Staff Shortage, Aging Infrastructure to Close Deerlick Creek Campground & Park for Season

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close a popular Tuscaloosa County park and campground for the foreseeable future due to staffing shortages and maintenance needs.

The Deerlick Creek Campground and Public Use area will close on June 2nd and remain closed for the 2025 season. This hidden gem is one of eight such sites on Holt Lake, which is the 3,200-acre section of the Black Warrior River between the Bankhead and Holt Locks and Dam.

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Part of the reason for the closure is to replace aging water lines, which were installed at the campground in 1988. The Corps of Engineers said the old pipes are now leaking, increasing the costs of operating the site. Replacing the lines will ultimately reduce expenses and improve water service reliability at Deerlick Creek.

The Corps of Engineers also announced a slew of other closures at recreation parks on Wednesday, citing staffing shortfalls - that list also includes the very small Blue Creek park on the northwestern side of Holt Lake, meaning two of its eight recreational facilities will be closed.

The boat ramps at both sites should remain open for use, though, and other large facilities on Holt Lake will remain open, including the Rocky Branch public use area and the Burchfield Branch Campground in Brookwood.

"The closures will remain in effect until we can adequately address the staffing shortages," the USACE wrote in a press release. "Visitors are encouraged to check our website or social media channels for updates regarding the reopening of the parks and for any alternative recreational options in the area."

Combined with the closure of Alabama's Lake Lurleen State Park, it leaves campers who are looking for inexpensive accommodations in Tuscaloosa County with far fewer options than normal.

For more coverage of recreational news around West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.