Texas Romantic Getaway: Caddo Lake
Recommended for: Southern romance, fishing, quiet walks

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Combine the sense of adventure in Huck Finn with the romance of Gone With the Wind. What do you have? Caddo Lake.

Located in far East Texas, this sprawling natural lake is tucked beneath a canopy of moss draped cypress trees. Filled with the echoes of herons, the splash of 71 species of fish, and the slither of an occasional snake or alligator, Caddo Lake is like no other destination in Texas. This maze of swamp land is bursting with wildlife, flora and the kind of romantic atmosphere you can associate with the Deep South.

Caddo Lake was once the largest natural lake in the South. This body of water is named for the Caddo Indians who once inhabited this area. They believed the lake was created by the Great Spirit. Today scientists know that the natural lake was formed by a log jam called the Great Raft on the Red River. In the 1870s the jam was cleared and the lake level dropped, ending the steamship business that once moved goods and passengers into East Texas. Today the lake has a man-made dam that keeps the lake level fairly constant (although a look at the houses built on stilts around the lake’s edge will attest to its rise every decade or so).

The most popular stop in this area is Caddo Lake State Park (903-679-3351; www.tpwd.state.tex.us). Located 14 miles northeast of Marshall on FM 2198, this 480-acre park has offered activities for both day and overnight guests since the 1930s. Stop by the visitors Center for a look at displays on the lake and its playful wildlife, then travel to the picnic grounds and hiking trails.

Don’t imagine Caddo Lake as an open body of water; it’s a twisting, turning maze of bayous and swamps where visibility is often limited to what’s just around the next bend. If you’d like to boat among these waters, you’d follow “boat roads,” channels that wind through the trees. This is a lake to enjoy for relaxation, a place to listen to wildlife or toss a fishing line. Although summer temperatures can be hot, this season can be one of the most romantic times. Dotted with hyacinths and lilies, the lake blossoms with color.

Couples who would like to camp in the park will find 48 sites. For more comfort, eight screened shelters with picnic tables (water and grill located outside) are also available. And for the ultimate in comfort, nine cabins furnished with towels, linens, kitchenettes, bathrooms with showers, air conditioners, and heat provide a romantic enclave in which to enjoy the park during the chill of winter or the heat of summer.

The lake itself lined with small communities and cabins (many with a concrete first story to prevent flood damage) that provide weekend and retirement homes. Here in the town of Uncertain you’ll find accommodations like the Caddo Cottage Bed and Breakfast (903-789-3988). Located on the water’s edge, this two-story cottage is fully outfitted. Check in, bring along some groceries, and make your meals in the kitchen or on the gas grill outside. Spend a romantic evening on the cottage’s second-floor screened porch, where you can watch the evening fog envelop the cypress trees or hear the sound of creatures like raccoon, nutria, and beaver begin to stir.

Short and Sweet

Getting There:
Caddo Lake is located in far east Texas, nearly to the Louisiana border. From Dallas, follow I-20 east to the intersection of US 59, turn north, and continue to TX 43. Turn north and continue to the small communities of Karnack and Uncertain.

For More Information:
Contact the North East Texas Tourism Council, P.O. Box 949, Pittsburg, TX 75686, or visit www.easttexas.com/NETTC