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Welcome to Lake Chicot State Park!Lake Chicot State Park is located just outside of Lake Village in the southeast corner of Arkansas...if you've driven down to Florida, you've probably passed right by it!Early in the twentieth century, the pure waters of the lake were used untreated by the city of Lake Village. When the dam at Cornerly Bayou was destroyed in a flood in 1927, the lake was polluted causing the water quality to deteriorate. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) realized the damage being done to the lake and stepped in to preserve it. Arkansas’s first-ever study of its recreational needs was published in 1940 andrecommended that Lake Chicot, uniquely valuable as the state’s largest natural lake and the nation’s largest natural oxbow, “be given prime consideration for an addition to the State park system.” Cut off centuries ago when the Mississippi River changed course, this oxbow lake is 20-miles long and provides a serene setting for anglers and bird watchers. In fact, the park is situated on one of the largestflyways in the country, the Mississippi Flyway, making it the perfect place for year-round birding opportunities. Make sure you pick up your field checklist at the visitor's center!The name Chicot is French for stub or stump and refers to the many cypress stumps and trees along the lake banks. This makes it the perfect place to fish for Bluegills, channel catfish, largemouth bass, hybrid striper bass, crappie, bream and even alligator gar.History buffs will love the many historical sites in the area. The biggest Civil War battle in Chicot County, the Battle at Ditch Bayou was fought on the shores of Lake Chicot on June 6, 1864 and was considered one of Arkansas' final Civil War battles.Nestled in a pecan grove, the park offers guests 122 hookup campsites with bathhouses and 14 ADA-accessible duplex cabins with their own fishing piers. There are numerous picnic spots and 2 screened in pavilions perfect for group meetings or family reunions, along with a playground the kids will love. The swimming pool is open during the summer months and has several water features and a large bathhouse.Pick up bait at the marina and rent a boat or kayak to get out on the water. There's also a boat ramp andfish cleaning station. The Visitor's Center includes a park giftshop and museum area with interpretive exhibits that tell of the area's history and natural resources.Right next to the visitor's center, you'll find the 1-mile Delta Woodlands nature trail. It's a leisurely path where you'll be surrounded by greenery and bottomland hardwoods. Wanna learn more about the area? Take the Self-Guided Levee Tour! The tour covers 30 miles taking you around Lake Chicot through bayous, past historical markers, and even to an island that was once the camp for a band of river pirates! We hope you’ve enjoyed this look into Lake Chicot State Park and we encourage you to get out and experience The Natural State! For more information on the park, visit ArkansasStateParks.comAnd make sure you follow Arkie Travels on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more Arkansas adventures!

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