Fannin County, Texas -- Lake Fannin is only two miles off the pavement, but this well-maintained gravel road is a portal into local history. The picturesque, historic stone structures at Lake Fannin were built between 1936 and 1938 by the Federal Rural Resettlement Administration. Lake Fannin was the largest RRA project of its kind in Texas, due in large part to the support of Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Sam Rayburn.
The sprawling historic campsite includes 197 acres around the 75-acre lake where the historic stone structures and primitive campsites are located, but the entire 2,025-acre wilderness park boasts undeveloped frontage on Red River that could provide public access to a unique natural resource.
The potential for this small, peaceful lake near a bluff overlooking the serpentine river far below is endless -- much like the struggle to get the Forest Service to return this historic campsite to the people of Fannin County.
The Forest Service owns the Lake Fannin complex, but has no money budgeted to maintain the historic recreational area and has exhibited no interest in keeping Lake Fannin open to the public. That responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of the Lake Fannin Volunteers, a determined group of local volunteers who manage to raise enough money by fundraisers and leasing out the quaint lodge to make repairs.
Most recently, shouldering that responsibility came in the form of picking up a tab for $12,200 to pay for repairs to the roof of the historic lodge. The money came from two fundraisers and donations.
Although negotiations for a land transfer between two governmental entities -- the Forest Service and Fannin County -- has completely stalled, Fannin County is in the third year of a 30-year contract with the Forest Service to operate Lake Fannin Wilderness Park and the Lake Fannin Volunteers continue to make improvements when possible.
One of the stipulations of the contract is that the gate to Lake Fannin remain closed unless one of the Lake Fannin Volunteers is present.
Want to see if this really is one of the most pristine parcels of wilderness remaining in North Texas while you help volunteers for a few hours this Saturday and Sunday?
The Lake Fannin Volunteers have scheduled workdays February 12 and February 13, from 9:00 a.m. until noon on both days.
Come dressed for an outing in a wilderness park and bring landscaping tools.
For more information about workdays February 12-13, contact Lake Fannin Volunteers.
Directions to Lake Fannin: From the intersection of FM 2029 and FM 273 in Telephone, Texas, go west on FM 273 for 6.8 miles to PR 34. Follow PR 34 for 1.8 miles to Lake Fannin.
For information about renting the lodge
or making a donation to help maintain Lake Fannin Wilderness Park, please contact Cheryl Youree at cyouree76@gmail.com or Alicia Whipple at awhipple@fanninco.net 903-583-7451 or 903-814-8435.
