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Lake Conroe vs Lake Livingston

31,800 Views | 104 Replies | Last: 2 yr ago by Ol_Ag_02
CLB2008
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AG
Parents are looking for a lake house and are debating these two lakes. Wanted to see what the board thought.
Primary use will be to get the family all together on random weekends. Fishing isnt a huge factor and as far as being out on the water, nothing too crazy, just a pontoon boat.

TIA
nonameag99
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Do they like Coke or Meth?
The Aggie number specified has already been linked with another TexAgs account.
DustysLineup
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AG
Keep in mind that if you do enough family time, it can be nice to be able to make a short drive for restaurants or entertainment. The pickings are a little slim around Livingston. I'd personally be more inclined to look around for something with a closer drive to Conroe.

But main advice is to go do some rental weekends at different spots and see what y'all like. My parents' weekend home has become more their primary home during the shutdown. They've also ridden out hurricanes and hurricane aftermath there. So look For a place where you (or your parents) could be happy and functional for extended periods if necessary.
nonameag99
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100% agree on renting a house in each place

My folks have a place on the beach in Galveston

They rented down there for years and finally bought a place that they rented a few times


The Aggie number specified has already been linked with another TexAgs account.
Whoop Delecto
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evestor1
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Conroe wins that debate for me.


I live on lake Houston so I feel like an expert on choosing brown water views.
rancher1953
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Texas Dept.of Health and Parks and Wildlife have a water advisory and fish consumption advisory for Lake Livingston. Attached is link below. It is because of dixons and other chemicals being carried out of the Dallas area by the Trinity.


https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/20151218.aspx

https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20151218.aspx[url=https://www.bing.com/search?q=Lake%20Livingston%20and%20PCB&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=lake%20livingston%20and%20pcb&sc=8-23&sk=&cvid=CE3965031A48488EA65A7070486537DC#][/url]

https://cw39.com/newsfix/warning-fishing-in-lake-livingston-could-be-deadly[url=https://www.bing.com/search?q=Lake%20Livingston%20and%20PCB&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=lake%20livingston%20and%20pcb&sc=8-23&sk=&cvid=CE3965031A48488EA65A7070486537DC#][/url]

https://www.kltv.com/story/30787695/texas-dshs.

IDaggie06
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AG
Hands down conroe
TexAgs1992
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It's not even a debate, Lake Conroe.
CLB2008
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IDaggie06 said:

Hands down conroe


Why?
CLB2008
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TexAgs1992 said:

It's not even a debate, Lake Conroe.


Why?
TopFlightReject
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Conroe can be a bath tub.. hope you got a tri-toon.

Although I am partial to Livingston as my parents had a place there (keyword had.. thanks to a GD tornado.. :-(

Obviously Conroe has more amenities around it.. Livingston had Indian Hills until it burnt down now you're left with Hookers up in Onalaska for places to dock and eat. And boy the people there can be fun.. haha.
aggiemike02
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If you care about Kingwood...the answer is easy
bloom
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Personal preference is Lake Livingston, but :

Livingston is huge AND has fewer boats on it so it is easy to take a relaxing cruise/anchor without being near other boats even on busy weekends. Conroe can be a boating zoobut maybe you or your family want that activity level.

Conroe has more amenities on and off water (eating, shopping etc)

Livingston is generally more affordable.

Look at the dock styles on each lake. Livingston has some great docks with room for seating, rope swings etc. Conroe has fewer of these, but has more lakefront homes with pools.

Conroe property has value, will hold value and will surely increase in value. Livingston has gone up in value at a slower rate, but it is picking up. Livingston is on the books to be at the crossroads of 2 Interstates (I-69/I-14) unless they're have changed the path, Houston is racing that direction and the Casino has impressive long range plans that I think will eventually happen. Look at property valuations (How the appraisal district seems to value lakefront) and tax rates.

ETA: you mentioned fishing is not a priority, but you may find that family and friends love to fish. I don't fish much, but I love that the fishing on Livingston makes our guests happy. You may be surprised how many young people like to fish-so they visit more.
Chewy
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AG
Two words - Margarita Ville

EOT
Chewy
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In all seriousness I agree with Bloom. Livingston has some positives. It's got some great coves with lots of nice houses that eliminate that "East Texas" feel of driving to get there.

If you're the kind of person that brings all your supplies and doesn't mind being isolated the entire time then Livingston offers some really great value. It's a HUGE lake and every area is different.

There's some really awesome docks on Livingston.

Conroe is better depending on where you're traveling from and if you want nearby amenities you can boat or drive to. Have fun boating on holiday weekends as it's a damn mess.
MouthBQ98
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AG
Are you trying to have a good time boating and partying on the water with ease and close proximity to Houston area, and easy access to fuel, dining, etc, and still decent fishing? Conroe.

Do you want to get away from it all, drive further, avoid partying and boat traffic, and don't mind slightly murkier lake water? Like fishing And peace and quiet more than the boating/water sorts scene? Livingston.

The thing that gets me about Livingston is all the damn deadheads and logs. They are rare on Conroe but common in Livingston. The white bass fishing is good.
aTm2004
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Agree with this. We had a house on Livingston back in the 90's and we seemed to be up there almost every weekend. Some of my parent's friends have also bought houses up there and built their retirement homes.

If it were me, I'd choose Livingston over Conroe for a few reasons:
1. Conroe is a small lake when compared to Livingston. It may not seem like a big deal until you're on it on a holiday weekend. Tons of boats and it seems like there were always accidents on Conroe. I'm assuming the GW/Sheriff have cracked down because I haven't heard much in the past 5 or so years, but for a while there, you'd hear about one almost every holiday. On Livingston, it's easy to get away and be by yourself if you want to swim, ski, etc.

