DeGray Lake Resort State Park is located at State Park Entrance Road in the unincorporated community of Bismarck in Hot Springs County, Arkansas. Approximately a 30 minute drive from Hot Springs, this resort is situated on the north shore of the 13,800-acre DeGray Lake and in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. To get to the park visitors can take Exit #78 off I-30 at Caddo Valley/Arkadelphia and travel seven miles north on Scenic 7 Byway.
Visitors wishing to find overnight accommodation here have the option of the lodge, which has 96 rooms and children under 12 can stay free of charge. Rooms are available for people with special needs and amenities include color cable TV, internet access, mini refrigerators, coffee makers, hairdryers, ironing facilities and room service. The resort has a heated outdoor swimming pool, gift shop, playground, fitness center and business center.
The Shoreline Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a seating capacity of 120, although it is possible to cater for up to 350 for group meals and banquets. The resort is an ideal setting for a wedding, meetings, conferences or any other special events. The Convention Center can be split in to three meeting rooms with a capacity of 100 people in each and wireless internet access is available here too.
This resort also offers 113 campsites with water and electric hook-ups with some located in the woodlands and others on the lake shoreline. A Rent-A-Yurt can be reserved that sleeps up to six persons and is equipped with electrical outlets, a lantern (with fuel), ice chest, bunk beds, a double burner stove , folding table with chairs, broom, mop and dust pan. It is recommended that campers taking this option bring cooking and eating utensils, matches and bed linens with a fire ring and pedestal grill, picnic table, electricity and water already provided.
The 18-hole PGA championship rated course offers great views of the lake as well as birds and other wildlife. The front nine holes have expansive fairways and hidden water hazards, whilst the back nine is carved out of the woodlands. Lessons are offered here and guests can also try out the driving range, practice greens and chipping area.
Fishing and water sports are very popular on the lake with boat rentals available from the full service marina. Visitors can hire flat bottom boats and motors, party barges, personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks and water bikes, whilst water skiing, snorkelling, kayaking and sailing are also activities available here. Anglers will find a variety of fish in the lake including hybrid striped bass and great angling for bass, crappie, bream and catfish.
Just less than two kilometers from DeGray Resort is National Park Duck Tours in Hot Springs. Visitors can board a tourist boat for a 75 minute sightseeing tour of Lake Hamilton and the Hot Springs National Park. This attraction is run throughout the year, although this is dependent upon the weather between November and February.
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