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Ray Roberts Lake State Parks
History and Nature
History
This part of north Texas was frequented by several Indian tribes, including Comanches, Kiowas, and Tonkawas. When white settlers began to move into the area in substantial numbers in the 1840s, the region became one of the main flash-points on the frontier. By 1860, the area was moderately settled, but the outbreak of the Civil War caused the temporary and sometimes permanent abandonment of many settlements. After the war, the region again became a focus of settlement under the protection of army units at Fort Richardson and Fort Sill. The closest town to the park, Pilot Point, was first settled in 1846, but had long been a camping site for Indians, rangers, and early pioneers. Several recorded State Archeological Landmarks exist within the present park boundaries. These landmarks consist mostly of nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century farm sites.
Lake's History: The lake was created to provide water to the Cities of Dallas and Denton. Ray Roberts Lake, authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1965, takes in portions of three counties: Denton, Cooke, and Grayson. Originally Known as the Aubrey Reservoir, the proposed lake was renamed in 1980 for U.S. Congressman Ray Roberts (1913-1993). The lake is a 29.350-acre Corps of Engineers impoundment on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. The lake is surrounded by two state park units (Isle du Bois and Johnson Branch), six satellite parks, as well as Wildlife Management Areas, wetlands, and waterfowl sanctuaries. All the parks are open. Jordan Unit contains 477 acres; Pond Creek - 20 acres; Pecan Creek - 48 acres; Buck Creek - 11 acres; Sanger - 20 acres; and Elm Fork - 290 acres.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park has a total of 5,848.8 acres. All properties were acquired in 1984 by a lease made between the Secretary of the Army and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
- Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Isle du Bois Unit, is on the south side of Ray Roberts Lake in Denton County. Isle du Bois Unit (meaning "Island of the Trees") opened in 1993.
- Ray Roberts Lake State Park - Johnson Branch Unit, is located on the north side of Ray Roberts Lake in Denton and Cooke Counties. This unit opened on December 4, 1996.
- Ray Roberts Greenbelt: The Ray Roberts Lake/Lake Lewisville Greenbelt Corridor is a 20 mile multi-use trail system (10 miles for equestrian and 10 for hike and bike use) that begins at the Ray Roberts Dam and ends at the headwaters of Lake Lewisville. This unique trail corridor meanders along the heavily wooded banks of the Elm Fork Branch of the Trinity River. Equestrians, hikers, bikers, canoeists, birdwatchers, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts can access the trail at one of three trailheads, located at FM 455, FM 428 and Hwy. 380. Canoe and kayak rentals are available by calling Greenbelt Canoe Rentals (817/228-9496).
Nature
Flora/Fauna: The park is located in the Eastern Cross Timbers, a narrow strip of wooded terrain bordering the Blackland Prairies of north central Texas. Geologically, the region is part of the Woodbine Formation, an Upper Cretaceous deposit (formed about 65 million years ago) consisting mostly of sandstone, with localized layers of shales and clay.
A partial plant list includes: post oak, blackjack oak, eastern red cedar, honey locust, honey mesquite, rough leaf dogwood, black hickory, black walnut, red bud, chinaberry, hackberry, bois d’arc, red mulberry, eastern cottonwood, black willow, western soapberry, gum bumelia, Hercules-club, hawthorne, persimmon, cedar elm, winged elm, American elm, pecan, box elder, American sycamore, green ash, sumac holly, coralberry, wild plum, blackberry, mustang grape, greenbrier, snailseed, ground cherry, horse nettle, milkweed, prickly pear, honeysuckle, sunflower, goldenrod, bull nettle, pokeweed, buckwheat, knotweed, Johnson grass, ragweed, Texas wintergrass, switch grass, Indian grass, and bluestem grasses.
A variety of animals at the park include: opossum, Mexican free-tailed bats, brown bats, beaver, plains pocket gopher, eastern gray squirrel, fox squirrel, eastern cottontail, white-tailed deer, nine-banded armadillo, raccoon, mink, striped skunk, gray fox, coyote, bobcat, lizards, rodents, snakes, such as the copperhead, cottonmouth, bullsnake, rat snake and ribbon snake, insects, spiders, frogs, turtles, sunfish, white bass, largemouth bass, spotted gar, catfish, butterflies, dragonflies, Greater Roadrunner, Painted Bunting, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, hawks, woodpeckers, ducks, Great Blue Heron, American White Pelican, Eastern Screech Owl and Great Horned Owl. Wintering Bald Eagles may occasionally be encountered around the lake as well.
More information on the wildlife mentioned here:
Elevation: 620
Weather: Average rainfall 38.2 January average 30 degrees, July average
95 degrees. For current weather conditions, call 940/391-5840.
