Tupelo, MS Recreation Options
Tupelo, MS is a great place for outdoor recreation, with fishing, golfing, tennis and more.
Being a good sport is easy in Tupelo-Lee County. In addition to a brand-new aquatic center, the community has many other top-notch recreation facilities and activities for residents who want to stay in shape and on top of their game.
In This Article
Tennis
The Tupelo Tennis Association sponsors several annual state-sanctioned tournaments for players of all ages, and applies for grants from the U.S. Tennis Association to upgrade programs and facilities. Schools throughout Tupelo also offer tennis opportunities for students, while places like the Rob Leake City Park tennis courts and the Tupelo Country Club provide nice venues to play.
Running
Runners can train for several local races each year, including the Tupelo Marathon and 14.2 Miler in September sponsored by the Tupelo Running Club. The club also backs a Running With The King 5K during the annual Tupelo Elvis Festival and a yearly Gum Tree 10K and 2K Fun Run. The area is also home to the Golden Triangle Running & Cycling Club.
Fishing
The more popular fishing spots in and around Tupelo include Elvis Presley Lake, Enid Reservoir, Lake Lamar Bruce, Pickwick Lake, Trace State Park and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway. The Tupelo fishing region is known for its crappie, smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish and bream.
Golf
Golf venues in Tupelo include the public, nine-hole Bel Air Golf Course, while members can enjoy the private Tupelo Country Club. The challenging Bermuda-grass Big Oaks 18-hole public course is located in nearby Saltillo.
Disc Golf
Tupelo has an active disc golf scene competing at nine courses throughout the area, including Veterans Park, Thunderchief, Ballard Park, Music Bend, Tombigbee I and II, Ol’ Warrior Run, Trace Gold and Tupelo High School. Check out www.tupelodiscgolf.net for details on all the courses, where to buy discs and how to get involved with the Tupelo Disc Golf Association, a group of disc golf enthusiasts promoting the sport locally.
Parks and Rec
Tupelo residents stay active and entertained at more than a dozen parks and recreation facilities. A couple of the largest are Ballard Park Sportsplex and Veterans Park. The spacious Ballard Park Sportsplex has facilities dedicated to baseball, soccer and football. It features a 3-acre lake, skate park and disc golf course, and also includes the Tupelo Parks and Recreation administrative office.
Amenities, such as a playground, quarter-mile trail, disc golf course and the new Tupelo Aquatic Center are part of Veterans Park. Also on site is a four-field sports complex, sand volleyball courts and a Veterans Memorial that salutes the military.
Tournaments
Tupelo has established itself as an attractive sports tournament destination, having hosted several local, state and regional events in recent years. In summer 2013 alone, Tupelo welcomed six softball tournaments (both slow-pitch and fast-pitch) as well as a disc golf competition and a tennis tourney.
Fitness Centers
Several local fitness centers will help you get in shape, including 24-hour operations such as Anytime Fitness and SNAP Fitness. Other choices include North Mississippi Medical Center Wellness Center, Shanti Yoga and Pure Yoga Tupelo. Also providing a good workout and good times is The Dance Studio.