Beaver Dunes Park

{{Short description|State park in Oklahoma, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Beaver Dunes Park

| iucn_category =

| photo = Beaver Lake at Beaver Dunes Park Oklahoma.jpg

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Beaver Lake at Beaver Dunes Park

| photo_width =

| map = Oklahoma#USA

| relief = yes

| map_alt = A map of Oklahoma showing the location of Beaver Dunes Park

| location = Beaver County, Oklahoma, United States

| nearest_city = Beaver, OK

| coordinates = {{coord|36.841111|-100.516944|region:US-OK|display=inline, title}}

| area = {{convert|520|acre}}

| established =

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = City of Beaver and Pioneer Parks

| url = http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.418

}}

Beaver Dunes Park is in Beaver County, Oklahoma, near the city of Beaver. The {{convert|520|acre|km2|adj=on}} park, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle, offers dune buggy riding on {{convert|300|acre|km2}} of sand hills, fishing, hiking trails, a playground and two campgrounds. Hackberry Bend Campground is located next to Beaver Lake, approximately {{convert|2|acre|m2}}, stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, and perch, and has 7 RV sites and 10 tent sites. Also located in Hackberry Bend is a one-room primitive cabin which sleeps four and can be reserved. Pioneer Campground is located adjacent to the ORV area. This campground has 13 RV sites with direct access to the dunes. Both campgrounds have a comfort station with hot showers. Dump station located at Hackberry Bend Campground. Both campgrounds have handicap accessibility. Another area of the park is Big Sandy picnic area. This area has a sand volleyball court, basketball goal, horseshoe pits, playground, nature trail, and two reservable shelters.{{cite web |title=Beaver Dunes State Park

|publisher=Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department |url=http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.418 |accessdate=January 6, 2013}}

The Oklahoma Panhandle is the driest part of the state, and is semi-arid (below {{convert|20|in|cm}} annual rainfall),{{cite web |url=https://www.ou.edu/ocs/oklahoma-climate |title=Climate of Oklahoma |author= |date= |work=Oklahoma Climatological Survey |publisher=Oklahoma University |accessdate=April 19, 2025}} a condition sometimes conducive in certain conditions to particulate matter formed by natural processes (such as erosion and deposition) remaining as loose sand and forming dunes instead of integrating with soil.

There are legends regarding strange occurrences at this place, going back to Spanish explorers.{{cite web|url= https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/highway-to-halloween-from-spook-light-to-shamans-portal-road-trip-to-eerie-oklahoma-destinations/article_c55483b4-0976-11eb-adc0-b34c30677460.html |title= Highway to Halloween: From Spook Light to Shaman's Portal, road trip to eerie Oklahoma destinations |date= October 21, 2020 |publisher=Jimmie Tramel, Tulsa World, October 21, 2020}} Coronado’s journal cites three of his men disappearing into flashes of green light while exploring the tract. There is a separate legend about the area being a UFO crash site. The location, which has been compared to the Bermuda Triangle, has been referred to as “Shaman’s Portal.”

The tract was once a state park. The State of Oklahoma announced in 2011 that the park would be closed at the end of Summer that year as a budget-cutting measure. Laurie Anderson of Beaver, Oklahoma protested to keep it open. The dunes were saved from closure shortly thereafter.{{cite web |title=All Seven Oklahoma State Parks Slated For Closure To Remain Open |publisher=News One 6 |url=http://www.newson6.com/story/15259499/all-7-oklahoma-state-parks-slated-for-closure-remain-open |accessdate=January 6, 2013}} On August 15, 2011, the park ownership was formally transferred to the City of Beaver.[http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=4972:beaver-dunes-state-park-not-closing&Itemid=40 Phillips, Larry. Leader & Times. "Beaver Dunes State Park not closing."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322171057/http://www.leaderandtimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=4972:beaver-dunes-state-park-not-closing&Itemid=40 |date=2014-03-22 }} June 17, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2013.