Lake Guntersville State Park

Lake Guntersville State Park
Alabama State Park
Country United States
State Alabama
County Marshall
City Guntersville
Elevation 886 ft (270 m) [1]
Coordinates 34°24′10″N 86°11′47″W / 34.40278°N 86.19639°W / 34.40278; -86.19639Coordinates: 34°24′10″N 86°11′47″W / 34.40278°N 86.19639°W / 34.40278; -86.19639 [1]
Prominence Taylor Mountain [2]
Area 5,909 acres (2,391 ha) [3]
Established 1947
Management Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Location in Alabama
Website: Lake Guntersville State Park

Lake Guntersville State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located on the far north side of the city of Guntersville in Marshall County, Alabama. The state park occupies 5,909 acres (2,391 ha) on the eastern shore of Guntersville Lake, a 69,000-acre (28,000 ha) impoundment of the Tennessee River. The park features resort facilities and is managed by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.[4]

History

The state park had its beginnings in 1947, when the Tennessee Valley Authority transferred 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) on Guntersville Reservoir to the state to create what was first known as Little Mountain State Park.[5] The park opened in 1974.[6]

In 2011, the park suffered severe damage when it was struck twice during the tornado outbreak of April 27.[5] Hundreds of trees in the northern half of the park were destroyed by an EF2 tornado that struck in the early morning. The campgrounds also saw damage done to RV campers and the camp lodge.[7] A second tornado, measured as an EF1, followed shortly after the first, damaging the park entrance and golf course.[8] Two years later, the campground officially reopened, following a rebuilding and upgrading of facilities and the planting of more than 400 new trees.[9]

Activities and amenities

The park features a resort inn, restaurant and convention complex on Taylor Mountain, 18-hole golf course, fishing center, beach complex, lakeview cottages, lakeside campground, and 36 miles (58 km) of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lake Guntersville State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ "Taylor Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. ↑ "State Parks Overview Chart" (PDF). Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Lake Guntersville State Park". Alabama State Parks. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Alabama State Parks: A Reflection on 75 Years of Successful Public Service" (PDF). Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  6. ↑ Ress, Thomas V. (October 8, 2014). "Lake Guntersville State Park". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Alabama Humanities Foundation. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Marshall and DeKalb Counties (Lake Guntersville State Park) EF-2". National Weather Service Huntsville, AL Weather Forecast Office. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Marshall County (Lake Guntersville State Park to Hwy 227) EF-1". National Weather Service Huntsville, AL Weather Forecast Office. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  9. ↑ Powell, Andy (May 13, 2013). "Lake Guntersville puts "welcome" sign out for campers". Gadsden Times. Retrieved January 18, 2016.

External links

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