Wall Doxey Welcome

Wall Doxey State Park officially reopened its gates to the public Monday, June 15, following a nearly five-month closure forced by devastating infrastructure and tree damage from January’s severe winter storm.

The popular Marshall County recreational hub, located just south of Holly Springs, had been completely closed since the historic ice storm struck North Mississippi early this year, leaving a trail of widespread power outages and blocked roads.

Park Manager Lordish Matheney, who has been at Wall Doxey for 16 years and has managed the park since 2018, described the immediate aftermath of the January storm as a surreal and harrowing experience. Matheney, who lives on-site, recalled waking up to the sound of limbs snapping under the weight of thick ice amid roaring thunder and lightning.

“Once daylight hit, I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Matheney said. “Trees were falling to the point where I had to try to run to get out of the way. It was all I could see, and it was quiet—not a car, no sounds, just my family. Nobody was around to help.”

Matheney said she spent 28 days living inside the park without electrical power, utilizing outdoor grills, wood fires, and charcoal to cook food and stay warm before gasoline could be secured for a backup generator.

The recovery phase drew assistance from state park staff, volunteers, and wildlife, fisheries, and law enforcement personnel from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). Despite months of intensive clearing efforts, the park is executing a phased reopening because a significant amount of debris removal remains.

Visitors returning to the park will find several prominent features temporarily altered or inaccessible. The park’s disc golf course and its footbridge remain out of service due to fallen trees and structural damage. Additionally, campsites 1 through 49 in the back campground remain closed while crews continue to fell dangerous hanging limbs and clear debris.

However, day-use picnic areas, the park lake, and the community meeting room are fully open for family reunions and weddings. Travelers can also reserve 14 operational campsites in the front campground, as well as the newly renovated cabins 3 and 4. Additional renovated cabins are expected to open later this summer once state officials finalize rental pricing.

To expedite the full recovery of the campground, park officials have scheduled a community cleanup weekend on July 18 and July 19. Volunteers are invited to assist staff with debris clearing from 7 a.m. To 12 noon both days, with local fire department personnel coordinating water and supplies to mitigate the mid-summer heat.

“If I had a state park in my town and in my county, I would utilize it,” Matheney said, urging local residents to support the facility. “You have to utilize your own to make it better. I’m looking for more involvement from the community.”

Despite the setback of the storm, which canceled originally scheduled concerts and carnival plans, the park will participate in the upcoming America’s 250^th birthday celebrations over the Fourth of July weekend. Staff members plan to establish a patriotic atmosphere with festive decorations and light refreshments, including cake and ice cream, for holiday campers.

Reservations for available cabins and the 14 open front campsites can be completed online through the state park website, by calling the park office directly, or via the MDWFP call center.

“I’m very excited. I can’t wait,” Matheney said of welcoming the community back to Spring Lake. “I’m ready.”