Lake Thompson Recreation Area

Lake Thompson Recreation Area

Parks Directory of the United States / State Parks / South Dakota

Location: 6 miles southwest of Preston off US 14.
Facilities: 103 modern campsites (97 with electrical hookups,1 @di), 4 cabins (é), comfort stations with showers, 5-bedroom rental lodge, boat ramps, hiking trail, game courts, ski beach, swimming beach, fish cleaning station, playground.
Activities: Camping, boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, hiking.
Special Features: Originally called Dry Woods Lake by American Indians, the lake was renamed for Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson. It is mentioned as one of the Twin Lakes in many of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. In the 1930s the lake was completely dry and used for pasture. In the 1980s, heavy rains and snowmelt filled it to a depth of 20 feet, and it now covers 18,000 acres.
Address: 21176 Flood Club Rd
Lake Preston, SD 57249
Phone: 605-847-4893;
Web: www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/GlacialLakes/lakethompson.htm
Size: 416 acres.

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