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When the Veterans Plaza at Lake Wichita Falls is dedicated on Memorial Day, it will mark the latest chapter in the history of a small lake with a long and colorful past in Wichita Falls.
Initially, the lake was built by early-day entrepreneur Joseph A. Kemp to act as a water source for the growing Wichita Falls community. Completed in 1901, the dam on Holliday Creek formed the lake and was advertised as the largest inland lake in Texas. However, it soon became inadequate for the town’s needs, and Kemp went on to construct the much larger reservoir, Lake Kemp.
By 1910, Lake Wichita had found a second purpose as a recreational area. A pier and pavilion were built, followed by the Lakeside Hotel, a ballpark, racetrack, fair building, arcade, cabins, and a fishing pier, with a merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, and rollercoaster also added. The pavilion became the centerpiece, with a café, skating rink, and dance hall for gentlemen, who paid, and ladies, who received free admission.
The lake grew into a popular attraction, with trains and trolleys full of visitors coming in from other cities to enjoy the amusement park. Big-name performers, including Bob Wills and his Texas Play Boys and Cab Calloway, drew capacity crowds to the pavilion. However, by the middle of the century, automobiles became the preferred mode of transportation, and the park lost its place as a major tourist attraction.
Though the lake had a long history as a recreational site, its water supply was scarce, and its tributary, Holliday Creek, would often flood and cause damage. City fathers began to address the problem in the 1930s and, by the 1980s, had secured federal funds for the Holliday Creek flood control project, which lowered the lake’s water level and accelerated the park’s decline. Efforts to deepen the lake by excavation were deemed cost-prohibitive, with an estimated cost of $75 million.
As a result, the Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee has focused on creating recreational opportunities on the shore, such as a dog park, paved Circle Trail, boardwalk, and kayak launch. The area has also become a place of remembrance, with a Vietnam War Memorial and Veterans Plaza set to be dedicated on Memorial Day.
In its second century, Lake Wichita has matured into a place of more serene pleasures – and remembrance – while preserving its colorful history.
