Leaders & Locals Celebrate Reopening of Fully Renovated Lake Lurleen State Park Near Tuscaloosa

A handful of local leaders joined a large crowd of nature lovers at the fully renovated Lake Lurleen State Park in Tuscaloosa County as the family favorite getaway reopens after a 15-month closure.

Since it closed last year, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been hard at work on around $18 million in improvements, additions and upgrades.

67 RV campsites have been fully upgraded with modern water, sewer, and electrical hookups, and a new playground for children has been installed near the refreshed family beach. There are seven new pavilions for gatherings and events, and nine new bathhouses with family-style suites.

A new camp store is stocked with the bear necessities, with an ice machine outside for anyone who forgot to fill their coolers, and more will be added over time. The boat launch has been improved, all roads in the park have been repaved, and wi-fi has access has been added throughout the park.

ADCNR also used grant money from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to significantly upgrade the park’s drinking and wastewater systems.

“This park has truly been brought back to life,” said ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “For years, Lake Lurleen went without the investment it deserved, and it began to show. But with its stunning location on the lake, we knew it had incredible potential. Today, it’s been completely refreshed, offering a beautiful, revitalized destination for everyone. Whether you’re planning a relaxing camping getaway or a fun-filled day with family at the beach and on the water, Lake Lurleen is ready to welcome you.”

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The ribbon-cutting drew other elected officials, including State Senator Gerald Allen and Representatives Ron Bolton and Curtis Travis.

“Lake Lurleen State Park is one of the premier outdoor destinations in west Alabama, and it’s wonderful to see all of the new amenities that will be enjoyed by children and families for generations to come,” Bolton said.

Allen touted the improvements made with the $18 million allotted to Lake Lurleen State Park so far and said he'll continue to propose funding for even more, including the addition of rentable cabins, which were planned for this phase of construction but were not added before funding ran out.

"One of the things developing not only here in Alabama but across this great nation is tourism," Allen said. "People have more time for leisure, and, certainly, they need a good-quality place to go and be part of. This Park is a fine example of what incentives we can offer as policymakers to make that happen, and Tuscaloosa has a very, very nice place to come with their children and grandkids."

Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Rob Robertson said the lake was formed almost 75 years ago, when engineers dammed Big Creek in northest Tuscaloosa County to create what was called the Tuscaloosa County Public Lake.

"Now, we've gotten better at naming things since then," Robertson joked. "But for many years, this has been where we recreate in Tuscaloosa County. That's especially on this side of the Black Warrior River, but everybody knows Lake Lurleen or the Public Lake and has gotten to swim it and enjoy it,"

"This park was named after Governor Lurleen Wallace about four years after her passing, because she was from Tuscaloosa and very important to our community - it’s just so right and fitting. I know she would love this today, to see the beauty that has been created." Judge Robertson continued. "Outdoor recreation builds families because families build fond memories when you’re out doing things."

Kelsey Rush, the President of the Visit Tuscaloosa tourism bureau, was also at the ribbon-cutting to praise Lake Lurleen State Park for the value and visitors it brings to west Alabama.

"Our community is rich with natural resources, and we are fortunate to have this recreational asset belong to the place that we all call home," Rush said. "Not every city has multiple bodies of water within minutes of their downtown, and not every community has a state park with 23 miles of trails, a beautiful sandy beach without having to drive four hours, and a lake stocked with fish, all just minutes from their front door."

Even before the Friday morning ribbon-cutting, families were flooding back into the State Park to swim, fish, hike, bike and boat at the 1,625-acre retreat.

The Park is open again from 7 a.m. to sundown every day except Christmas, with more than 50 campsites available for overnight stays.

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