Lake Lovers Run for the Border!
The price of gas has hit an all-time high. Near triple digit fill ups and gas surcharges on everything from airfare to lawn-care have many wondering, “Should I even leave the house at all this summer?” Just like those guys at the pump, Southlake Style knows Summer Time is prime driving time. So, we found a great summer road trip that won’t break the bank…or empty your tank!
Maybe you already know, but in case you haven’t heard, LakeTexoma on the Texas-Oklahoma border has most everything you could ever ask for in a fun family trip. There is so much to do that even Clark Griswold would grin with pride from his wood trimmed station wagon. Best of all, its only 85 miles to the north of Southlake- just pop a movie into the DVD player and by the time you arrive, the kids will have barely noticed you ever left home. Depending upon how optimistic you are, the thirsty tank of your SUV may be “half full” upon arriving back home!
A little history on LakeTexoma
Lake
Texoma was established by the Army Corps of Engineers through the building of the Denison Dam on the Red River. At the dams completion in 1943 it was the largest rolled-earth fill dam in the world. The effects of the dam have been nothing short of amazing as it has helped spawn 47 recreational areas, two state parks and over 80,000 acres of open public land (primarily used for hunting) along the Oklahoma-Texas border.
Over 6 million visitors annually can’t be wrong; with water sports, horseback riding, fishing, picnics and golf - Oklahoma’s second largest lake (89,000 lake acres) could possibly enjoy more wide open spaces than a Carroll Dragon wide receiver!
Boating
No matter if you like the speed of a motorboat or the grace of a sailboat, LakeTexoma will suit you perfectly. Experienced boaters will enjoy the vast area in which to explore while novice boaters can take advantage of the sheer space to hone their skills. The area’s many marinas and land storage provide boaters with plenty of options in which to keep their boats nearby for immediate access to fun on the lake. Those who dream of one-day owning a vessel of their own can take a sailing lesson rent a jet ski or anything in between.
Get hooked on the local fishing
With almost as many great anchoring spots as there are Striped Bass, LakeTexoma is a fisherman’s paradise. Due to the lake’s salt content and the oxygenation generated by the river’s flow- Texoma is among the country’s fastest reproducing lakes. What does that mean for the novice angler? It’s practically like fishing …well, fish in a barrel! If fishing in a barrel isn’t enough of an advantage, go ahead and set yourself up with one of over a dozen well qualified fishing guide services like Striper Express (1-877-786-4477) or Borderline Guide Service (1-800-315-8607). They have the equipment, know-how and best local tips for your and your crew! Better still, most guide services will clean, filet and bag your catch! Leaving you plenty of time to enjoy more of what the area has to offer.
Golf
Land lovers…don’t worry, the Texoma area offers as much variety on the course as it does on the lake. From challenging, private 9 hole courses to the nationally renowned Chickasaw Pointe Golf Course(Highway 70 East, KingstonOK) recognized as one of the nation’s top public courses. Quite often visitors can get excellent value on well maintained courses with weekday rounds starting at or near $45. The 7,085-yard Championship layout and Chickasaw Pointe has a picturesque landscape of rolling hills and exquisitely manicured Bermudagrass fairways and Bentgrass greens. Maybe more importantly it boasts a view of the lake on 16 of the 18 holes!
WinStar Golf Course
(1/2 mile from the casino in Thackerville, OK) was nominated as one of 2007’s best new public courses by Golf Digest. With a design that actually plays to the skill sets of the average golfer, this user friendly course is a great option for groups with varying skill levels or introducing the game to family or friends.
The Tanglewood Resort
– a lake-side retreat
(290 Tanglewood Circle, Pottsboro, TX
(1
800-833-6569)
Camping, cabins, B & B’s and luxury resorts provide a wide range of options for almost any taste. Yet for refinement and casual charm look no further than the Tanglewood Resort nestled in the tree-lined, rolling hills over LakeTexoma.
With over 300 rooms available within a stone’s throw of the lake you and the family will be right near all of the action. The variety of well equipped suites, spacious villas and hotel accommodations will fit any of your travel needs from the guys fishing weekend to a weeklong family retreat.
Above all else, The Tanglewood Resort is an excellent compliment to the multitude of activities available in the LakeTexoma region. With its own 18-Hole Arnold Palmer designed golf course, four restaurants and three outdoor swimming pools, two-lighted tennis courts and a children’s playground there are plenty of on-site activities to keep the entire family entertained.
Tense anyone?
Tanglewood’s newest facility, Tranquility Spa, offers a quiet escape for tired bodies and souls. This spa has just the cure for the overworked and stressed, the Truly Tranquil Triple Massage. It consists of three sequential massages for a two and-a-hale hour relaxation overhaul; a Swedish massage, followed by a Rejuvenation Massage (for tense muscles) topped off with the Tranquility Massage, their signature full-body massage enhanced with natural hot stones. If this aptly named treatment can’t put you at ease then you just may need a prescription!
