Caddolake

Caddo Lake

Natural lake in the Piney Woods

by Jim King

An hour’s drive from Shreveport, Louisiana and 20 minutes from historic Jefferson, Texas, it was as if we had stepped back into time, immediately aware of the tranquility and almost mystical beauty of this place. With the old Spanish moss that hung from the trees moving gently in the breeze we began to walk the banks of the only natural lake in the State of Texas. Before long we met Billy and Dottie Carter. They could tell we were visiting; we could tell that they weren’t. Turns out that Billy and Dottie have lived on the lake for most of their lives, offering cabins for rent and lake tours in addition to hunting and fishing expeditions. They generously shared with us their time and incredible home as they took us on a boat tour of the lake, identifying for us many of the natural wonders that made this place their home.

Caddo Lake is the largest natural lake in the South. While in many places it is only 8 to 10 feet deep, it covers 32,000 acres with water, interlaced with bayous, a network of sloughs and areas of swamp. More than 230 species of birds have been recorded since 1980, making this area a bird watchers paradise. In addition there are abundant fish in the lake and duck for the hunter. Our host reminded us to be careful as he glided the flat bottom “Go Devil” boat through the narrow passageway of a moss covered bayou. “We have ‘gators in here as well,” a remark that quickly prompted me to take my hand out of the water.

Arriving back at the dock, our host prompted us to a barn like building on the edge of the property. On those occasions they are not on the lake, Billy and Dottie are also motorcycle enthusiasts. They shared with us their stories and collection of new and antique Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Now we ride and travel a great deal, but it is not every day that one gets to straddle a 1955 Panhead chopper or a 1965 Servi-car. For local cruising there was a ’95 Ultra Classic with a sidecar and a matching set of Heritage Softails for open road traveling.

Wishing we had the time to stay longer, but saying our goodbyes, we once more headed down the road, on to our next adventure, taking with us the memories of this beautiful lake and our gracious hosts.

Should you find yourself riding in East Texas be sure to go to Caddo Lake. While you are there, look for Billy and Dottie. For more information about Caddo Lake check out their website