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Lakepoint Resort State Park is located on the shores of
scenic and historic Lake Eufaula, just north of the beautiful
city of Eufaula, Alabama.
Covering nearly 1,200 acres, Lakepoint is a hot spot for
outdoor recreation. The park features a lodge, cottages,
cabins, a marina, 18-hole golf course, campgrounds, picnic
areas, restaurant, nature trails, a swimming pool, a beach
and more. Developed by the State of Alabama, all of the
facilities are open to the public and the accommodations are
reasonably priced.
While thousands of visitors come each year to enjoy the
scenic beauty of Lake Eufaula, known as the "Bass Capital
of the World," often overlooked is the fact that the park and
surrounding area occupy some of the most historic ground
in America. Until 1836, this was the Creek Nation.
The Creek Nation of the 18th and 19th centuries was actually
a loose confederation of different groups, many of which had
languages and customs of their own.
The Chattahoochee River Valley, for example, was the
traditional home of the Lower Creeks, most of whom spoke
the Hitchiti language. Hitchiti was similar to the better known
Muskogee language of the Upper Creeks, but was not
mutually intelligible with it.
Allied with the Hitchiti speakers were various small groups,
among whom the Yuchi (or Euchee) were best known.
The Lower Creeks had seen their frontier pushed westward
by the constantly expanding settlements of the whites. Treaty
after treaty had forced them to give up more and more of their
land until, in 1824, the Treaty of Indian Springs ended all of
their claims to land in the State of Georgia.
Making matters worse, the Indians had watched as settlers
established Irwinton (now Eufaula) on lands that, by treaty,
belonged to them. Unscrupulous speculators roamed the
Creek Nation, defrauding Indian families of their lands and
livestock. President Andrew Jackson even sent the famed
lawyer Francis Scott Key, composer of "The Star-Spangled
Banner," to Eufaula to investigate. Ultimately, though, the
U.S. government concluded that the only way to save the
Creeks was to move them to the West, far beyond the
Mississippi, where they would be safe from the aggressions
of white frontiersmen.
The Treaty of 1832 and the Indian Removal Act marked the
beginning of the Creek Trail of Tears. A near holocaust was
the result.
While many of the Lower Creeks went along with the plan,
took the money offered and moved west, others did not. Led
by such notable figures as Neamathla (who had battled the
U.S. Army in Florida in 1817-1818), Jim Henry (a Yuchi store
clerk in Columbus, GA) and others, the Yuchi and many of
the Hitchiti determined to resist. Cowikee Creek, which flows
into Lake Eufaula at Lakepoint Resort State Park, and the
Chattahoochee River became boundaries across which
whites could not advance without expecting resistance.
The tension exploded in the spring of 1836 in a conflict that
is remembered today as the Creek War of 1836, although it
actually lasted for two years.
After war parties attacked and destroyed the settlements of
white intruders in the Creek Nation, often killing the settlers
and their families, Jim Henry led a large force of Yuchi and
Hitchiti warriors across the Chattahoochee and destroyed
the town of Roanoke, Georgia (just north of Lakepoint).
scenic and historic Lake Eufaula, just north of the beautiful
city of Eufaula, Alabama.
Covering nearly 1,200 acres, Lakepoint is a hot spot for
outdoor recreation. The park features a lodge, cottages,
cabins, a marina, 18-hole golf course, campgrounds, picnic
areas, restaurant, nature trails, a swimming pool, a beach
and more. Developed by the State of Alabama, all of the
facilities are open to the public and the accommodations are
reasonably priced.
While thousands of visitors come each year to enjoy the
scenic beauty of Lake Eufaula, known as the "Bass Capital
of the World," often overlooked is the fact that the park and
surrounding area occupy some of the most historic ground
in America. Until 1836, this was the Creek Nation.
The Creek Nation of the 18th and 19th centuries was actually
a loose confederation of different groups, many of which had
languages and customs of their own.
The Chattahoochee River Valley, for example, was the
traditional home of the Lower Creeks, most of whom spoke
the Hitchiti language. Hitchiti was similar to the better known
Muskogee language of the Upper Creeks, but was not
mutually intelligible with it.
Allied with the Hitchiti speakers were various small groups,
among whom the Yuchi (or Euchee) were best known.
The Lower Creeks had seen their frontier pushed westward
by the constantly expanding settlements of the whites. Treaty
after treaty had forced them to give up more and more of their
land until, in 1824, the Treaty of Indian Springs ended all of
their claims to land in the State of Georgia.
Making matters worse, the Indians had watched as settlers
established Irwinton (now Eufaula) on lands that, by treaty,
belonged to them. Unscrupulous speculators roamed the
Creek Nation, defrauding Indian families of their lands and
livestock. President Andrew Jackson even sent the famed
lawyer Francis Scott Key, composer of "The Star-Spangled
Banner," to Eufaula to investigate. Ultimately, though, the
U.S. government concluded that the only way to save the
Creeks was to move them to the West, far beyond the
Mississippi, where they would be safe from the aggressions
of white frontiersmen.
The Treaty of 1832 and the Indian Removal Act marked the
beginning of the Creek Trail of Tears. A near holocaust was
the result.
