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Possum Kingdom Lake, Brazos River Authority Campgrounds
The Possum Kingdom Lake, (locally known as P.K.), was created by building the Morris Sheppard Dam, which was a project of the Brazos River Authority and the Works Progress Administration. Construction of the dam began in 1936 and completed in 1941. The dam is 2,700 feet (820 meters) long and 190 feet (58 meters) high. The construction is unique with buttressed arched wings on either side of the nine spillway gates rather than the usual filled concrete. It has two 11,250 kilowatt generators which were used during peak demand periods that are no longer in use. It was named after United States senator Morris Sheppard for his efforts in obtaining funding for the project.
The lake is located where the Brazos River cuts through the Palo Pinto Mountains, a range of cuesta-like hills in Palo Pinto County, Texas. This ridge extends some 15 miles and intersects the Brazos River just south of the Fortune Bend on the river. The canyon formed by the Brazos River cutting through this range provided a favorable site for the impoundment of the resulting reservoir. Too, this river-ridge intersection also accounts for the unusual dept of the lake as well as the resulting clarity of the water.
History:
Possum Kingdom Lake owes its existence to the ambitious public works era of the 1930s. Construction of the Morris Sheppard Dam began in May 1936, during the Great Depression, employing hundreds of workers through the Works Progress Administration. The dam was completed in 1941 creating a reservoir that would transform the Brazos River valley.
When the gates closed and the water began to rise, the new lake flooded a dramatic stretch of the Brazos known for its steep limestone cliffs, winding canyons, and clear, spring-fed tributaries.
Long before the lake existed, this section of the Brazos River was a vital travel corridor. Known as part of the Great Comanche Trail, the valley was a seasonal passage for Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache hunting parties.
By January 1859, settlers such as Henry Belding had established homesteads along the river. Others soon followed, and life within the Brazos River valley was not without conflict. As settlers claimed land and resources, skirmishes with Native American groups became more frequent. Accounts from Painted Pole and early county records describe how isolated acts of aggression — sometimes initiated by settlers — led to retaliatory raids. These back-and-forth strikes often claimed lives, destroyed property, and disrupted both Native and settler ways of life. In response, settlers fortified their homes, organized militia patrols, and slowly pushed Native populations westward.
Possum Kingdom Lake is a popular recreation destination, offering boating, water skiing, scuba diving, and camping. The lake is home to Possum Kingdom State Park, which provides campgrounds, hiking trails, and public boat ramps. One of the most recognized landmarks is Hell′s Gate, a narrow break between two cliffs leading from the lake into a cove, which serves as a focal point for holiday gatherings and events such as fireworks shows.
Location:
Possum Kingdom Lake lies between three thriving small towns in north central Texas: Graham, Mineral Wells and Breckenridge; all three which offer history and many amenities. The lake expands into three Texas counties: Young, Palo Pinto and Stephens counties.
There are several campgrounds which are located along the shores of the lake above the dam as well as one on the river below the dam.
Address:
Coordinates:
32.866667, -98.433333
Elevation:
1001 feet
Geographical Region:
Great Plains
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