It was an overcast day at Stroud Lake, but that didn’t stop campers. Many slots near the swimming area and lake ranger’s house were full of RVs, with a few tents interspersed.
While there didn’t appear to be any boats on the water, city workers could be heard mowing. Lake Ranger Jared Null was definitely busy taking camping and pavilion reservations, either over the phone or in person.
“I just made it through our first holiday, and it was crazy busy,” Null said. “June 11 will be nine years and… this Memorial has been the craziest I’ve seen it.”
Null estimated that around 50,000 to 60,000 people come to Stroud Lake during the summer. He said many of them are traveling down Route 66.
“I mean, we get them from all over the countryside. I’ve had some people from South Korea come through here and stop, and anyone who’s doing a biking tour through 66… but just everywhere. Cushing, Drumright, Tulsa.”
Null said the most popular activities at the lake are swimming, fishing and boating. They recently finished building a second 18-hold disc golf course and added kayak rentals that people can manage themselves using a QR code.
“I still haven’t done it, stuff, you go out there. You bring it back and just snap a picture once you have everything put back,” Null said.
Over in Chandler, many visitors come to Bell Cow and Chandler lakes for the camping and horse trails, according to Lake Ranger Randy Hugueley. The trails run almost all the way around Bell Cow Lake and have been upgraded and maintained by volunteers. The Flat Rock Trail is 12.4 miles while the Red Bud Trail is 22 miles.
“Some of it is with the city, but the majority has been with the volunteer help from the horse riders themselves,” Hugueley said. “And they have three or four national rides there each year.”
Some are endurance rides, while others are what he calls agility-type rides. Hugueley added that Angie Bridges and Debbie Crews were the trailblazers who started the horse trails when the lake was first built in the mid-90s.
“I learned a lot back then because I was our (fire) department chief and I had public works, also, and we were doing some of the stuff, and I got educated,” Hugueley chuckled. “I’d done some tie poles, and I didn’t do them right. Angie let me know.”
According to the ranger, there are three camping areas (A, B, and C) up at Bell Cow Lake that offer both RV and primitive camping. Swimming is allowed in Area C. Areas C and B have boat ramps, while D has a fishing dock. On Chandler Lake, there is one boat ramp and fishing dock; however, it is a no-wake lake, so only fishing is allowed.
Jeff Wilbourn, town administrator for Meeker, said they mostly get fishers and kayakers out at Meeker Lake. The lake is small, so it doesn’t generally have bad winds, making it perfect for kayaks. Also, it doesn’t cost anything.
“You don’t have to get a permit or anything if you’re just going to kayak,” he said. However, he did remind people that they need lifevests. “Adults are bad about not wearing their life jacket in a kayak.”
Prague Lake Ranger Kadren Doyle said most of their visitors come for fishing and equestrian riding, with 22 miles of trails around the lake.
“But they have to bring their own horses. Sometimes I get phone calls from people wanting to rent horses, but we just have the facilities,” she said with a laugh.
The lake hosts many rides throughout the year, the biggest being an endurance ride in the fall that the campsite is already booked for. Even their campsites are prepped for horses with pens behind them.
Doyle said lately they’ve been focusing on upgrades, rather than adding new attractions. Recently a fence was installed around the playground and they’re adding rubber mulch to make it safer. She said they are also installing metal benches at their campsites - Prague Lake has 30 and 50 amp sites, along with primitive camping.