Lake Conroe turns 50 this year. Here’s how the man-made lake was built and why you should visit

Lake Conroe was unrecognizable in October 1972.

There were no boats, no fish and no families planning visits over the summer. The roughly 20,000 acre area that would fill with water was dirt surrounded by a barbed wire fence. 

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Officials expected to have the dam complete by December of that year. They also expected for rainfall to fill the lake within three years, but figured a drought would extend that to six or seven years.

In January 1973, the lake was officially built and by Oct. 31 1973, it was completely filled with water.

In 2023, the man-made lake turns 50. 

Originally built as an additional water supply for Houston, the lake is now surrounded by visitors looking for a getaway weekend,  a variety of businesses and restaurants and million dollar homes.

Here are some important things to know about Lake Conroe:

Why was Lake Conroe built?

After a record-breaking seven-year drought during the 1950s, officials began making plans to build the lake as part of a reservoir-building boom. Texas decided to build several reservoirs to prevent water shortages, including Lake Houston which was also built during this time. 

Lake Conroe was going to act as an additional water supply to Houston, managed by the San Jacinto River Authority.

SJRA, Houston and the Texas Water Development Board entered into an agreement to build the lake in 1968.

How deep is Lake Conroe? 

The lake encompasses roughly 20,000 acres and extends nearly 21 miles from the dam to the upper reaches of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. It can hold up to 430,000 acre-feet of water when at its conservation pool elevation of 201 feet.

The average depth of the lake is 20 feet, but the deepest portion is 70 feet in the river channel.

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What is Lake Conroe known for? 

Since it was built, the lake’s primary use has been as a water supply, but the lake has grown beyond that. Many residents and visitors enjoy recreational activities on the lake, such as fishing, boating and swimming.  

Fishing is one of the lake’s biggest draws. Largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, hybrid striped bass and bluegill all thrive in the water.

In 2018, Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists talked about why the lake is a prime breeding ground for catfish after they caught a 42-inch, 40-pound “monster” blue catfish during a survey. The same team caught an even bigger catfish in 2016. Largemouth bass and catfish are the most popular fish for anglers, while crappie aren’t far behind. 

Officials regularly warn visitors about boating safety, as it is another popular activity.

The lake is also home to the Lake Conroe Queen, a 60-person paddleboat that books tours. 

Can you swim in Lake Conroe? 

The lake has two public access points for swimming – Lake Conroe Park, located off Texas 105, and Scott’s Ridge Swim Area, located off FM 1097 near Scott’s Ridge Road. It costs $5 per person to get into Lake Conroe Park, and the Scott’s Ridge site costs $5 per vehicle per day. Scott’s Ridge is open from May through September. 

2021 marked deadliest year on lake

In 2021, there were six fatalities on the lake — five drownings and a fatal boat wreck. This marked the deadliest of recent years on the lake. Officials linked the spike to the increase in visitors at the time.

The surge in visits was due to the lake being accessible during the earliest parts of the pandemic. Many public indoor settings were still limited by COVID-19 mitigation efforts as late as the early part of 2021.

On every major summer holiday on the lake, the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable’s office conducts free voluntary boat safety checks identifying the six items required by Texas state law. These include life jackets, a fire extinguisher, a Class IV throwable life preserver, a sounding device, a state-issued registration card and a cut-off switch lanyard.

In addition to life vests, the marine division urges visitors to have a designated driver when boating.

Luxury homes around the lake

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the lake saw an economic boom in housing. Houses were being sold at more than $600,000, according one real estate agent. The summer of 2022 was considered one of the busiest yet for real estate agents, boat dealers and others catering to the lakefront lifestyle.

Homes are continuously being built around the lake — Phoenix-based Inspire Communities announced 700 homes being built in July and Houston-based Hines announced 1,000 homes being built in October.

One of the most expensive homes sold on the lake was between $3.8 and $4.5 million in 2019. 

When is the best time to visit Lake Conroe?

The busiest season on the lake starts Memorial Day weekend as kids get out of school and continues through summer. 

The marine division has been aiming to boost its numbers to respond to the lake’s increased popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Some officials have said it has been getting busier every weekend since. 

In August 2022, the division added two deputies to its five member team, bringing it to seven — including deputies, a sergeant and a lieutenant.

Because of the close proximity to Houston, the lake has been one of the more popular ones to visit in the area, officials said. 

michael.d.garcia@houstonchronicle.com