SAVANNAH, Ga. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, will keep most recreation areas at J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake closed through the 2025 season, and possibly longer, due to unprecedented damages caused by Hurricane Helene.
All existing campground and picnic shelter reservations will be cancelled, and cancellation fees will be waived. The safety of the public and our employees is priority, therefore, recreation areas deemed unsafe will remain closed until the Savannah District can secure the additional funding necessary to complete the cleanup and make the required repairs.
The storm caused extensive damages to the majority of the 51 Corps of Engineers-operated recreation areas, which included 500,000 cubic yards of downed trees, more than 21,000 leaning trees and 2,000 stumps, in addition to damaged buildings and other infrastructure. The hazardous debris and conditions rendered many areas inaccessible. The public should avoid all closed recreation areas.
Once the areas can operate under safe conditions, they will be reopened, and reservation availability will be updated, as applicable, through the National Recreation Reservation Service website. Updates about openings will also be provided via news release and the District’s social media platforms and website, as they become available.
Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will send individual notifications to those impacted by the cancellations, to the email address on file, announcing when the parks are scheduled to reopen and when reservations are once again available.
For questions or concerns about reservations, contact the National Recreation Reservation Service help desk at 877-345-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov.
For the most current information about the parks, call the project office at 800-533-3478 or visit Thurmond Lake.
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