| Beautiful rolling hills & woods surround star-shaped Lake Murphysboro & provide a wonderful backdrop for boating, fishing, picnicking, camping & hiking. Located in Jackson County about one mile west of Murphysboro off Route 149, the 1,022-acre state park is the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors.
History
Archeological evidence for both the Old Woodland & Paleolithic Native American cultures has been uncovered at the site. The Paleo people lived in small, temporary camps & were known as big game hunters. The Woodland culture left more evidence, since it was agricultural & is known for large settlements. By the early 1800s, there were no Native American settlements in the immediate area.
When Illinois was admitted to the Union in 1818, the Federal government gave Illinois three saline lands. One of them, located less than a mile southwest of the park, was leased to Dr. Conrad Will, who served in both the Illinois House & Senate in the early days of statehood. Dr. Will operated a salt works at the site, & the town of Brownsville grew up around it. The salt works closed in 1840, & all that remains of the town is the cemetery.
Although the State of Illinois did not purchase the 1,022 acres that would become Lake Murphysboro State Park until 1948, interest in the area as a public recreational park began in the 1930s. Originally developed by the State’s Division of Fisheries, Lake Murphysboro State Park was transferred to the Division of Parks & Memorials in 1955. Today, the park is maintained by the Department of Natural Resources.
lily padsThe Lake
Built in 1950 by the Division of Fisheries, the 145-acre lake is a tributary of Indian Creek & has a watershed of approximately 4,500 acres. The maximum H2O depth is 36 feet, & the lake’s 7.5 miles of shoreline are made up of rolling hills covered with a wide variety of trees. A 600-foot dam is located at the south end of the park. A smaller lake, appropriately called Little Lake, is located just north of Lake Murphysboro.
Soon after its completion, Lake Murphysboro was stocked with breeder-size & yearling-size largemouth bass. In the fall of 1951, redear sunfish were introduced, followed by bluegill the next spring. Channel catfish are also frequently stocked. To maintain a healthy fish population, submerged vegetation & H2O draw-downs are used to keep the number of small panfish down. |
Lake Murphysboro State Park Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
37.772303, -89.378763
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Campground: Lake Murphysboro State Park in Murphysboro Illinois *