Paul B. Johnson State Park | |
Mississippi State Park | |
Picnic Area
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Named for: Governor Paul B. Johnson | |
Country | United States |
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State | Mississippi |
County | Forrest |
Elevation | 220 ft (67 m) |
Coordinates | 31°08′31″N 89°14′25″W / 31.14194°N 89.24028°WCoordinates: 31°08′31″N 89°14′25″W / 31.14194°N 89.24028°W |
Area | 805 acres (326 ha) |
Established | Unspecified |
Management | Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks |
Website: Paul B. Johnson State Park | |
Paul B. Johnson State Park is a public recreation area on the shores of Geiger Lake, located off U.S. Highway 49 approximately 10 miles (16 km) south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The state park is named after Paul B. Johnson, the forty-sixth governor of Mississippi.
The park is situated on rolling hills that contain flowering dogwoods, southern yellow pines, and oaks. Geiger Lake, once known as Lake Shelby, was constructed during the mid-1940s using German prisoner of war labor by POWs housed at Camp Shelby.
The 225-acre (91-ha) lake offers fishing, water skiing, and swimming. The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker, crappie, and channel catfish. The park features 25 primitive tent-camping areas, 125 RV camping pads with water, sewer and electrical hookups, and 16 vacation cabins. The park also offers 50 picnic sites with grills, six picnic pavilions, playground equipment, and a splash pad.