Marval Resort

Campground in Gore, OK • 85 RV Sites

Marval Resort in Gore, Oklahoma, sits on the shores of Lake Tenkiller in Cherokee County, delivering a comprehensive family resort camping experience on one of Oklahoma's most pristine and visually stunning reservoirs, where crystal-clear waters, dramatic limestone bluffs, and the Cookson Hills' hardwood forest backdrop create the most scenically distinctive lake environment in the eastern Oklahoma Hill Country. The resort's full roster of water recreation—boat rentals, canoeing and kayaking, fishing on one of Oklahoma's premier bass lakes, and lake swimming from the resort's beach—combined with dry-land entertainment in the form of a splash pad, gaga ball, arcade, and planned activities creates the multi-layered resort experience that makes Marval a destination family vacation rather than a simple lakeside stopover. The resort's amenity package covers water and land recreation comprehensively: a marina with boat rentals, boat docks and boat ramp, beach for swimming, splash pad, outdoor pool, cabins, planned activities and entertainment, arcade, gaga ball court, pickleball court, horseshoes, community fire pit, walking trails, pavilion, playground, general store, propane fills and exchange, showers, bathrooms, laundry, Wi-Fi, and the state park access nearby collectively create a complete vacation resort campus capable of filling multiple days without repeated programming. The canoeing and kayaking on Tenkiller's clear water provide the most visually immersive lake experience, with the limestone cliff walls and the Cherokee County hardwood forest reflecting off the reservoir's unusually transparent surface. Lake Tenkiller's exceptional clarity—the result of the Illinois River's naturally filtered water flowing through the forested Cherokee and Adair County highlands before entering the reservoir—distinguishes it from the murkier Oklahoma flatland lakes and creates visibility conditions that support scuba diving in fresh water, a rare offering for a midcontinent lake that has earned Tenkiller designation as one of the best fresh-water diving destinations in the south-central United States. The reservoir's clear water also supports outstanding bass fishing, with largemouth, spotted bass, and white bass populations that reward both tournament anglers and recreational fishermen whose lake strategy focuses on the rocky points and limestone bluff structure that define Tenkiller's underwater terrain. Tenkiller State Park on the reservoir's western shore provides public beach and picnicking access that complements the resort's private amenities, and the Illinois River above the reservoir—the float stream that brings thousands of canoe and kayak visitors to the Cherokee County hill country each summer—provides the moving-water paddling experience that contrasts with the reservoir's calm lake environment. Tahlequah, the Cherokee Nation capital approximately 20 miles northwest, is the oldest chartered city in Oklahoma and the seat of Cherokee governance, with the Cherokee National Capitol Building, the Cherokee National Museum, and the Cherokee Heritage Center providing the most substantive indigenous cultural tourism experience in the eastern Oklahoma region. Marval Resort operates year-round on Lake Tenkiller in Cherokee County's Ozark-transition climate, with the summer season from late May through Labor Day representing the peak family resort period when the lake's warm water, the splash pad, and the planned activity programming serve the highest guest volumes. The spring bass season—when largemouth bass move into the shallow limestone structure to spawn in April and May—brings the tournament fishing community to Tenkiller, and the fall foliage season through October transforms the Cookson Hills surrounding the reservoir into the Cherokee County color display that makes autumn the most visually distinctive season for lake-view camping. Advance reservations for summer holiday weekends are strongly recommended.

