Reviewed by: Mary Helene Hall
Little River State Forest in Atmore slated to reopen Summer 2026
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Little River State Park in Atmore is slated to reopen this summer after years of being closed to the public.
The state park was closed in 2020 after a destructive weather event. Thanks to improvements paid for by the passage of a 2022 constitutional amendment, Little River is able to open its gates again, but the improvements haven’t quite finished yet.
State Forest improvements
In May 2022, Alabama voters passed a constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of $85 million in bonds to support improvements at State Parks and Historical Commission sites.
“The amendment also authorized that any premium generated from the sale of the bonds would be provided to the Alabama Forestry Commission to make improvements on State Forests.”
State Forester Rick Oates
Improvements and additions to Little River State Park include:
- A new entrance bridge across Little River
- The installation of 15 full-hookup RV campsites
- Eight primitive campsites
- Public water lines
- A new septic system
- A new fishing pier
- Renovations to the existing bathhouse, picnic pavilion + swimming pier
Established in the early 1930s during the Great Depression and built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Little River State Forest consists of approximately 2,100 acres of longleaf pine forest and a 25-acre lake. The forest also includes the Claude D. Kelley Recreational Area.
“Little River is all about children. That’s why this place exists. Just about everyone here today has wonderful memories of this park from when they were children. Now that it is resurrected, we want to be sure it is here to pass down to future generations.”
State Senator Greg Albritton
Want to visit Little River State Park this summer? The site located at 580 H. Kyle Road in Atmore, about 10 miles north of I-65 Exit 57.
