By Mollie LaSalle
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COLMESNEIL – If you are looking for a way to cool off on a hot summer day, look no further than Lake Tejas, conveniently located right here in Tyler County.
The complex contains a 14-acre lake, and 13 acres of parks and beaches. Construction on the “Best Little Swimmin’ Hole in Texas” began back in 1939 from land that was donated to the Colmesneil School by Lee Feagin, J.P. Mann, and D.P. Mann. The National Youth Administration began construction, which was overseen by CISD Superintendent Lee Taylor and J. A. Kellum, state director of the NYA; the site was dedicated on July 24, 1940.
Kellum commented at the dedication that “youth need three things: good health, good character, and good work habits.” With this in mind, the youths cleared the land and built the lake, which was named for its shape and for a large arrowhead found during excavation. Aerial views of the lake still show its shape which resembles Texas’s boundaries.
Colmesneil ISD owns and operates Lake Tejas.
The park opens Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day Weekend. There are all kinds of activities to keep everyone busy, whether you are just spending the afternoon, or staying for the week. The lake is spring-fed and boasts white sand beaches, so rent an inner tube, kayak or paddle boat, and have fun! You can rent cabins and park your RV for an extended stay. The swim beach has several options to pick from. You can choose the daily rate, which is currently $9 for ages 4 and up.
The lake is open seven days a week during the summer; their hours are: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Call 409-837-2063 for a full pricing list of all the amenities they offer, or go to their Facebook page, Lake Tejas 2023.
The lake recently added a new diving tower, with springboards on the high and low dive. Generations of families have visited the lake over the years for camping, reunions, parties, or just a day in the sun.
They offer rentals on everything from pavilions, beach tables, kayaks, and paddle boats. They also have a concession stand with tasty treats aplenty.
There are lifeguards on site, and the lake is well maintained by its staff.
Just a few of the reviews by patrons attest to the family friendly atmosphere: “Great place that everyone can enjoy, not to mention the staff is very polite”. Other reviewers said, “amazing gem of a place in Southeast Texas. Well-kept and not crowded. Beautiful clear water lake”, and “management and staff amazing, as well as the lifeguards. I highly recommend camping at Lake Tejas.”Generations of families have visited the lake for camping, family reunions, birthday parties, and good old fun in the sun.
On a personal note, when this writer was a young child, I visited the lake a handful of times on trips to visit my grandparents, who lived in Hemphill. I can still remember those trips when we would take a slight detour and stop off at the lake to have a picnic lunch and spend an hour or so just skipping around the edge of the water.
I seem to recall it was the off season when we would stop there, as the place was practically deserted; we had it all to ourselves for a couple of hours. A lot has changed since way back when, but the lake has remained the same, at 83 years young and counting.
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