Renovated Lake Lurleen State Park Welcomes Visitors

By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

With kids swinging and swishing down the slide as a backdrop, Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), made the long-awaited reopening of Lake Lurleen State Park official last week.

The extensive renovation of the park in Tuscaloosa County caused the facility to be completely closed for a little more than a year, and the reopening was welcomed by park enthusiasts, local officials and dignitaries at last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Commissioner Blankenship said the major renovation of Lake Lurleen State Park was one of three large projects funded by the bond issue that were still underway as 2026 arrived.  State voters overwhelmingly passed the bond issue in 2022. The other two major projects still being completed this year are the new executive campground at Gulf State Park and the new hotel and facilities at Cheaha State Park.

“I couldn’t wait for this day to get here,” Commissioner Blankenship said. “We’ve had so much community interest in this project. The people who love Lake Lurleen State Park really love it. I keep up with the Friends of Lake Lurleen State Park on Facebook, and it’s definitely a passionate group, and they are excited about the work that was done here. They had a lot of input, and we’re going to celebrate that today.”

The complete renovation includes 67 upgraded RV campsites with modern water, sewer and electrical hookups, a new entrance with an improved check-in station and office, a refreshed beach area for swimming and sunbathing for the entire family, a multi-faceted playground area adjacent to the beach, seven new pavilions that can used for gathering and events, nine new bathhouses with private and family-style suites, a new camp store, improvements to the boat launch and dock, expanded Wi-Fi access throughout the park, and complete repaving of the roads in the park.

“This was a very big project,” the Commissioner said. “We’ve done a lot of work at multiple state parks over the last several years. What we had here at Lake Lurleen was a total renovation of the park. I appreciate the patience of the public as we closed the park. We were doing such an extensive renovation there was no way really to keep it half open and half closed. I hope the public is happy with the way it worked out.”

Commissioner Blankenship recalled that when the talk of renovating Lake Lurleen first started, he was not sure how much public input he would receive. A public meeting was held to hear from the community about suggestions for the renovations. It turned out the public interest far exceeded his expectations. 

“I pulled up at the meeting site, and I couldn’t find a place to park,” he said. “I ended up having to park across the street. I walked in and the room was filled to capacity. All the great input we got from the public showed me how important this park is to the community.

“I am thrilled with the product. This is about an $18 million investment at Lake Lurleen State Park, including the water and sewer upgrades. I think it was money very well spent.”

Thanks to a partnership with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the park’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure underwent significant upgrades.

“Not only did we need that for the capacity to add to our park, but that infrastructure work will make it so this park won’t have to have any more water and sewer work for the next 50 years,” the Commissioner said. “That’s a huge benefit to the park’s long-term viability and helps us expand and do other things.”

State Representative Ron Bolton, who represents Tuscaloosa and Pickens counties, explained why the renovations at Lake Lurleen State Park were so important.

“I think everybody knows that Lake Lurleen is a great place for families to spend time together in the outdoors. I grew up fishing here. My children swam out here,” Bolton said. “I just want to thank everyone involved in this project. This is just fantastic. It’s great. Chris, y’all have done a phenomenal job.”

State Senator Gerald Allen, who serves Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties, said after the $85 million bond issue was passed, he asked Commissioner Blankenship to not forget Lake Lurleen.

“You did a fabulous job, you and your crew,” Sen. Allen said. “One of the things that is developing, not only here in Alabama but across this great nation, is tourism. People have more leisure time. This park is a fine example of the incentives we can create as policymakers.

“I recall that when I was a teenager, I fished in this lake, 250 acres of it. The park is over 1,600 acres, so the Tuscaloosa area has a very, very nice place to come with their children and their grandchildren. It’s a great place.”

Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Rob Robertson provided a history lesson on Lake Lurleen State Park.

“This park started in 1952 when the creek was dammed to create this lake,” Judge Robertson said. “It was called the Tuscaloosa County Public Lake. We’ve gotten better with naming things. For many years, this was where we recreated in Tuscaloosa County on this side of the river. Outdoor recreation builds families. Families build memories. Back here is my favorite place to camp. Now you have internet back there, and I’m very excited about that. This is unbelievable, seeing it in person.

“As this park was named for Governor (Lurleen) Wallace about four years after her passing (1968), she was, of course, from Tuscaloosa and very important to our community. It is so right-fitting. I know she would love this today, to see the beauty that has been created.”

State Representative Curtis Travis, who represents Hale and part of Tuscaloosa counties, said he wanted to thank Governor Kay Ivey and Commissioner Blankenship for their commitment to outdoor recreation in Alabama.

“We have some great outdoor facilities, and our people, especially young people, need to have access to the outdoors,” Rep. Travis said. “This is way more than expected – playgrounds for the kids, fishing, camping. It’s another wonderful day in west Alabama to have these great resources.”

Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports (Visit Tuscaloosa) President and CEO Kelsey Rush said driving down the final mile to Lake Lurleen always provides her a peaceful respite from the busy world of tourism. 

“Lake Lurleen has always been special, and we’re here celebrating truly a new chapter,” Rush said. “The renovations you see are not just improvements they are investments in the quality of life. Every family in west Alabama deserves this. We deserve a place to make memories, unplug, get outside and feel proud of where we live. At Visit Tuscaloosa, we believe this state park has the potential to become a destination, not just for our neighbors in Tuscaloosa County but for all Alabamians in our state and visitors traveling beyond that.” 

Dee White, Lurleen State Park Manager, said the response from the public about the park’s reopening has been overwhelming.

“We’re very excited, and the guests are coming in,” White said. “We have a full campground this weekend. Every site is rented. The beach is full, and everybody is happy. You can’t ask for anything better.”

Alabama State Parks Director Matthew Capps added, “Lake Lurleen is very important to us and important that we get it right. This park has seen neglect for years, and it hasn’t been renovated since Governor Lurleen was in office. Being able to invest upwards of $18 million into this park, it rejuvenates the park and the community.” 

As part of more than $200 million in upgrades and renovations at Alabama State Parks, other new facilities have opened, including a new playground at Joe Wheeler State Park, renovated lodge rooms at Lakepoint State Park and a new Event Center at Chewacla State Park. 

Visit www.alapark.com to explore the vast outdoor recreational opportunities at the 21 Alabama State Parks. 

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