By Wesley Harris
If you see a RV with out-of-state license plates headed out the White Lightning Road, the odds are it is headed to Lake Claiborne State Park.
The park and the lake on which it sits are among the premier tourist destinations in northwest Louisiana.
The plan for a lake on Bayou D’arbonne in Claiborne Parish was first proposed in 1959. The state agreed to conduct a water resource survey and favorable findings led to a bill in the Louisiana Legislature to allocate funds for the project.
An earthen dam 5,500 feet long was constructed with one million cubic yards of dirt. The dam, which created a 6,400-acre lake with 40 miles of shoreline, was accepted as complete in August 1966.
Initially, the state studied two plans for recreation facilities along the lake. The first called for three small parks, the other for a single large park. Thirty employees were estimated to be needed to operate the park.
The first funding for parks on the lake was obtained in December 1966. The details were still pending on the number of parks and whether they would be operated by the state or the local lake commission.
In 1966, state legislature voted to create a state park on a 92-acre tract with 3,000 feet of shoreline on the south side of the lake.
Movement on the park was slow, however, with bidding on the construction project delayed until 1972. The estimated cost of the initial phase of construction was scheduled to be approximately $300,000 to be financed by the state and a matching federal grant.
The planned park consisted of forty campsites with electric power and water. Other features in the park were to include a 40-unit picnic area, an open-air picnic shelter, restrooms, boat ramp and boathouse, fishing pier, underground utilities and a water well.
In January 1973 a contract was awarded to McInnis Brothers of Minden to construct the first phase of the park.
More than 200 people attended a dedication ceremony for the new Lake Claiborne State Park on May 12, 1974.
In 1984, a new campground was added, increasing the number of campsites for tents and RVs to 87. Over time the state added more tracts to the park to reach its current size of 643 acres.
In addition to camping and fishing and boating, the state park offers hiking, playgrounds, and a popular sandy beach. Other activities have included cross country meets, family reunions, car shows, 4-H events, weddings, geocaching, fishing tournaments. Scout troops and orienteering groups have capitalized on the natural resources of the park for learning opportunities.
One of the most popular activities for visitors of all ages is swimming at the park’s sandy beach. The beach is situated on an inlet of the lake protected from boats and water skiers. Ecologists and sportsmen alike hail the lake’s excellent water quality.
In January 2000, ten cabins opened to the public after a $1.6 million construction project. Built as complete homes away from home, the cabins contain central air & heat, a wood-burning stove, sleeping arrangements for up to eight, a full kitchen and satellite TV. Basic cookware and bed linens are provided. The cabins have been updated and partially remodeled in recent years.
In addition to the cabins, visitors can rent an open-air pavilion or a large indoor meeting room for special events. The meeting facility has been used for weddings, family reunions, business meetings and birthday parties.
Lake Claiborne is known for being a premiere disc golf destination. Opened in 2014, its disc golf courses are rated as two of the best in America. Players come from all over to tackle the courses laid out on some of the most challenging disc golf terrain in the nation. Several large disc golf tournaments are scheduled each year.
The newest amenity added to the park is a “glamping” experience. Fully-equipped, safari-style canvas tents mounted on wood decks and containing a queen bed and propane heater provide a more luxurious experience than sleeping in a bag on the ground. Long awaited sewer hookups were also added to selected RV campsites this year.
Figures from the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism reveal the 50- to 60,000 annual park visitors add significantly to the local economy. In 1998, the amount was estimated to be $1.7 million. By 2005, the number had fallen to just over $900,000 annually.
Park use fees have risen to offset the reduction of state funds provided for maintenance and staff. In 1974, entrance into the park was $1 per carload and a campsite rented for $3.50 a night. Today, entry costs $3 per person and campsites range from $25 to $35 nightly. The new glamping campsites run $85 a night.
Park staff is less than a third of what it was at its peak and managers no longer live on site. Despite the financial struggles, the park is well maintained and offers a great getaway for locals and tourists alike.
Although the park is in Claiborne Parish, Ruston and Lincoln Parish benefit from the dollars spent by visitors shopping in local stores, eating in restaurants, and gassing up their RVs.
Reservations for any Louisiana state park can be made at lastateparks.com or by calling 1-877-226-7652.
