Where exactly is Possum Kingdom Lake, and how did it get its name?
A fire near Possum Kingdom Lake in Palo Pinto County has burned more than 500 acres over the last couple days, leaving eight homes destroyed.
The 1148 fire is 15% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forrest Service. Fire crews are working on constructing and improving containment lines Wednesday.
No injuries have been reported thus far and the only damage relayed from authorities has been the eight homes destroyed. Crews are also fighting the Chalk Mountain fire outside of Glen Rose in Somervell County.
Possum Kingdom Lake is a major attraction for surrounding towns such as Mineral Wells, Graham, Graford, Palo Pinto and travelers coming from the Metroplex or other parts of the state. Here’s what we know about the lake:
Where is Possum Kingdom Lake?
Possum Kingdom Lake is located in four Texas counties.
The majority of the lake is locateded in Palo Pinto County, with a sliver of the westmost section in Stephens County and a small area in the north is in Young and Jack counties.
Possum Kingdom Lake is around 70 miles west of Fort Worth — about an hour-and-a-half drive.
Why is it called Possum Kingdom Lake?
There’s no concrete evidence on why a body of water was named after a marsupial, but there’s an interesting legend to the naming.
Mineral Wells was established in 1877 and become world renowned for its mineral water that many said offered healing properties. The story goes that a peddler named Ike Sablosky came to Mineral Wells in 1906 looking to regain his health in the miracle water, according to Possum Kingdom Lake Texas.
After Sablosky regained his health he discovered the lucrative fur and hide trading business in the Palo Pinto Mountain range area near Mineral Wells. Legend has it that Sablosky called his fur suppliers the “Boys of Possum Kingdom” and the rest is history.
From that point forward in 1906, Possum Kingdom became the name for the entire region that encompassed the Brazos River, Palo Pinto Mountains and everything in between.
Why is Possum Kingdom Lake a popular destination?
Possum Kingdom Lake is a popular destination known for its clear blue waters and surrounding cliffs.
The maximum depth for the lake is 145 feet, which offers visitors plenty to do — from fishing and scuba diving, to boating and hanging out on the water. Lakefront property is another big draw to the area, with many Texans purchasing homes overlooking the serene view.
One of the biggest attractions to the lake is a rock structure called, Hell’s Gate.
Hell’s Gate is essentially two rock formations with exceptionally high cliff walls located in the middle of the lake, according to Possum Kingdom Lake org. The area is extremely popular for boaters over the summer, who tie off and party around the massive structures.
Besides being a popular party place for boaters and the site of the annual Fourth of July firework, it is also a sports venue.
Over the last few years, Red Bull has hosted multiple cliff diving competitions at Hell’s Gate, where divers jump off the cliff. The cliffs and deep water make it ideal for the event.
How big is Possum Kingdom Lake?
Possum Kingdom Lake covers an area of 16,716 acres, with 219 miles of shoreline, according to the Brazos River Authority.
The lake is a reservoir for the Brazos River and holds approximately 540,000 acre-feet of water. That equates to about 230,750 acre-feet of water supply available for the Brazos River basin.
Is Possum Kingdom a man-made or natural lake?
Possum Kingdom Lake is a man-made reservoir built in the 1940s.
Located at the lake is the Morris Sheppard Dam, named after the Texas senator who helped secure funding for the project. The dam was authorized for construction in 1938 from the State of Texas and completed in 1941, according to the Brazos River Authority.
The dam is 2,700 feet long and 190 feet tall, with nine gates that are each 74 feet long and 13 feet tall for floodwaters to pass. Each gate can pass approximately 9,600 cubic feet per second of water when fully open, according to the Brazos River Authority. The dam was originally constructed with a hydro electric generating facility, which is no longer in use.
