FORT RUCKER, Ala. (July 17, 2015) -- Although temperatures continue to soar throughout the South, there are still plenty of reasons to head out to the great outdoors -- and Fort Rucker Outdoor Recreation makes sure people don't have to leave post to do it.
From cabins at Lake Tholocco to boating to water slides, people will be hard pressed to find themselves bored when it comes to outdoor recreation on the installation, said Megan Royer, Lake Tholocco Lodging business manager.
For starters, the area around Lake Tholocco boasts 22 cabins, 21 of which are two-bedroom cabins and one three-bedroom cabin, all available for rent to Soldiers and Families, active-duty, retirees and Department of Defense civilians.
People can take advantage of everything the cabins have to offer, including: fully-furnished accommodations, fully-equipped kitchens, screened-in back porch, 32-inch flat screen TVs, satellite and DVD players, and complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access.
Twelve cabins -- the Singing Pines Cabins -- are found on the lake's West Beach, where people can enjoy breathtaking sunrises, said Royer, and 10 cabins are along East Beach, where people can enjoy a view of an Alabama sunset.
"There are four cabins that are pet friendly, so if people want to bring their fur-children, that is totally acceptable," said the lodging manager.
RV park or rent
In addition to cabin rentals, there is also a recreational vehicle park that people can take advantage of.
"We have a recreational vehicle park with a total of 48 camp sites, 18 of which are long-term sites -- the rest are short term that are rented at a maximum of 2-weeks at a time," said Royer The short-term sites rent for $18 per night and the long-term sites can be rented for two to three months at a time depending on the season.
People can also rent travel trailers -- there are seven available for rent that can sleep anywhere from two to six people. They are $45 a night or $200 for six nights, and they can go off the installation with no mileage limits.
Camping equipment is also available for rent.
West Beach
One of the largest and most well-known attractions to Fort Rucker is Lake Tholocco's West Beach, which is the designated swimming area for the lake. West Beach is fitted with a water trampoline and two water slides.
"Adults are welcome to jump on the trampoline, as well as children, and the slides are also large enough for them to go on -- they're not just for the children," said Royer.
"We also have eight pavilions available for rent, two of which are indoor and air conditioned, and they are open to the public," added Melissa Kelley, ODR lead recreation assistant. The rental rates range from $25-$85, and there are also canopies available for rent ranging from 10'x10' to 30'x30', along with folding chairs, tables and basically anything you need for outdoor parties.
To go along with people's camping or cabin experience, outdoor recreation also has what they need to take to the water.
"We have boat rentals available ranging from Jon boats, pontoon boats and ski boats, and we also have canoes, kayaks, paddleboats and new stand-up paddleboards that are available on a first-come, first-served basis," said Kelley.
To be eligible for the boat rentals, people must be a DOD civilian, active-duty military or a retiree. Boat rental prices depend on the amount of time people would like the boat for.
Boaters are not required to have the Alabama vessel requirements to rent boats, said Kelley, but they do need to complete the Fort Rucker Boater Safety Course, which consists of 25 questions and is an open book exam that people can take free of charge. The course is available online at www.ftruckermwr.com/recreation/outdoor-recreation/boating-safety-course/.
Fort Rucker is also home to some of the best fishing spots in the area with six different lakes covering more than 670 acres that feature a variety of fish from different types of bass, catfish, crappie and bream. For more information on some of Fort Rucker's hottest fishing spots, refer to the Health and Fitness section of the July 2 issue of the Army Flier or visit www.ftruckermwr.com.
For more information, call 255-4305.
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