Life on an Oklahoma lake
By : J. David Chapman/June 27, 2024
I am a lake guy. I don’t care for the sand, don’t love salt water, and have no desire to meet sharks, so the sea is not my place. I grew up in Tulsa with Ft. Gibson, Tenkiller, Eufaula, and Keystone in my backyard. My summer memories at those lakes are etched in my memory with my Dad, Mom, Brother and my parent’s friends. We stayed in campers that went on the back of pickup trucks. Those pickup trucks hauled firewood and motocross bikes in the winter and campers in the summer. We towed a small boat with an outboard motor that required my dad’s mechanical expertise to run nearly every weekend. He didn’t seem to mind and always had help from those motivated to make it run to ensure our families could go skiing and fishing when completed.
We are truly blessed in Oklahoma. With more miles of shoreline than the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts combined, Oklahoma is a lake lover's paradise with plenty of uncrowded waters. The state is home to more than 200 lakes and offers over a million surface acres that are perfect for boating, swimming, fishing, and all kinds of water recreation.
I love to have the conversation with friends about which lake is the “best.” Obviously, there is not a correct answer to this question, but you can learn a lot about a person by their answer. Oklahoma lakes each have their own identity and attitude, just like their patrons. Those that prefer a sailboat might answer Lake Hefner, which is one of the best sailing lakes in America. If scuba is your thing, chances are you are answering Lake Tenkiller, which is the clearest of the lakes. If sandy beaches impress you, then Texoma Lake is likely on your list. If jet skiing and getting back to nature is what you are looking for, we would likely find you at Lake Murray. If roughing it in tents and RVs are your idea of fun, Lake Eufaula has wonderful state campgrounds.
For me, the answer is clearly Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. This lake is different because it is managed by the Grand River Dam Authority and not the US Corp of Engineers, allowing ownership of the shoreline and personal boat docks. We also enjoy the world-class Shangri La Resort and the 20+ restaurants and bars on the lake. Whichever lake you prefer, get out there and soak up the sun and fun!
Dr. J. David Chapman is Professor of Finance & Real Estate at The University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu)