Bonham -- Fannin County Historical Commission is the latest group to formally state that Lake Fannin complex should be reopened to the public. Tom Thornton, President of Fannin County Historical Commission, addressed a regular meeting of commissioners court Monday morning and asked the court to be involved in returning public access to a place listed on the National Register of Historic Places and steeped in decades of local history.
"The Fannin County Historical Commission wants to go on record that we want to have Lake Fannin available for cabin rental, use of the lodge for family and other groups, and for recreational use," stated Mr. Thornton. The history of Lake Fannin began in 1933. It has also been a positive part of Fannin County's recent history. It's uses have been many and diverse. Not only has it been used for recreation and by corporations, etc., but during World War II, it was used for military maneuvers. When the gates are closed, it is a loss for the county. We request that Fannin County Commissioners Court work with the U.S. Forest Service to reach an agreement to keep Lake Fannin open, to determine a procedure whereby the volunteers who are standing by can prevent further decay to historic structures, and to make Lake Fannin's use a continuing part of Fannin County history."
Fannin County already shoulders most of the burden at Lake Fannin complex, with Fannin County Precinct 1 Commissioner Gary Whitlock maintaining the roads, Fannin County Sheriff Donnie Foster patrolling the area and Lake Fannin Volunteers restoring the historic site, yet the Forest Service arbitrarily closed the gate and posted a notice that public access is prohibited.
Commissioner Whitlock voiced his support for those attempting to regain public access to Lake Fannin.
"If there's anything I can do, please give me a call," said Whitlock.
Fannin County Commissioner Stan Barker seemed dismayed that local volunteers are scrutinized by the Forest Service and forced to jump through bureaucratic hoops, but the Forest Service didn't appear to adhere to its own litany of rules and regulations to prevent the historic site from falling into complete disrepair.
The Forest Service closed the gates at Lake Fannin from 1980 until 1998 and most of the structures were in shambles when a group of local volunteers entered into an agreement with the Forest Service and began restoring the former Rural Resettlement Act site that was completed 76 years ago under the watchful eye of Congressman Sam Rayburn.
"Lake Fannin is something I'm interested in because I know this is important to the citizens of Fannin County," stated Fannin County Judge Spanky Carter. "It does no one any good to have the gates locked."
While Judge Carter cautioned that there would be "no easy solution," he held out hope that when the Forest Service becomes the controlling agency in charge of the 13,000 acres purchased by North Texas Municipal Water District as mitigation land for the proposed Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir, perhaps the Forest Service will consider relinquishing control of Lake Fannin complex as a trade.