Memorial Day weekend kicks off with higher lake levels, threat of storms

Memorial Day Weekend is here, and for many across Green Country, that means being out at the lake. But as it goes with spring in Oklahoma, there's a lot to consider.        

Time on the water, evenings by the fire, and reconnecting with nature.

"Just relaxing, maybe taking a boat out and a little fishing, just hanging out with our friends,” Sharon McVay said.

People like McVay made this weekend's plans months ago.

“Soon as they opened reservations in like December, I got on my reservations for this weekend, Fourth of July week and weekend, and then also for like Labor Day weekend,” she said.

Pier 51 Marina General Manager Sean Adair said nine of his 12 rental boats are already booked for Saturday, a predictor, he said, that business this summer should be strong. 

“My occupancy is just been feeling crazy,” Adair said. “I have no more small slips in the marina, and we do one-year leases, so that’s great for me.”

With the threat of storms this weekend, everyone has their eyes on the weather, trying to get their boats out as much as they can. The water levels at Keystone Lake are about five feet above normal.

“Personally, I like that because it makes some of the hazardous places on the lake a lot more safe, so we’re in great shape other than the chocolate with the brown looking water that we’ve got, which is still clean,” Adair said.

“We know we got rain this weekend, but you know what? We’re still at the lake. We’re around friends and family, and it is what it is,” David Bowman said.

Rain or shine, Zaydyn Mack will be celebrating all weekend.

“I can go on the boat and go tubing, and make a friends on the playground and get lots of love,” Mack said.

He turned eight years old on Friday. 

“Today is May the 23rd, which is my birthday, and it means that I’m turning older and that I might be older than other people, but I won’t be mean to them and I’m a good brother.”

And whether you're doing a whole lot or a whole lot of nothing, everyone is hoping for a weekend to remember.

“I’m looking forward to being wore out on Tuesday,” Adair said.

The Army Corps of Engineers had to close several camp sites, trails, and other areas near Oklahoma lakes. For a complete list of closures, click here.