Possum Kingdom Lake -- Before you ever lay eyes on Hell's Gate, a famous Texas landmark, and before its towering limestone bluffs drop into the water of one of the most scenic lakes in all of the Lone Star State, one thought is almost certain to come to mind: The drive was worth it!
Actually, for denizens of North Texas, the drive is part of the pleasure of experiencing a magical part of Texas where the wide open spaces of horse and cattle country fade in the rear view mirror and a little bit of the Hill Country, with its rolling terrain, plateaus and cliffs, rises up to meet you.
Welcome to Possum Kingdom.
Visitors to Possum Kingdom Lake will find a 19,800-acre jewel of a lake, ringed by spectacular architecture perched atop majestic limestone bluffs.
In many ways, Possum Kingdom managed to build back bigger and better than ever after being devastated by voracious wildfires in 2011.
At The Grille at Hill Country Harbor, the staff offers examples of fine dining in a facility that features spacious indoor accommodations with a Southwestern flair as well as scenic outdoor dining by the lake. The restaurant even has 10 convenient courtesy floating boat slips that allow guests to boat up to The Grille and walk right in.
About Possum Kingdom Lake -- Whether your interest is water sports, camping, fishing, history, sightseeing, special events or just looking for something different for a vacation or weekend getaway, Possum Kingdom Lake and the counties of Palo Pinto, Young and Stephens offer a huge variety of activities or plenty of opportunity for just plain relaxing.
The lake has a surface area of 19,800 acres and a shoreline of 310 miles. Morris Sheppard Dam, named for Senator John Morris Sheppard and authorized by the United States Congress in 1935, was the first erected by the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation District, later to become the Brazos River Authority (BRA). It was begun on May 29, 1938 and was completed March 20, 1941. Engineers estimated the lake would need several years to reach full level; however, within a few days of completion, heavy rains up river caused the lake to fill within 24 hours.
The estimated annual visitor number is close to one million and facilities to accommodate these visitors have grown dramatically over the last several years. Situated 90 miles northwest of Fort Worth, Texas, Possum Kingdom Lake can be accessed south from Graham, Texas (referred to as the “West Side”) and north from Mineral Wells, Texas (referred to as the “East Side”). Driving distance from each side is approximately 45 minutes. For more information, please visit www.possumkingdomlake.com