I'm thinking about buying a lake house located between me and the in-laws. I'm in Temple, in-laws are in Arkansas.

Location-wise I think the best options are:

Richland Chambers Reservoir
Cedar Creek Reservoir
Lake Palestine
Lake Tawakoni
Lake Fork

I don't know anything about any of these lakes, except that they are located in the right area.

All opinions are welcome.

A lot of nice lakes in Arkansas. And the land is cheap.

If you want to experience North Texas methamphetamine trade, Lake Tawakoni is your lake.

Lake Fork is more of a fishing lake depending on what you are looking for.

I worked at a camp on Lake Palestine during college and was a boat driver. Most days, we were the only boats on the lake. I also think Tyler is a great town and you're 15 min away. The downside to Palestine, at least the part we were on, was that there were tons of stumps in the middle. The story was, the valley got flooded before they were done clearing and that's why all the stumps are still there. There are even rumors of tractors and fences still being at the bottom. We had buoys dropped that marked safe lanes across the lake.

That said, most homes are in coves that have a good area for boating. I know a few people that still live there and love it.

If you want a private lake, try Cherokee outside Longview.

Limestone I'm assuming is a little too far?

That was going to be my recommendation

Limestone doesn't close the gap to the in-laws enough. The idea is to give us a mid point for gatherings.

Personally I'd look within an hour to an hour and a half of my house. If the in laws are coming three or four times a year at most it makes more sense to have it close enough for me to go out for the day on a Saturday. Also beneficial for the non-stop trips out for the upkeep of the house and the toys.

Edit - if I was retired and rich and had no other responsibilities I wouldn't be as concerned about that, but I'd also be picking a lake house somewhere I wanted to live full time.

The closer it is to you, the less you have to see your in- laws

Check out Cypress Springs.

chick79 said:

---

Check out Cypress Springs.

---

Cypress Springs/Bob Sandlin are both nice and not too far of I-30.

chick79 said:

---

Check out Cypress Springs.

---

It's crystal clear water, spring fed.
Not very big though. And hard to get land on but it's a great little lake.

My old roommate has a lake house on Cedar Creek Reservoir and it's a great lake. Depending on where you're looking, you could be in an area of the lake with executives and doctors vacation houses next to you or have Billy Bob and his junk yard right next to you. He really likes it though and was able to get a 1 acre waterfront lot with a ~1500 sq/ft newer house on it due to a guy having to dump it for a divorce. Wife and I are actually heading up there next weekend for Memorial Day. Don't know much about the other lakes.

We have a lake house on Palestine and I grew up in Tyler so I'm obviously partial.
My advice VRBO something and spend a weekend on the water in a boat, not just driving around looking at lake houses. Palestine is a great rec lake - best of both worlds when it comes to water sports and fishing.
Hunting used to be great on the north end and still can be at times, but it's nowhere near as productive as it was in the 80's.
Happy to answer specific questions if you have any. Email in profile.
Good luck!

Cant recommend enough to try to keep it less than 90 minutes to your home. It's not just about ease of spending a weekend. It's ease of the many random roundtrips you'll have to make when the odd job or issue pops up there, which there will be many. Even if you find a good midpoint, you aren't going to end up meeting your inlaws there as much as you think you will

If you like big fish and big crowds , Fork is the obvious choice !

Keep it 80 miles away or less from home. Makes it an easy, quick drive. Anything longer makes it a chore and you won't use it as often.

Exactly. The one that you can decide to visit for a morning or afternoon and get right back is going to get so much more usage and quality time. This can't be stressed enough. I don't know what the OP's kid situation is like, but that short trip ends up being the difference between a baseball game late Saturday morning and being on the lake early afternoon vs deciding not to go at all that weekend

Do NOT even consider Lake Tawakoni for a house.

I have a place where I graze cattle and hunt a few miles up the river, but there is no way I'd want to live out there. As a sheriff's deputy once said, "We got a lot of friendly folks around here......until they start drinking"

The area of East Tawakoni, West Tawakoni and Quinlan is the "state's largest penitentiary without a fence"

It is a great lake for fishing, but do not invest in a lake house anywhere near there! The meth problem is real around there!

Have three friends that have lake houses on Cedar Creek and it is a great lake. As with most lakes, there are areas that are not so great, but overall it is so much better than Tawakoni.....and much safer too!!! Also, they have decent golf around that area as well.

I grew up on Lake Cypress Springs! Such a nice quite little lake years ago, but real estate out there is now ridiculous, especially on a smaller size lake.

My parents had one of the first houses on Richland Chambers. We actually owned some land that got flooded and built a house lake side.

Big lake, great white bass and catfising. It can get really rough. Pretty close to Corsicana, for access to groceries, etc.

One thing to note about Cypress Springs; you don't actually own any of the land your lake house is on. Everything is a 99 year lease with the Franklin County Water District most of which expire in the year 2070 or 2071.

Check out Holly Lake Ranch. Semi private community north of Big Sandy, TX. My grandparents lived there for over 30 years. I grew up fishing, golfing, and riding bikes all over that place. It's a great place for families to gather.

BKS_Aggie08 said:

---

chick79 said:

---

Check out Cypress Springs.

---

Cypress Springs/Bob Sandlin are both nice and not too far of I-30.

---

My parents sold their house and retired on Bob. Been working from home on their upstairs balcony this week.

Property prices are more reasonable than lakes closer to Dallas. My biggest gripe is that there are kinda random trees that were left standing in the lake. I understand leaving areas of timber for fishing, but there are a few trees out in the middle that are annoying.

I freakin love Lake Palestine. Its high dollar thought bc of the proximity to Tyler.

87Flyfisher said:

---

One thing to note about Cypress Springs; you don't actually own any of the land your lake house is on. Everything is a 99 year lease with the Franklin County Water District most of which expire in the year 2070 or 2071.

---

I'm pretty sure Palestine is the same.

Bird93 said:

---

87Flyfisher said:

---

One thing to note about Cypress Springs; you don't actually own any of the land your lake house is on. Everything is a 99 year lease with the Franklin County Water District most of which expire in the year 2070 or 2071.

---

I'm pretty sure Palestine is the same.

---

It is. I have a house there.

We have a house on Cypress Springs, great lake until the wakeboarders go out. The large ballasts in those boats and the retaining walls turn the lake quality into a rough bath tub

TMfrisco said:

---

Bird93 said:

---

87Flyfisher said:

---

One thing to note about Cypress Springs; you don't actually own any of the land your lake house is on. Everything is a 99 year lease with the Franklin County Water District most of which expire in the year 2070 or 2071.

---

I'm pretty sure Palestine is the same.

---

It is. I have a house there.

---

So what happens at that point? Say you have a house that you give to your kids or grandkids and they own it until the point the lease expires...do they just lose the house? Have to buy it again?

Temple?

Lake Belton or Stillhouse Hollow

The information posted about the lots on Lake Palestine being 99 year leases is incorrect. The vast majority of the lots are deeded to the buyer. The 99 year lease applies to lots on Lake Tyler.

My aunt and uncle have a nice place on Bob Sandlin. It's a nice lake and the fishing wasn't too bad either.

North end of Toledo Bend. Where I would be.

I build and sell real estate on Cherokee. Let me know if you need to know more.