6 things you need to know about Saxet Lakes
Twisted branches from a Mesquite tree dot the shoreline of meandering trails among the picnic grounds at Saxet Lake.
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How would you improve the park?
If you have ideas for improving the park - adding amenities or services, for example - Victoria County Commissioner Gary Burns wants your input. You can reach Burns on his cell phone at 361-220-2284.
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How would you improve the park?
If you have ideas for improving the park - adding amenities or services, for example - Victoria County Commissioner Gary Burns wants your input. You can reach Burns on his cell phone at 361-220-2284.
Saxet is Texas spelled backward. Looking backward, Saxet Lakes brim with history, controversy and plenty of the bizarre.
The 250-acre county park just south of the city remains a hot spot for families and recreationists. The park also draws its share of alarming headlines.
Victoria County Commissioner Gary Burns hopes to one day revitalize the park, shed its black eyes and expand services to generate growth and revenue. Can he do so despite a slash to the county budget?
1) Fordyce Sand & Gravel Co. donated to the county the land and freshwater lakes - a former sand and gravel mine - in 1978. During a 13-year period, the company donated 97, 60 and 102 acres. Known once as Ski Lake, the park had its grand opening in 1982. To open the park, the county developed the area via a $227,500 state grant.
2) Commissioners paid to install barrels and ropers in May 1982 after U.S. Navy divers checked the bottom for debris and holes. In spots, the lake's depth reaches 100 feet. In 1982, the county installed a $20,000 twin-slip boat ramp. Three years later, workers built a 100-person pavilion. Today, the park's maintenance cost averages about $100,000 per year.
3) Despite its popular and cheery use for jet skiing, boating and water skiing, the park also remains home to tragedy. Visitors should heed this sign's warning: "Swim at your own risk." Henry Meyer Jr., 27, drowned on June 16, 1982; a 14-year-old boy drowned a year later; and an 8-year-old drowned in 1985. In 1987, visitors spotted two 8-foot alligators.
4) The park, tucked off a major road, is also the site of murders and dumped bodies. Men tried to kill a deputy there in 1983. Police found a man's body floating in 1985. Two people were shot to death there in 1994, the same year a marital fight broke into gun violence. A judge sentenced Jesse Tejada to life in prison in March 2008 for murdering a 35-year-old Ganado man, found beaten and drowned. Ironically, perhaps, commissioners in 1992 considered opening a rifle, pistol and sporting clay range at the park.
5) The park also remains home to odd events. In June 1982, police arrested two brothers for stripping a 12-foot-tall bark strip from a tree with a knife. The brothers said they needed the bark for their barbecue. In 1992, a park worker found a gigantic river prawn. The prawn had an 11-inch body and 12-inch pincers, and went to the Texas Zoo for display.
6) Because of the park's oft-negative perception, Burns and others lobbied in recent years to change its name. The idea failed. Still, Burns said he hopes to improve both the park's image and draw. The county awaits a handful of Parks and Wildlife grants, he said. "There are a whole series of lakes back there. Maybe we could add an RV park, horse stalls or an arena," Burns said. "It would be nice if we could start generating revenue and make it even better. We want people to use it, families to use it."
Don't look for these improvements soon, though. County budget constraints cut park money from the general fund and forced commissioners to combine it into the Precinct 3 road and bridge fund.
Sources: Victoria Advocate file stories, Victoria County Commissioner Gary Burns.
Comments
Any name besides "saxet" would be an improvement. Being a newcomer, it always brought about thoughts of flea markets and double wides.
November 16, 2009 at 6:04 p.m.banning alcohol would be a great first step for that park
November 16, 2009 at 5 p.m.Blue Waters
November 16, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.A lot of girls lost their flowers at Blue Waters.
A lot of dudes lost their lives at Saxet Lakes.
Better yet holly, you should just keep your money!
November 16, 2009 at 3:26 p.m.Saxet lake park needs to improve its image. The way to due this would be to make it a true park not just a place for people to hang out and drink. It would make a wonderful campground. It has all the land it needs to be a wonderful asset if it was managed correctly. I think it would make a wonderful recreational area with bike and horse trails, Hiking areas, fishing piers and picnic areas. why the county would let such a wonderful natural resource go to waste is beyond me. It seems Victoria just has no real desire to improve its assets to serve the communities needs other than put brick curbing in the streets and improve the north side all the while ignoring the rest of the city and county. It's about time they stop treating these areas like dirt and spread the wealth around a little. We pay our taxes too. We want the same consideration and resources that are thrown at the north side. We are tired of being the forgotten few who are only good for paying our taxes with no re-investment. WE should at least get some return for our money.
November 16, 2009 at 3:21 p.m.I loved Saxet Lake when we lived in Victoria. The drive to and from there is one of the best in and around the area (without driving a half hour just to get there). We spent most of our time walking around the closed part of the park.
IMO, that nearly half of the park seems permanently closed doesn't really help the situation out there. Additionally, it might not be a bad idea to install gates and close the road to thru traffic after the park closes. Other options might include 1) hiring a private security firm to patrol the park at night, 2) prohibiting the consumption of alcohol, 3) establishing a hike/bike trail from the tracks by the old plant to/around the park, and up the road toward the tracks at 236/59. Number "3" would work to bring folks out to the park for reasons other than a smashed b-b-q , night rides could also be organized.
All of that said, the most effective way to heal the park's identity would be the formation of a "friends of saxet" organization that gives out free b-b-q on friday and saturday nights to anyone willing to help maintain a presence of law abiding "witnesses" throughout the night.
Good luck.
November 16, 2009 at 7:33 a.m.I knew it as Blue Waters kind of dissappointed when they started calling it saxet lake,Blue waters had that majestic sound to it, the improvements in 82 were great though.
November 16, 2009 at 5:27 a.m.