By P.A. Geddie

Cedar Creek Lake covers parts of Henderson and Kaufman counties. It offers a wealth of water recreation opportunities, beautiful views, and provides a vacation-like backdrop for many residents and visitors alike from country inns, lakeside Airbnbs, and nearby resorts.

The lake is popular for fishing, boating, and other water sports. Several marinas and public beaches and picnic areas provide access to the lake.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department maintains three islands in the lake as wildlife management areas for aquatic birds. While the islands are off limits to the public, birdwatchers enjoy viewing from boats or from the shore.

Along the water’s edges are popular restaurants. Other dining destinations are sprinkled throughout small towns near the lake, as are shopping boutiques and lodging. The area has plenty of vacation rentals.

Attractions include a skate park, movie theater, bowling center, three golf courses, and a family fun park with an arcade, batting cages, bumper cars, go-karts, kiddie cars, laser tag, miniature golf, a rock-climbing wall, and a game room.

Each small community around the lake has its own unique attributes. The towns include Kemp, Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Payne Springs, Enchanted Oaks, Eustace, Caney City, Malakoff, Star Harbor, Trinidad, Tool, and Seven Points.

Tom Finley Park sits on a centrally located island in Cedar Creek Lake with beautiful views of the surrounding natural setting. The family-friendly park has a dedicated swimming area with a sandy beach and a playground for children. Shaded picnic tables with grills, boating docks, a fishing pier, and pavilions for groups are available.

Gun Barrel City has a new waterfront development underway with a three-level building with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the lake that offers venues for dining, shopping, and entertainment. The design allows the ground floor to provide access to 40 boat slips and a 4,000-foot signature restaurant on the top floor. Part of the plans also include a food court on the second level and outdoor seating for all three stories. The outdoor area next to the lower level features a splash park and amphitheater, and there is ample room in the surrounding grounds to accommodate large events.

Near Trinidad, visitors enjoy the Triple N Ranch & Winery on 12 acres, featuring a herd of longhorn cattle, a vineyard, a first-class tasting room, food pairings, concerts, and special events. Guests enjoy wines with brick-oven fired pizzas, charcuterie trays, Italian-style salads with fennel and arugula, panini sandwiches, baked cookies, and s’mores along with occasional multi-course dinners presented by area chefs.

A popular Seven Points business is Cedar Creek Brewery, offering award-winning beers, live music, and special events throughout the year.

In the countryside of Kemp, visitors find a working dairy farm featuring some of the best artisan and farmstead cheeses and cheese spreads in Texas. Full Quiver Farms is operated by a Mennonite farming family that has a small store on the property. Their products are also sold at popular grocers across the Southwest and at regional farmers’ markets.

One piece of history in Kemp is an old “calaboose,” or jail cell, behind the current city hall, where notorious outlaw Bonnie Parker allegedly stayed overnight on April 19, 1932. The legend of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow as robbers and murderers is a big part of the history of the Upper East Side of Texas. Their actions gained enormous media attention and people from all over the region were emotionally invested as the Barrow Gang committed their crimes in the early 1930s.

The City of Tool has a new inclusive community park in the works with an amphitheater, a walking trail, and a splash pad. A unique play area for kids incorporates music, climbing, and nets. Also included in the complex are a veterans memorial, dog park, botanical gardens, butterfly garden, mural wall, a food truck court and a fishing pond.

Malakoff is home to the Star Harbor Watercolor Society. The artists present their work at events during the year, often along with live music, art demos, and refreshments. The town hosts the annual autumn Cornbread Festival.

Nearby Eustace is the gateway to Purtis Creek State Park with a 350-acre lake offering bass fishing, swimming, boating, camping, and nature trails.

Special events take place around the lake each year, including the Wildflower Festival in Kemp, July Fest in Gun Barrel City, and Thunder Over Cedar Creek Airshow.

For more information about visiting Cedar Creek Lake the City of Gun Barrel City is a good place to start. Visit www.gunbarrelcity.net.