9, 2020. June 9, 2020.