, also known as Lake Tenkiller, was named after the Tenkillers, a prominent Cherokee family who owned the land in the area. The park was added to the Oklahoma State Park System in 1953, when the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department leased land adjacent to the Tenkiller Ferry Project from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Ecology
The state park containks oak, timber, willow, sycamore, hackberry, elm, ash and birch. Wildlife includes deer, turkey, bobwhite quail, cottontail rabbits, squirrels, gray fox, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, mink and opossum. Bald eagles winter along Lake Tenkiller.
Attractions
Lake Tenkiller facilities include a scuba diving park, volleyball court, basketball court, shuffleboard court, horseshoe pit, amphitheater, playgrounds, community building, a swimming pool, nature center, group picnic shelters, swim beaches, kids' fishing pond, paved hiking trail and lighted boat ramps. Guests may choose from 39 cabins, ranging from one to three bedroom styles. All the cabins, except for the three bedroom model, are duplexes. Cabins are equipped with dishes, linens, full kitchens, heat, air conditioning and satellite television. Tenkiller State Park also offers courtyard cottages. Each room features heat and air, a refrigerator and linens. The park also features RV and tent campsites, as well as restrooms and showers. Children 16 and under may catch their limit of three fish per day with no charge or permit required in the kids' fishing pond. The park's Pine Cove Marina offers fuel, gifts, sportswear, snacks, repairs and boat slip rentals, as well as the floating Clearwater Cafe. The underwater scuba diving park features underwater attractions ranging from a completely submerged school bus, various sunken boats, an aircraft fuselage and more.
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:
