Why is there a house at the bottom of Lake Conroe? Things to know from the people who built it

Before construction of the Lake Conroe Dam began in the 1970s, the area was considered pasture land. 

“People ran cattle down here,” said Harold “Ikey” Barrett, the former surface water operations manager for the San Jacinto River Authority. 

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The 90-year-old from Dobbin started working for the agency in 1958 and was referred to as the dam manager during the construction of the lake — surveying the roughly 20,000-acre land that would soon be occupied by residents year-round. 

The lake, which turned 50 this year, was built as an additional water source for Houston.

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 serve as an additional water supply to Houston, managed by the the river authority.

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

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Only a few people owned property around where the lake was expected to be built, Barrett said. 

“We knew there was going to be development around here, but not to the extent of what has happened,” Barrett said. 

Trees covered the surrounding area, said Jim Snyder, who was the project manager for the lake construction.

“It was woods on this side and the other side,” the 89-year-old from Lufkin said. “But down where the (San Jacinto) river…was just a big plateau, nothing but grass and paul meadow plants…and water pockets all over.” 

A house that was vacated by previous owners was left untouched before the lake was filled with water, he said. 

“It was still there when we started the construction,” Snyder said. “The people had moved out, the river authority owned it. And there was no intention of tearing it down.” 

Both Snyder and Barrett agree that area has changed drastically. 

“It’s just a thrill for me to be able to see it 50 years later,” Barrett said.