ROGERS, Ark. — Many Memorial Day weekend plans were canceled following early Sunday morning severe storms in Rogers.
"It certainly wasn't the Memorial Day that we'd hoped," Derek Murken with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) said.
USACE and the Beaver Lake Project Office announced they closed Rocky Branch, Horseshoe Bend, and Prairie Creek campgrounds after the storms created extensive damage.
"Excessive amounts of debris, downed trees, and exposed powerlines are major factors contributing to the decision to close the parks," according to a press release.
The Prairie Creek and Horseshoe Bend campgrounds and day use areas are closed until further notice. Officials anticipate repairs at Prairie Creek and Horseshoe Bend will take several months.
The Rocky Branch campground is closed, but Rocky Branch's day use area and boat ramp will remain open. It is expected to reopen in a week.
While these campsites are closed, USACE said they will assess the damage, clear debris, and remove any damaged vehicles or campers.
"Those parks are closed indefinitely — beyond capacity of staff we have out there," Murken said. "It'll be a while until we get those parks back in working order
According to the press release, the Beaver Lake Project Office staff notified and refunded visitors with reservations.
For visitors who still have undamaged campers and vehicles at the damaged sites, they can pick them up and remove them. The Beaver Lake Project will call campers with damaged campers or vehicles to develop a plan for the vehicles' removal.
Other campgrounds are open but have limited services. The campgrounds of Starkey, Lost Bridge, and Lost Bridge South are open but have no electricity, water, or restrooms.
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