The thread about the old days and saving $$ got me to thinking about some family trips, one of which we made a few times to Lake Livingston. For fishing of course. I googled the current marina names and none matched my memory, which back from the early 70s.

It was something along the lines of:

Big John's
Big Reds
Big "something"
Red's
John's
one of these with the "Marina" tag on the end, at least I think.

As you faced it, the boat ramp was on the right, covered boat stalls on the center, with the Marina "office", and floating piers to the left. Parking was elevated above/uphill from the ramp and marina, and all of the buildings were a rust colored red.

If anyone remembers this place, and the name, it would be greatly appreciated. We (my family) are coastal fishers now. My dad back then fished some on the coast but loved the lakes and this place had some special memories as we made the Houston Chronicle twice for our bass catches, and staying at the Marina's facilities with family made for some great memories.

IF this place even exists anymore, which now I am sure would be a different name, I might take my son to do a guided trip for some bass.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA OB.

You were close. It was actually Big Red John.
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Drums and symbols!

Nice.

However, if anyone has some info relevant, it would be greatly appreciated.

Any idea whereabouts on the lake?

Browder's Marina is over by the dam off 3278. Same name for at least probably 30 years. May not be the one you are thinking of but it's been around for a long time.

Galloways Marina? That was up on the North end of the lake off 356

found this...

TLDR VERSION....About sunset he stopped at Big John's Marina, off U.S. Highway 190 on Kickapoo Creek and rented a boat, according to Nettles.

https://crime-behind-pinecurtain.blog/2018/11/07/1977-murder-victim-found-floating-in-lake-livingston-wrapped-in-duct-tape/

strohag said:

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Browder's Marina is over by the dam off 3278. Same name for at least probably 30 years. May not be the one you are thinking of but it's been around for a long time.

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Good ol' Browder's. We used to camp there a lot (had a monthly slip) when I was younger. I remember riding my 4-wheeler around there all the time and having a guy named John always stop me to tell me to slow down. Lot's of good times almost drowning in that deep ass swimming hole that faced open water when the lake would kick up. We went from there to a house over by the State Park after a few years.

I also remember when they built that cabin over by the boat ramp. My uncle would always rent that thing because he was too cheap to buy a camper.

Big John's in Onalaska was there in the 70s

I remember Galloways and Colby's marinas from back in the day...

Is OP sober?

It was Big John's Marina. I believe the owner's name was John Brightwell. We would fish for black bass further up Kickapoo creek and for white bass out on the 190 roadbed. We had some great fishing trips, but I haven't been back in decades. Does anybody have any recent fishing reports from that area ?

It is now Waterfront Marina and RV Park.

My dad, grandfather and I would go to Big Johns and rent a john boat. My dad owned a Montgomery Ward Sea King 6.5 HP outboard. It was the least reliable motor ever built. Probably the only one ever sold. We always took our Xmas trees out to our crappie hole and fish until sunrise - then the damn thing would NEVER start to get us back to the Marina.

We would always stop off at the New Waverly exit off 45N - a little bait shack to buy minnows, crackers, cheese and the best summer sausage ever. Fond memories except for getting towed in by helpful strangers. I'M AN AGGIE - CLASS OF 1979.