Okmulgee Lake Spillway - Okmulgee, Oklahoma June 10, 2022

DESCRIPTION
Before turning off onto the main road that enters Okmulgee State Park, be sure follow state road 56 until you come to the spillway cascade. The Okmulgee Spillway, built in 1939-1940 by the Work Projects Administration, sits at the northeastern most point of the Lake Okmulgee Dam. The 40-foot-high by 250-foot- long cascade which is being nominated, is a series of upwardly rising limestone steps which buttress the original 1927-28 spiliway (built by a private contractor), on the dry side of the dam. Stone retaining walls buttress the dry side cuts that were made into the dam to accommodate the spiliway. The retaining walls are stepped upward from the creek floor, providing access up and down the slope. The center of the stepped cascade is additionally buttressed by a 72 x 72 foot stone platform. The floor of the creek is paved with stone blocks as well. Across the creek from the cascade, a stone retaining wall follows the line of the highway and prevents washouts from Lake Okmulgee. This is the only such flood control/recreational structure of this design, material, and workmanship in Okmulgee County.
livingnewdeal....

[@celestialbeing5291]

Nice construction.

[@stellasouthwick212]

I always go to see it when I come back there

[@ranpat86]

@@stellasouthwick212 I grew up in Morris. Do you know, David Southwick

[@stellasouthwick212]

@@ranpat86 I live there till 1985

[@joebossert8525]

Very cool and thank you. Haven’t been back to Okmulgee much since my mom passed but that video sure does justice to lake and Okmulgee.

[@ranpat86]

We moved away when I joined the Air Force but get too visit about twice year. I’m glad it made your day as it did mine. So many memories of that spillway growing up there.

[@dustinchad]

built in 1 year 1927-1928 by ? who ? 1928 we had cameras ? are there photos of such feat? why the limestone ? why the walkway up the otherside of the road ? what oil baron claims this ancient structure ?

[@jerryargo6260]

WPA was the constructor.