Possum Kingdom Lake, “The Great Lake of Texas” offers unparalleled beauty. Towering cliffs mark the beauty of the lake, but there are also sandy beaches and quiet coves. Hell’s Gate is perhaps the best known landmark, keeping sentinel over the most popular cove on the lake. Hell’s Gate is located on the south end of the lake. Homeowners in this area are privileged to a spectacular view; however, visitors may only see “the gate” via boat or personal watercraft.
The lake has a surface area of 19,800 acres and a shoreline of 310 miles. Morris Sheppard Dam named for Senator John Morris Sheppard and authorized by the United States Congress in 1935 was the first erected by the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation District, later to become the Brazos River Authority (BRA). It was begun on May 29, 1938 and was completed March 20, 1941. Engineers estimated the lake would need several years to reach full level, however, within a few days of completion; heavy rains up river caused the lake to fill within 24 hours.