While many of the Lower Creeks went along with the plan,
took the money offered and moved west, others did not. Led
by such notable figures as Neamathla (who had battled the
U.S. Army in Florida in 1817-1818), Jim Henry (a Yuchi store
clerk in Columbus, GA) and others, the Yuchi and many of
the Hitchiti determined to resist. Cowikee Creek, which flows
into Lake Eufaula at Lakepoint Resort State Park, and the
Chattahoochee River became boundaries across which
whites could not advance without expecting resistance.
The tension exploded in the spring of 1836 in a conflict that
is remembered today as the Creek War of 1836, although it
actually lasted for two years.
After war parties attacked and destroyed the settlements of
white intruders in the Creek Nation, often killing the settlers
and their families, Jim Henry led a large force of Yuchi and
Hitchiti warriors across the Chattahoochee and destroyed
the town of Roanoke, Georgia (just north of Lakepoint).
Lakepoint Resort State Park
Lakepoint Resort State Park
The cottages at the park offer
spectacular views of the lake.
The park also offers cabins,
camping and more.
The cottages at the park offer
spectacular views of the lake.
The park also offers cabins,
camping and more.
| Lakepoint Resort State Park The park, seen here from the water, is a beautiful recreation and resort complex located on scenic and Lake Eufaula. It is just minutes north of historic Eufaula, Alabama. |
The Battle of Shepherd's Plantation followed and
soon columns of federal and state troops converged
force of Alabama militia drove into Creek territory by
way of Cowikee Creek, establishing forts and
capturing resisting warriors as it advanced.
Neamathla and Jim Henry were eventually captured
and their warriors began to surrender not long after.
Henry was tried for his role at Roanoke, but
acquitted. Neamathla was sent west in chains.
The land on which Lakepoint Resort State Park is
located today was thus lost to the Creek Nation. In
the decades that followed the war, it became farm
land where cotton and other commodities were
produced. The Chattahoochee River was an artery
for steamboat traffic and Eufaula was a major port.
The area escaped serious damage during the War
Between the States and Eufaula's antebellum homes
are among the best preserved and most beautiful in
the nation.
Lakepoint Resort State Park was established after
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the
Chattahoochee to create what they called the Walter
F. George Reservoir. Better known as Lake Eufaula,
it is today a playground for people of all ages.
The park is located on Highway 431 just north of
Eufaula, Alabama. The address is 104 Lakepoint
Drive. It is open to the public daily and is free to visit.
Please click here to learn more or for reservations.
soon columns of federal and state troops converged
force of Alabama militia drove into Creek territory by
way of Cowikee Creek, establishing forts and
capturing resisting warriors as it advanced.
Neamathla and Jim Henry were eventually captured
and their warriors began to surrender not long after.
Henry was tried for his role at Roanoke, but
acquitted. Neamathla was sent west in chains.
The land on which Lakepoint Resort State Park is
located today was thus lost to the Creek Nation. In
the decades that followed the war, it became farm
land where cotton and other commodities were
produced. The Chattahoochee River was an artery
for steamboat traffic and Eufaula was a major port.
The area escaped serious damage during the War
Between the States and Eufaula's antebellum homes
are among the best preserved and most beautiful in
the nation.
Lakepoint Resort State Park was established after
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed the
Chattahoochee to create what they called the Walter
F. George Reservoir. Better known as Lake Eufaula,
it is today a playground for people of all ages.
The park is located on Highway 431 just north of
Eufaula, Alabama. The address is 104 Lakepoint
Drive. It is open to the public daily and is free to visit.
Please click here to learn more or for reservations.
History & Outdoor Recreation on Lake Eufaula
Chattahoochee River
Lake Eufaula was formed by
the damming of the historic
Chattahoochee River and
Lake Eufaula was formed by
the damming of the historic
Chattahoochee River and
Lakepoint Resort Marina
The park features a public
marina where visitors can rent
both fishing and pontoon
boats to explore the lake.
The park features a public
marina where visitors can rent
both fishing and pontoon
boats to explore the lake.
Eufaula, Alabama
Lakepoint Resort State Park
is a great base for exploring
the historic city of Eufaula,
where visitors can see one of
the best preserved collections
of historic homes in the South.
Lakepoint Resort State Park
is a great base for exploring
the historic city of Eufaula,
where visitors can see one of
the best preserved collections
of historic homes in the South.
The Battle of Shepherd's Plantation
The Creek War of 1836
Providence Canyon State Park
Battlefields & Forts of the American South
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
The Creek War of 1836
Providence Canyon State Park
Battlefields & Forts of the American South
Historic Sites in Georgia
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
| Copyright 2012 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. Last Update: September 11, 2012 |
Historic Sites on Lake Eufaula
Historic Sites on Lake Eufaula
Battle of Roanoke, Georgia
Battle of Shepherd's Plantation, Georgia
Eufaula, Alabama
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Fort Gaines, Georgia
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Providence Canyon State Park, Georgia
Rood Creek Indian Mounds, Georgia
Battle of Shepherd's Plantation, Georgia
Eufaula, Alabama
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Fort Gaines, Georgia
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Providence Canyon State Park, Georgia
Rood Creek Indian Mounds, Georgia
| Eufaula, Alabama |