2. Land is cheaper. Conroe seems to be the white collar lake of Houston and Livingston is the blue collar lake, and the houses and values reflect that. I think that's changing as it seems nicer homes are being built on Livingston, which may be due to the availability of cheaper land/houses.

3. Country vs. city feel. As stated above, I spent a lot of time on Livingston growing up and have been back a few times in recent years due to parent's friends living there now. I've also spent a lot of time on Conroe since I've graduated college with some work friend's who's parents had houses on Conroe. On Livingston, the neighborhoods are more of what you'd find in the country vs. the suburb feel of many of the neighborhoods on Conroe. To me, the lake is a place to disconnect from everyday life, so going from one suburb to another just wouldn't do it for me.

That said, there are some downsides to Livingston:
1. Due to it's size, it gets rough. I mean rough. There were a few nights spent at Pine Island sleeping on the boat because the lake was smooth as glass on the side we were anchored on, but when we made the turn for the other side to head back to the house, it was just too rough for our 20' boat to handle safely.

2. There isn't much out around it. Livingston is the only big town nearby. Coldspring and Onalaska will have a few restaurants and grocery stores for stuff you'll need, but the selection at Conroe is much better if you're one that prefers to eat out a lot.

3. Stumps. I haven't spent as much time on it in the last 20 or so years and I did my first 15, but one of the things I vividly remember is what areas of the lake you had to be careful on due to the amount of stumps. When the water was low, some people would often tie buoys to them so you'd know. The lake may have been cleaned up since then and Conroe may have the same concerns in some areas that I'm not aware of. I remember being 11 years old and cruising around Dove Island and hearing/feeling a bump. My dad shut off the engine and raised the sterndrive to see the prop being bent to chit. He went to SS after that.
aggiedent
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Having spent a LOT of time (fishing, skiing, Property rentals, etc.) on both lakes, I prefer Livingston.

Yes Conroe is closer, has more food choices, and the like; but I just don't like the lake.

Just my opinion, which is important only to me.
MAS444
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AG
Can you explain why you feel that way? I don't have an opinion either way...just truly curious. I like the idea of extra space/privacy/quieter on Livingston...but don't like stumps and worse water.
I Am A Critic
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aggiemike02 said:

If you care about Kingwood...the answer is easy
If you don't care about Kingwood...the answer is easier.
Username checks out.
redag06
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Well the fact that the Trinity now also connects to Lake Houston, via Luce Bayou transfer project, they both have flooding potential in and around Kingwood.
94chem
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No love for Sam Rayburn?
ATM9000
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Lakes are where lower class people who climb to middle class go hang out and celebrate their wealth.
DustysLineup
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ATM9000 said:

Lakes are where lower class people who climb to middle class go hang out and celebrate their wealth.


There's being a miserable person, and then there's being mad about lakes.

I'm sure we'd all die of envy if we knew the details of your fabulous life.
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by user
94chem
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ATM9000 said:

Lakes are where lower class people who climb to middle class go hang out and celebrate their wealth.
I don't really enjoy lakes either, but I would go to one for the weekend to get away from you.
Chewy
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AG
I would like to commend everyone for this thread.

Here's the traits it's demonstrated just like solid TA post should:

1) Informative
2) Entertaining
3) Insulting

This gives me hope what we're experiencing in society right now isn't really any kind of new norm. The old way is still in us. We'll get back to the real normal soon enough.

Congrats everyone and keep up the good work!
I Am A Critic
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SoupNazi2001 said:

ATM9000 said:

Lakes are where lower class people who climb to middle class go hang out and celebrate their wealth.


Where do middle class people that climb to high class go to celebrate their wealth?


Destin or Broken Bow
Username checks out.
ATM9000
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Chewy said:

I would like to commend everyone for this thread.

Here's the traits it's demonstrated just like solid TA post should:

1) Informative
2) Entertaining
3) Insulting

This gives me hope what we're experiencing in society right now isn't really any kind of new norm. The old way is still in us. We'll get back to the real normal soon enough.

Congrats everyone and keep up the good work!


Eh... I see some sticks up people's asses about the joke.

Now you guys go take your jet skis out this weekend before the repo guys show up.
Anagrammatic Nudist
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Have co-owned houses on both, have stored our boat on both, and have been at Lake Livingston now for the last 7 years. Love it. Can get away from the rif-raf and idiot weekend boat renters so much easier at Livingston.
E
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My parents retired on Cape Royale at Lake Livingston for a few years recently and we all loved it. They looked at properties on both Conroe and Livingston, but decided on Livingston as it fit their lifestyle much better.

Livingston is much larger and far less populated so its not going to be jam packed with people and boaters. They aren't big nightlife people so not having many restaurants nearby wasn't an issue. Price is much lower at Livingston as well.

The drive is only like 20 mins longer going from Houston so its almost negligible when you are going for just the weekend or vacation. Distance was never an issue until they would drive to Sugar Land to visit family, but even then a drive from Conroe is long as well.
Ragoo
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AG
Is neither an option?
TXTransplant
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Ragoo said:

Is neither an option?


Can't believe this doesn't have more stars.
vansprinkle
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AG
I Am A Critic said:

SoupNazi2001 said:

ATM9000 said:

Lakes are where lower class people who climb to middle class go hang out and celebrate their wealth.


Where do middle class people that climb to high class go to celebrate their wealth?


Destin or Broken Bow

Lol. Those are for low class that skip the middle and go high.
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