Tranquility’s most popular spa package is the “Relax…from head to toe” which includes the already mentioned Tranquility Massage, a Swiss facial and a Sole Happy Pedicure ($250 single, $475 couples). Tranquility guests can indulge themselves in all of this plus a wide variety of massages, body treatments, manicures and pedicures.
Make your days and nights on the lake
For those of you who feel a day on the lake just isn’t enough you can make it a 24/7 experience by renting a house boat. CatfishBay (580-564-2307) has 47 to 58 foot cruisers that have most of the comforts of home and possibly a few more. Lake living on a houseboat is anything but crowded, these boats can sleep up to ten people and sport fully equipped kitchens, central air and patios complete with grills and furniture!
Night Time…is the right time
After a few days of taking in all of the relaxation that the lake area has to offer, you will be ready for some serious night time fun. Start the whole evening off with a cocktail high atop LakeTexoma from the Tanglewood’s Tower Lounge. The panoramic view of the lake region at sunset just makes everything that much sweeter. From there go where the locals go for a few more cocktails and live music at Buzzards Too Sports Bar and Grill or theHighport Resort & Marina.
The possibilities for a fun night out are as open as the lake itself and some may choose to please their palate at the Homestead Winery’s local facility(220 W. Main Street, Denison, TX). Most likely you’ve become familiar with Homestead by sampling their selections in Grapevine, as a visitor to their tasting room just off Main Street or while enjoying the city’s annual Grapefest celebration. Actually, Homestead Winery has three locations in North Texas; their main production facility in Ivanhoe, a tasting and production facility in Denison and the aforementioned tasting room in Grapevine. While in Denison, you can’t go wrong by visiting this 1920’s style production facility and cellar housed in the old Star Movie Theater. The location is also home to an art gallery and Devolli’s Italian Restaurant (220 W. Main Street, Denison, TX) an authentic home featuring excellent pizza and pastas. You could make an evening of a little art, a little wine and a lot of pasta all at one address in Denison.
For those looking for other upscale evening activities, the ChoctawCasino in Durant, Oklahoma is an excellent choice and is just a few minutes from the lake area. Choctaw provides all you are accustomed to in gaming action including blackjack, poker, video poker, slots and high end entertainment. A little bit further away, yet well worth traveling the extra distance is The Winstar World Casinoin Thackerville, Oklahoma. Winstar’s multiple themed casinos put the flamboyance and sophistication of Vegas within the reach of Texans and Texoma visitors. What’s more, Winstar’s list of summer performers can’t be beat and is full of big names like; Willie Nelson, Huey Lewis, Kenny Rogers and The Four Tops who all will be performing before mid September. (Tip: For $125 the front desk at the Tanglewood can shuttle you via limo service to the nearby casinos)
By now, lake lovers, boaters, concert goers, golfers, wine enthusiasts and card sharks have already had a trip to remember. Now maybe, just maybe there is time for to stop for a history lesson.
A Stop of significance along the way
Seeing this is an election year, you can give the family a quick history lesson by visiting the birthplace of our 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was born of October 14, 1890, in a modest two-story frame house at the corner of Lamar Avenue and Day Street in Denison, Texas. Ike was the only one of David and Ida Eisenhower's seven children born in Texas.
The historic site features not just his birthplace home but also, a visitor’s center and an education building where visitors can view historic photographs, memorabilia and some of Ike’s own paintings and photographs documenting his visits to Denison between 1946 and 1965. The park setting offers picnicking, limited hiking trails and landscaped grounds.
Rounding out your trip of fun family events with museum visit is the perfect way to conclude your trip and make the best of your travel time back home.
Upcoming Summer Events in the Texoma Region
(For more information on upcoming events visit
www.laketexomaonline.com
– the official website of the LakeTexoma Association)
June
2-7 National Sandbass Festival Madill, OK 580-7952431
7 Future Bass Team Tournament Kingston, OK 580-759-2088
7 The Four Tops @ Winstar Casino Thackerville, OK
27-28 Whitesboro Rodeo & Firework Show Whitesboro, TX 903-564-3331
28 Willie Nelson @ Winstar Casino Thackerville, OK
July
3 -4 Old Fashioned 4th of July Events & Parade Tishomingo, OK 580-371-2175
4 Fireworks Extravaganza Denison, TX 903-465-1551
14-19 Durant Western Week Durant, OK 580-924-0848
August
14 Lake Texoma Association’s Bash for Cash Pottsboro, TX 580-564-2334
14-16 Madill Roundup Parade & Rodeo Madill, OK 580-795-2431
30-31 22nd Annual Antique Tractor Show Gainesville, TX940-668-7861
September
3-6 BryanCounty Fair Durant, OK 580-924-0848
5 Huey Lewis @ Winstar Casino Thackerville, OK