Visitors get first look at Haig Mill Lake Park, Dalton’s newest recreation area

Published 11:24 am Monday, September 10, 2018

DALTON, Ga. — Ryan McCaffrey, of Chattanooga’s Rock Creek Outfitters, said he was impressed by Dalton’s new park at the Haig Mill reservoir.

“This is a really cool park. I’ve never seen one of these handicapped-accessible launch ramps like this. It makes it so easy for us,” he said.

The Dalton Parks and Recreation Department held a “soft” opening of the Haig Mill Lake Park Saturday, and Rock Creek was renting kayaks to visitors.

“We explain things to people who haven’t kayaked before,” McCaffrey said. “All the kayaks we’ve brought are really stable, beginner kayaks. You aren’t going to tip them over unless you deliberately try to tip them over. We give them some pointers and give them 30 minutes for free, then after that if you want more time, it’s just $10 a hour.”

Superintendent of Parks Steve Knoblett said he was pleased with the first official day in the park.

Dalton Parks and Recreation Department official invites residents to visit Haig Mill Lake Park

“Once the construction is completed and the playground is in, probably around the end of October, we plan on having an official ribbon cutting,” he said. “We’ll still be doing some little things, putting some benches and shelters and (trash) cans in around the lake, creating some rest areas, some places where you can fish. Even after the general construction is over, we’ll probably be adding things over the next year to year and a half.”

Knoblett said he was particularly proud that the kayak launch ramp is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.

“We found out about these (ramps) and knew we had to have them. They are the latest and greatest. Folks with physical disabilities can launch themselves and pull themselves back up when they return,” he said.

While the launch ramp is for kayaks, there’s a separate area where larger boats can launch.

“Some folks will have bigger canoes or small jon boats. We’ll have someone here who can open up the gate and let them in. As long as the boats are human-powered, no motors, they can use the lake,” he said.

Murray County resident Eddie Dobbs is an avid kayaker, and he and his son Landon had just spend some time on the lake.

“We just got through fishing. This is a great park. It certainly has some nice fish in it. I’ve really enjoyed it, and I’ll definitely be back,” he said.

Whitfield County resident Daniel Shepherd and his family also came to see the park.

“We’ve driven by a few times when it was under construction,” he said. “We have friends who live in this area. My wife saw that it was opening today, so we wanted to come by and check it out. It’s great. I’ve got a boat at home and we’ll be bringing it here.”

Dalton resident Carter Smith said he wasn’t interested in kayaking but he wanted to see what the fishing was like.

“I used to fish on the lake years ago, and it was some pretty good fishing. I hope that it’s still good,” he said.

The soft opening of the Haig Mill Lake Park continues Sept. 15 and 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Rock Creek Outfitters will be at the park renting kayaks to visitors and also offering instructional clinics every 30 minutes for beginners. Participants must sign a liability release waiver. Dalton Parks and Recreation Department staff will be cooking and serving hot dogs, chips and soft drinks beginning at noon on those days.