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Reelfoot Lake’s Kirby Pocket Boat Ramp Closed for Upgrade as Officials Urge Boaters to Use Alternatives

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Published on July 14, 2025
Reelfoot Lake’s Kirby Pocket Boat Ramp Closed for Upgrade as Officials Urge Boaters to Use AlternativesSource: Wikipedia/Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Reelfoot Lake State Park announced that starting July 28, the Kirby Pocket boat ramp will be closed temporarily. The plan involves removing the old ramp and installing a new one, with construction expected to last about 10 weeks. Boaters should be aware that they will need to use alternative launch sites, but plenty of options are available.

Park Manager Henry Robertson informed locals ahead of time, urging them "to use other ramps," as stated on the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation's website. His aim is to reduce inconvenience for park visitors during the construction. Robertson added, "We look forward to the new ramp, and we hope there is not too much inconvenience for this temporary closure."

The designated alternative is the Sunset boat ramp, located approximately 3.1 miles south of Kirby Pocket. The park's official website lists the address as 1355 Lake Dr., Hornbeak, TN 38232.

Other amenities at Kirby Pocket, such as restrooms, an indoor fish cleaning station, and picnic tables, will remain open during the temporary closure. However, parking availability may be limited.