BROKEN BOW, Okla.-Flooding wrecked havoc on Beavers Bend State Park twice in 2015.
Bridges were washed out, campsites were heavily damaged, and the fly shop was destroyed because of heavy flood releases from Broken Bow Dam. Flooding happened Memorial Day weekend 2015 and again in December 2015.
The damage inflicted in December closed the park for several weeks, and part of the delay was the severing of the park's main water line at multiple locations where it crossed the Mountain Fork River. But things are finally returning to normal at the popular Southeast Oklahoma destination.
"We are up and running. It's a new normal. Things have changed, but the people are still here. Our first emphasis was getting the water lines fixed because that way we could get our cabins and campgrounds open," said Beavers Bend Park Manager Jim Miller.
Miller said the park was closed during the slowest season of the year, but it still hurt financially because people camp all year long.
Repairing the damage has involved fixing some old problems to areas under repair.
One change includes boring under the river to lay the water line under the river bed, Miller said.
The changes to the water line would eliminate the danger of extreme releases severing the line. Therefore, even a repeat experience of December or Memorial Day 2015 would not sever the water line.
Other major repairs have been to three bridges in the park. One bridge was washed out, and two were seriously damaged.
Three walkways, commonly used by pedestrians and fishermen, were destroyed in the Memorial Day 2015 flood, and were about to be rebuilt when the flooding happened at Christmas.
The Beavers Bend fly shop was destroyed and had to be rebuilt on higher ground.
The amphitheater along the Mountain Fork River was also destroyed. Work on the new structure started in early May.
The replacement amphitheater is being built with volunteers and donations. The amphitheater is where Owa-Chito Festival musical performances take place and is also frequently used for weddings and other events, Miller said.
The Chamber of Commerce collected money to build it and a local contractor provided the labor.
TJ Construction is donating the labor for the project as well.
"It's been really neat seeing how everybody pitched in," Miller said.