Located in Greenleaf State Park in eastern Oklahoma, the accessible Cabin on the Lake is a great place to enjoy nature without giving up the creature comforts of home. Constructed as a volunteer project by the Oklahoma chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America, the cabin was turned over to Greenleaf State Park in 1994 on the condition that booking priority would be given to visitors with disabilities.

And while some folks feel the cabin is a model of accessibility for all state parks, the bottom line is it’s a very accessible and affordable way to enjoy Greenleaf State Park.

Creature Comforts—Accessible Bathroom and Adaptive Equipment
While most of the other cabins in the park are built close to one another, the Cabin on the Lake is located up a private drive with nary a cabin in sight. There is a paved parking area in front, with ramped access to the screened-in porch that overlooks the lake. Access features throughout the cabin include wide doorways, level thresholds, and good pathway access.

The cabin is very spacious, with an open great room with a fireplace and two sleeper sofas, an adjacent kitchen and dining area, and an oversized bedroom furnished with a queen-size bed and a twin hospital bed. The bathroom is equipped with a roll-in shower with a fold-down shower seat and a hand-held showerhead, grab bars in the shower and around the toilet, and a roll-under sink.

As an added bonus, the cabin comes stocked with a wide variety of adaptive equipment, including a commode chair, a trapeze, a ceiling track lift in the bedroom and bathroom, and a manual wheelchair. A cell phone is also included, just in case an emergency pops up. Truly, the Telephone Pioneers thought of everything.

Accessibility Around the Park
There are lots of accessible outdoor activities throughout the park, including fishing from the private dock in back of the cabin. There is ramp access from the cabin to the dock, so if you have your own pontoon boat you can easily dock it there and enjoy the lake.

Fishing is also available at the marina, on a partially covered floating dock, with nearby accessible parking. Additionally, children under 16, as well as visitors with disabilities, can use the kid’s pond, where there’s no charge to catch the limit.

And if you’d like to take a little hike, check out the Family Fun Trail. This 1.5-mile paved path starts near the park office and travels through a wooded area. There are interpretive signs and lots of benches along the way, and it makes for a very pleasant stroll.

Booking Basics
Advance planning is essential to secure a reservation at the Cabin on the Lake. Applications for the following year are taken beginning September 10; any applications received or postmarked before that date will not be accepted. Call (918) 487-5196 for an application. The Cabin on the Lake rents for a very affordable $60 per night, so get your application in early to avoid disappointment.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of 101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers. She blogs regularly about accessible travel issues at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com. See her Disaboom member profile.

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For more information on accessible summer vacations, see An Affordable and Accessible Summertime Getaway.

If you need some tips on vacationing in your RV, see Accessible RVing and Camping.