The original 4.1-mile trail consisted of loops that wound their way through the forest on the south side of Lake Thunderbird. Not all who visit Lake Thunderbird State Park come to play in the water, thanks to 11 miles of enhanced and redesigned trails.įor more than 20 years, the Clear Bay Trails has invited hikers, bikers and nature lovers to exercise and relax in the beautiful outdoor setting. The building includes a large cooking and dining area, handicap-accessible rest rooms and a large veranda overlooking the lake. The BoatHouse also offers its building for groups to rent for educational courses and classes on water safety, outdoor education and environmental issues. Donations of items and money are tax deductible. Recently, the organization had a fleet of six small dinghies donated for use in teaching sailing to children. The BoatHouse relies on donations of equipment and items used for teaching and everyday operation of the facility. Recently, the National Water Safety Congress recognized the BoatHouse consortium with an award for its work with safe boating in Oklahoma.Īlso, community events such as the "Catch a Special Thrill" fishing derby for handicapped and disadvantaged youths is held on the grounds of the BoatHouse each year. Powerboat courses are also offered through the BoatHouse.Ĭourses are taught in the 1,100-square-foot main room of the building, and hands-on instruction takes place on the lake. With a staff of trained and certified volunteers, the BoatHouse organization offers courses in sailing, instructor training, sailing day camps for children and safety classes offered by the American Red Cross.
The BoatHouse is a community-based facility that offers low-cost safety and education programs to children and adults. "We want to be able to provide those things to the public at a low cost and interesting way." "The purpose of the BoatHouse is for safety and recreational training, aquatic sports including fishing and skiing and various things that come under the label of boating," BoatHouse manager Howard Haines said. The four-year fund-raising effort has resulted in a 2,500-square-foot facility christened The Lake Thunderbird BoatHouse built within the boundaries of the state park. Sailing club members Howard Haines, Les Cummings and others began a mission to secure donors and sponsors with the intent to form a nonprofit organization to be used strictly for water safety and education.Īfter a year of planning and organizing, the Lake Thunderbird Education Foundation was approved as a nonprofit organization. In 1997, members of the club formed a committee to seek ways to benefit their club and other organizations. For years, the Thunderbird Sailing Club and other sailing organizations used the lake to hold club events, safety training and water education courses. On most days, sailboats can be seen skimming across the waters of the lake. Whether spending a day on the water or trekking through the woods, Lake Thunderbird State Park has something for everyone. Opened to the public in the early 1960s by the Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Thunderbird not only serves the Norman area as a water supply, but it is also a haven for fun, relaxation and outdoor activities. NORMAN Since 1968, Little River State Park, now known as Lake Thunderbird State Park, has been a place where visitors can enjoy camping, boating and hiking.
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