Construction at Roper Lake State Park will be taking place in the following campgrounds. See our camping page for details.
Please be prepared for construction-related traffic, increased noise levels, and limited access to the campground showers/restrooms during this time. Thank you for your patience as we work to make Roper Lake State Park an even better destination for campers!
Hacienda Campground: February 5 - June 27 (Hacienda shower building closed through May 9)
Island Day Use area - May 6-9
Cottonwood Campground: April 22 - June 27 (Cottonwood shower to close May 16)
Gila Campground: June 3 - October 24
The Roper Lake hot tub is permanently closed.
Park History
Opened & Dedicated March 1975
By Charles R. Eatherly
On July 28, 1972, a Preliminary Engineering Feasibility Report was completed by the Game and Fish Department and submitted to the Park’s Board. The findings and conclusions on the sites examined were not promising. The next alternative examined in cooperation with the Game and Fish Department was the potential for a large lake on the Dankworth property two miles south of Roper Lake. The analysis of this site showed that a large lake was not feasible. After the investigation of other sites, the construction of a 100 surface acre lake was determined not to be feasible from an economic or engineering standpoint.
The best alternative appeared to be the management of Roper Lake by State Parks and perhaps the future acquisition of the Dankworth site. Roper Lake is located approximately 6 miles south of Safford and consists of a 32-acre lake. The main part of the Park, located around Roper Lake, was developed in the early 1960’s as a private recreation area. The lake and the property were sold to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in 1969.
The other unit, Dankworth Pond, has a 15-acre surface lake located about 3 miles south of the main Park. It was operated as a private catfish fishing lake before acquisition by State Parks in 1975.
