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Magee SportsPlex
Glitzy? No way. But when the sun hits our diamonds, prepare to be dazzled. Kids play hard here and dream big. (So do their parents.) And there’s more than baseball at this community gem….
   e admit it. We’re old-fashioned. We think it’s a great idea for kids and families to unplug and get outside in the fresh air.
Feel the sun on their faces, smell the mown grass and play their hearts out. It’s no contest: Fired up beats wired up any day.
So we didn’t skimp on the Sportsplex. 40 acres and 10 fields—8 youth baseball/softball fields, plus a high school baseball field and a regulation size football/soccer field. And we didn’t forget about spectators, either. Two full concessions stands are open during baseball season, so there’s always plenty of good food and ice cold refreshment to keep the throat lubricated for enthusiastic cheering.
Our summer tourneys draw crowds from all over, but the Sportsplex is also a great place any time for gatherings under the generous 40’ by 60’ pavilion. Kids love the playground, and our outdoor exercise and fitness area rivals what you’ll find at any gym.
Twelve different pieces of outdoor exercise equipment, including a rowing machine, air strider, cross trainer, a combo leg-press and a combo press and pull. There’s also a sidewalk that doubles as a walking trail.
So come on. Unplug and come play!
830 Industrial Park Dr., S.E., Magee, MS 39111, 601.849.2601
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D’Lo Water Park
Don’t be fooled by the “water park” name. This is no park; it’s a paradise, with a river running through it. The Choctaws called this place sacred, and today it’s still blessed with unspoiled beauty. Just listen….
 
s late as the early nineteenth century, the Choctaws held sacred initiation rites on the banks of Jayne’s Falls on the Strong River. Today, stand at the falls and you’ll hear a sound not unlike the strumming of a harp. That there is a scientific explanation (trapped air bubbles) doesn’t make the effect less magical.
But then, that’s how it is at this pocket of heaven on the scenic Strong River. The enchantments are as endless as the options for fun. Canoeing, camping, swimming, fishing for bass, bream, crappie and catfish—the park really is a sportsman’s paradise. Even better, it’s your own personal paradise. Like roughing it? There’s primitive camping. But you can also take your choice of rental cabins and rv/camper hookups.
In fact, the Park has a whole raft of civilized amenities: a bait shop with live and artificial bait, a bath house, a walking track, picnic tables with grills, even tournament softball fields. And yet, magically, with its wooded, peaceful atmosphere, the Park feels unspoiled, a world away. And for a getaway, you can’t beat a float down the Strong River; complete canoe outfitting and shuttle service are available by reservation.
The famous siren scene from the movie “Oh Brother Where Art Thou?” was shot in the D’Lo Water Park, and you can still hear the siren’s call of the D’Lo Water Park inviting you. So come on. You know you can’t resist.
135 D'Lo Park Rd; D'Lo, Ms, 39062, 601.847.4310
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Mendenhall Sports Park
Call them fields with dreams. Today the Mendenhall Sports Park is a first-class venue for high school baseball and youth and softball league play. But that’s only the first inning of a winning strategy for growth:
 oach Tommy LaSorda once said, “Baseball is a lot like driving. It’s the one who gets home safely that counts.”
Bringing home an impressive new sports complex at a cost that the city could safely afford was the strategic principle behind the multi-phased completion of the Mendenhall Sports Park. While today the Mendenhall Sports Park offers outstanding baseball play on two high school fields and one youth/softball field with full concessions, in the near future the Park will expand to include, among other attractions, a soccer field, four tennis courts, a walking trail, and plenty of parking to accommodate all.
Mendenhall’s commitment to athletics is solid: we understand a well-rounded life that includes plenty of play is good for people of all ages. We also understand that while being physically fit is important for us as citizens, as a city, it’s equally important to be fiscally fit.
So when it comes to the Mendenhall Sports Park, as Yogi Berra once famously said, “It ain’t over until it’s over!” And in the meantime, it’s Play Ball!
Mendenhall Sports Park 1270 Hwy 43 North Mendenhall, MS 39114, 601-847-1212
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Simpson County Country Club
Golf originated in Scotland; James II banned it as a distraction in 1457. Around here, 1978 marked the year this devilishly distracting game began its reign, with a short course that proved to be a tall order….
ark Twain called the game “a good walk spoiled,” but after you play the 9 challenging holes of the Simpson County Country Club, you may agree with the anonymous golfer who said, “I spent most of my life playing golf—the rest I just wasted.”
Certainly for golf lovers it would be a tragic waste to pass on an opportunity to play here. With a short layout and different tee options, this trim course adjusts to take on all comers, and woe unto the duffer who underestimates its surprising toughness, which is one reason it has been called “the best kept secret in southern Mississippi golf.”
The course is open early morning until sunset every day except Monday.
All of which begs the question of how to beg an invite. The Simpson County Country Club does accept guests on its golf course; it is the sort of neighborly organization that also opens a room of its clubhouse for rental to non-members in the community. All in all, a very sporting group.
184 Golf Course Rd, Magee MS 39111, 601.849.3567
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Simpson County Lake
There are two kinds of fishermen in this world—those who fish for sport, and those who fish for fish. You’ll find both at the Simpson County Lake, where good things come to those who bait…
 
ive a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day,” said an ancient Chinese philosopher. “Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Ask any of the philosophers around these parts, and they’ll tell you: Teach a kid to fish, and he—or she—will also dine on a lifetime of great experiences, great stories and great memories at Simpson County Lake.
Stretching out at a just-right-sized 75 acres, the Lake spreads out a real angler’s bounty. Large-mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, red ear and channel catfish. And while the varieties are good, the records aren’t bad, either: three pounds for crappie; 13 pounds, 8 ounces for bass, and for catfish, 39 pounds, 8 ounces. At 1.6 pounds average, the Lake’s bass are right up there with the best of the Mississippi Department of Fish and Game Lakes.
For crappie anglers, the deep water fish attractors are another big bonus. Well-marked and loaded with Christmas trees, the attractors provide habitat for most all fish species. While two handicapped-accessible piers make for good fishing from the bank, the boat ramp accommodates all sizes.
Ready to bite—or rather, to bait? No need to wait. Simpson County Lake is only 5 miles from Magee on Highway 49.
601-849-4886
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YMCA
Some of the world’s most popular sports were invented at YMCAs, and here in Magee, our YMCA gives kids a chance to sample them all. “Healthy spirit, mind and body” and a healthy helping of fun for all…
 he YMCA has changed a lot since the organization was founded in England in 1844, and even since the first YMCA facility in Mississippi was opened in 1907; today’s Y welcomes people of all faiths, races, ages and genders. But the core mission remains the same: encouraging a “healthy spirit, mind and body.”
Here in Magee, we believe in healthy spirit, mind and body, and we believe that the best way to work toward that goal is through play. Child’s play especially. That’s why the city and the Y team up every summer to offer a host of sports programs for kids of all ages. Baseball, softball, football, soccer, tennis and basketball—our offerings cover both the courts and the fields.
And the Y’s own facilities are open year round, providing Magee families an Olympic size swimming pool, tennis courts, a playground, baseball/softball fields and a large clubhouse. While the Y’s afterschool programs are great enrichment for kids, they’re also a great help for parents. Whether it’s the ABCs of sports, life or learning, the YMCA is our letter-perfect community asset.
1120 5th Avenue Southeast Magee, MS 39111, 601.849.5759
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