Beginning the Season at the 2018 Tulsa Boat Show

Each year in mid-winter, when February starts to draw near, many lake area enthusiasts turn their thoughts to events like the upcoming Tulsa Boat, Sport & Travel Show. While summer days on the water may be a long way down the road at this time of the year, the show is always an opportunity to get a sneak peek at what is to come.

Of course, for thousands of those water lovers, the perfect backdrop to summer is either the wide open expanses of Grand Lake or the scenic, secluded shorelines of Lake Hudson. Both lakes are controlled by the Grand River Dam Authority and are among the most popular summer playgrounds in the region. If you want to know more about them, GRDA’s boat show booth is a “must visit” attraction.

Since Grand Lake was first created in 1940, GRDA has patrolled, administered, managed and protected Oklahoma’s most popular waters. In fact, GRDA spends about $11 million annually on these lake-related responsibilities, at no cost to Oklahoma taxpayers. And throughout 2018, we will continue to do just that, while also caring for the waters of the scenic Illinois River in the same manner. So, whether you plan to swim, ski, float, cruise or just sit by the shoreline or the river bank, the GRDA team looks forward to seeing you out on the water this year. But first, we look forward to visiting with you, and sharing information, at the boat show.

At the GRDA booth you can get an updated copy of our Lake Rules and our newly released Grand Lake Map, as well as a host of other helpful materials.  You can visit with our officers about regulations and other lake and river topics, and of course, we are glad to answer your questions.  We can provide details on safe boating classes, and the annual Rush for Brush habitat enhancement programs.  You and the entire family are invited to participate in our new interactive display The Life Jacket Challenge, which stresses the importance of life jacket usage.  The kids will enjoy the chance to board and get a close-up look at one of our police boats that is on display.  We can also provide answers about lake permitting processes and much more. On Saturday, February 3, you will also be able to purchase a 2018 Illinois River floating permit for $10 at the GRDA booth.

No matter if your summer plans include a GRDA lake or the Illinois River, we look forward to sharing more information with you at the GRDA boat show booth which is located on the southeast side of the upper level with our other Grand Lake partners. Stop by and see us!