Campground rules and policies

Registration and Arrival
Check In Procedure
Check In: 2:00 PM
Check Out: 12:00 PM
- If your site is ready, early check-in may be available.
- $10 if within 2 hours of arrival time.
- $20 if within 4 hours of arrival time.
- Please check with the office first for early check-ins.
- While each park attempts to accommodate your exact spot request, the on-site manager has the ultimate decision for spot placement.Quiet Hours
- 10:30 PM - 7 AM.
- Please be courteous to neighbors.
- Please be at your site/cabin by 10:30 PM.Campground Standard Policy
- All guests, whether staying overnight or visiting for the day, are now required to wear an Arm Band to enter the park.
- Picnic tables and charcoal grills are provided in designated day-use areas.
- Outside food and drink are allowed. Coolers are allowed at the pool, but no glass containers.
- Upon arrival, our team will direct you to a designated parking area.
- Day-use rates apply year-round.
- All guests staying with you need to be registered on your registration.
- Armbands will be issued according to your approved number of registered guests.
- You may purchase additional armbands for day use at the Welcome Center, any guests without an armband can be asked to vacate the premises.
- A Day use waiver is required and all guests are subject to the parks rules and regulations while on site.
Campfires are allowed in the firepits only.
- No hanging of clothes, etc., outside of RVs or on trees.Speed Limit
- Speed limit is 10 MPH.
- Watch for children at play.
- Pedestrians have the right of way.Pet Policy
- We welcome your pet to our campground.
- All that you need to do is let us know that you are bringing a pet.
- There will be no charge for bringing your pet with your RV.
- We expect that you will take good care of your pet which includes not leaving your pet unattended outside.
- Erecting any type of fence or pen around your site is prohibited.
- When your pet is taking you for a walk, it must be on a leash held by an adult – making sure that you clean up after him or her.
- There is a limit of 2 pets per site.
- No pets in tent sites.Vehicle
- Two vehicles per site (additional vehicles park in designated areas.) Please display your car pass always while in the park.
- Every vehicle should have a car pass visible; any vehicles without a parking pass are liable to be removed from the property or asked to leave.Golf Cart Rental
-Two-day minimum rental is required, three-day minimum during holidays and special events.
- Personal carts, electric or gas motorized vehicles, or toys are not allowed on the property.
- Credit card payment in full is required at the time of reservation.
- You must be 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license to rent or drive a cart.
- At no time may a minor have a hand, or hands, on the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving.
- Marval Camping Resort has a strict, no-tolerance policy for non-licensed or underage drivers.
- No alcohol in the driver’s possession.
- No one in the campground under 18 years of age can drive a golf cart or sit behind the wheel with keys in.
- Failure to adhere to any of these rules will result in the golf cart being confiscated with no refund.
- Off-roading recreational vehicles, including but not limited to private golf carts, both gas and electric, atv/4 4-wheelers, motorized or battery-operated scooters, hoverboards, ride-on toys, etc. They are not allowed on Marvel property.
- Golf carts are available for rental from 12 pm to 12 pm and are put away at 4:45 pm.
- All late check-ins will have to pick up their golf cart the following day during office hours.
- A waiver must be signed, and a copy of all driver's licenses of drivers on file.
- No exceptions.Safety
- Fireworks and firearms are strictly prohibited.
- This includes BB, airsoft, and pellet guns.
- Leos may request an exception.
- For the safety of our children, bicycle riding is welcome during daylight hours only and is prohibited on the big hill near the front entrance.
- You may bring bikes, trikes, skateboards, and wagons.
- For the safety and privacy of our guests, flying drones on Marval premises is not allowed
- When drinking, we ask that you do so responsibly.
- This is a family-friendly campground; we have a zero tolerance policy for public intoxication.
- Smoking is prohibited in all campground buildings, cabins, playgrounds, or pool/water areas.
- Please dispose of butts in provided receptacles.Disposal
- Please take your trash to the trash compactor at the far end of the big field by the storage area. There are no other trash cans in the park.RV & Tent Rental Policies
- RV and Tent check-in is 2 PM, and check-out is 12 PM.
- Check-in and check-out times are strictly enforced.
- RVs are only allowed on designated RV locations, which include pop-ups.
- Tents are not allowed on sites where an RV is present.
- Limit of 6 people per site.
- Tents are allowed on either tent or RV sites without an RV.
- Limit of 2 tents per site, 6 people per site.
- All RVs are required to have an approved sewer ring/donut to prevent spillage and odor.COVID-19 Policy
- All individuals over the age of 5, including team members, vendors, and guests, are required to wear a face mask while in any building on the resort.
- This requirement also extends to outdoor settings where individuals are within 6 feet of one another.
- In light of the global pandemic associated with COVID-19, everyone shares in the obligation to observe certain requirements and guidelines to help keep themselves and others safe within our resort.