JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 30, 2018 – Beginning Monday, April 30, the main park entrance at Finger Lakes State Park will be temporarily closed while the lake dam is being renovated. The main entrance is scheduled to reopen by July 27.
During the renovation, park visitors will use the temporary entrance, located off of Lake Road. Signs have been installed to provide direction. The temporary entrance will bring visitors through the park’s motocross track parking lot.
Renovation to the dam was deemed necessary after spring flooding in 2017 caused the primary spillway to fail; the spillway is located under the park’s main entrance road. The park took immediate action to lower the lake to a safe level while a full assessment was conducted, and renovation plans were developed.
After the lake level was lowered, the park was compelled to close the swimming beach last summer, and it will remain closed this summer as well. During the renovation project, the swim beach will not be maintained or operated. Swimming is permitted in all bodies of water except at the boat ramp; however, swimming is at your own risk. Alcohol, glass containers, pets and fires are not allowed along water access areas.
Portions of the park’s water trail are also not available due to low water levels, but the park will continue to offer kayak and canoe rentals, which remain very popular.
For more information, contact the Finger Lakes State Park office at 573-443-5315.
For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit https://mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.