Lake Catherine State Park was one of first six state parks constructed in Arkansas, and like the other five, was built during the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the close-to-his-heart civilian “Tree Army”
of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.
The CCC/Rustic-style facilities at these parks formed the backbone for all future development within Arkansas’s state park system. The parks endure as a legacy to the craftsmanship and conservation achievements of the CCC.
Lake Catherine State Park, in the Ouachita Mountains on the shores of Lake Catherine, was constructed by the men of CCC Company #3777, which operated there from 1937 until 1942. As part of the CCC master plan for the park, a fishing village was designed that included two Fisherman’s Barracks.
One was lost to fire in 1948, but the other barrack has stood through time in its peaceful setting on the lakeshore overlooking Slunger Bay. This barrack, with its long porch overlooking the water, has been restored and is now
The structure was originally designed as a tri-plex cabin offering basic sleeping accommodations for guests, with communal restroom facilities provided in a nearby structure. Now renovated into a duplex facility, each studio cabin
features a seating area, efficiency kitchen, dining counter, queen size sleeping accommodations, and private bathroom.
Each offers an outdoor elevated picnic area with table and grill.
Though updates have been made to the facilities to provide modern comforts for guests, such as flat panel television, microwave, mini-fridge, range and oven, the original natural setting and fundamental characteristics of the barracks remain. Log rafters, interior siding, and the enclosed screen porch have all been restored to reflect their original conditions and windows have been installed back to their original locations.
The wooded setting is accessible only by footpath. Forty-six steps lead down to the cabins from their parking area.
The park architecture of the building fits naturally into the lakeshore setting that was chosen as its site. It is a rectangular wood-framed structure with straight edge horizontal siding.
The barrack’s lakeside, screened-in porch sits on treated pine pilings over Lake Catherine at the mouth of Slunger Creek.
The porch is the perfect place to enjoy the scenery, and the peace and quiet right there at the water’s edge where guests will have a birds-eye view of Slunger Bay.
On the shores of 1,940-acre Lake Catherine, one of the five popular Diamond Lakes in the Hot Springs area, the park offers a wide range of outdoor recreational choices including fishing, boating, swimming, picnicking, and hiking.
Park interpreters offer guided hikes, boat tours, and other programs.
During summer months, guided horseback trail rides are also offered at the park.
Facilities include the park’s 70 campsites, 20 full-service cabins, picnic sites, a pavilion, marina with boat rentals, launch ramp, hiking trails, a swimming area, playground, nature center, and visitor center with gifts and supplies for sale.
Camping choices also include the park’s Rent-A-Camp and new Rent-A-Yurt.
Nineteen park cabins feature one-bedroom each.
The park’s two-bedroom cabin is a barrier-free design with a large stone patio and access to the water including its own private, barrier-free fishing pier.
Reservations may be made online at ArkansasStateParks.com or by calling the park at 1-800-264-2422.
Lake Catherine State Park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Lake Catherine State Park is located near Hot Springs and Malvern. From I-30, take Exit #97 at Malvern and go 12 miles north on Ark. 171 to the park.
