What would an issue about diving into outdoor adventure be without a story from the aptly named Texas Lakes Trail Region? Among the many lakes in this 31-county region, one of the largest is Lake Texoma, fed by the Red River from the west and the Washita River to the north, and formed by the Dennison Dam built in 1944. The lake spans the Texas/Oklahoma state line, hence the name; driving north from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on U.S Highway 75, Sherman and Dennison welcome visitors to what is commonly known as Texomaland.
Originally created for flood control, hydropower and water supply, Lake Texoma was the dream of Denison businessman George Moulton who lobbied for local support in the late 1920s. Congressman Sam Rayburn helped with the legislative process and funding was authorized in 1938. The Denison Dam was constructed during World War II with labor from German prisoners of war who were the first POWs to be used in a labor camp – they cleared trees for the proposed lake and did light construction. (According to the Geneva Convention, only non-war related work could be done by POWs.) The dam was completed in January 1944. Congress officially recognized recreation as a project purpose in 1988.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Texoma is “an employment engine for the area and a recreation mecca for the nation.” Lake Texoma is a magnet for anglers, with multiple species of bass, black and white crappie, and Bluegill among the lake’s stock. Power boating, water skiing, and wind surfing are also popular activities on the lake’s 89,000 acres, and sailing has become a major draw thanks to the alluring coves and natural beauty along its 580 miles of shoreline.
Texoma Connect is an online Lake Texoma Community Guide featuring sports and recreation updates, fishing reports, festivals, and events, including popular Bluegrass Jam Sessions held every third Saturday at Big Mineral Resort and Marina, a short half hour drive from Sherman along U.S. Highway 82.
Sherman, the Grayson County seat, is located sixty-five miles north of Dallas, and is the largest city in the Texoma Region. Named for a hero of the Texas Revolution, General Sidney Sherman, the town was once a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route through Texas. Nearby Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge is a feeding and resting place for over three hundred species of migratory birds, and home to abundant wildlife and plants native to the area.
But Sherman is also a cultural city with innovative dining, award-winning craft breweries, community theaters, a symphony orchestra, and more than a few museums including the Sherman Museum, housed in the former Carnegie Public Library constructed in 1912. The building is one of only thirteen that survive in Texas today. The courthouse square in downtown Sherman, an accredited Texas Main Street City, is home to an eclectic mix of mid-1800s buildings that embody the heart of the city. There are over thirty-five historical markers and war memorials nearby, many within shouting distance of the courthouse.
A short drive further north on U.S. 75 is Denison, a railroad town founded in 1872 along the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) line. It is the birthplace of the 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and legendary Doc Holliday had offices here in 1875. Denison, too, is a Texas Main Street City whose historic downtown recently celebrated completion of the first phase of a sweeping, multi-year revitalization project. The district hosts events year-round supported by a diverse community of cultural, dining, retail, and entertainment venues.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma offers nature programs throughout the year with all manner of water sports, recreation facilities, and wildlife observation available. For an artistic experience head to Zig Zag Galleries in the historic district. Contemporary art gallery, gift shop, and creative workspace in one, this unique spot features a custom hat bar. With a wide range of hats and accessories from which to choose, visitors can select their favorite things to create a one-of-a-kind chapeau.
