Comments on: Optima Lake State Park

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:00:16 +0000

Stopped by the damn today(1/4/12). I had always been curious driving by and just had to stop. It's obviously run down but it's easy to imagine it in the past. The area is very ghost townesque! I would have thought it was built much earlier.

Any idea how hard it's hunted(deer)?

By: Joshua Kenyon Ochoa

Joshua Kenyon Ochoa — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:18:59 +0000

Then a huge number of the picnic structures had their supports removed in an identical way (accidentally on purpose) coincidental to the time when it was decided that no stimulus dollars would be spent at the project EXCEPT for demolition of dangerous structures which would create a liability for the state. Of course after that, 6 months later, major damage appeared to dozens of these and some felt demolishing them was now an emergency (first they said nobody visits the lake, then suddenly scores of people were going to go get killed or injured by entering these dangerous buildings or walls would suddenly collapse on children…oh my)

By: Joshua Kenyon Ochoa

Joshua Kenyon Ochoa — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:08:51 +0000

Nearly all the buildings, in all the picnic areas were structurally ROCK SOLID, (6 months before their demolition) although some were vandalized and all were faded and overgrown with weeds. I couldnt help but have the opinion that some unscrupulous person hoped to get a demolition contract when a certain congressman complained mightily about stimulus dollars being spent to fix the guard rails bordering the highway across the top of the dam (which needed to be fixed as the road connects different points of the county).

By: Felisa Short

Felisa Short — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:06:12 +0000

Talk about sad. My grandparents Pete and Lili Craig used to take us to go camping and fishing there in the early 80's when we would visit them in Hardesty. We even lived there for a bit. Grandpa would catch a mess of crappie of the dam. I think my older sister even worked on the construction crew that built it in the 70's.

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By: bassfishinglawyer

bassfishinglawyer — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:47:07 +0000

I went and took a look at it on July 4, 2011. Did not see a drop of water in it. And to think I was there the day it opened (July 1, 1978 or 1979 is my recollection) catching lots and lots of fish. Used to catch 100+ crappie a day off the big rocks off the dam. Sad, sad, sad.

By: Kredyt

Kredyt — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:50:58 +0000

Hi! I’ve been reading your site for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from New Caney Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the great job!

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 04:15:21 +0000

I worked in the office during summer break in college. So sad to see how it's been let go. Sad, sad, sad. But the land should be used for wildlife & hunters – hope the government doesn't screw it up.

By: badger

badger — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:31:41 +0000

Most likely due to the fact they were constructed by the same minds that built the dam! Weather deterioration and poor construction. The elements out there are very unforgiving with extreme temp fluctuations, strong winds, dry heat, all really takes its toll on poorly constructed facilities very quickly.

By: badger

badger — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 19:26:32 +0000

I remember very well the construction of this ill conceived project and the fact that all the local landowners tried to tell the COE long before construction began that it would not work, the soils in the area will not hold water! The story about irrigation wells and such are just a flat out lie. The Beaver River has forever been known to retreat underground and resurface almost mystically and without cause or reason. Locals told the corps they would, at the very least, construct the dam to depth equal to the "red bed" if there were any chance at all of it ever holding water and even then the river would most like just "go around" the dam. Many locals watched the construction as entertainment and the subject was the laughing stock of most "coffee shop" discussions for the duration of the construction. The COE to this day refuses to admit the real reason this project failed, yet the natives to the area know full well the truth. This project should not only be considered misuse of funds, but criminal neglect. But then I guess egotistical behavior and stupidity aren't against the law!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 22:24:41 +0000

I have to say that looks like destruction of the teen persuasion.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:39:40 +0000

Now look at it though. Too many kids had the same idea it appears and destroyed the picnic area. That damage is not natural but teen inspired.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:37:37 +0000

Hey B! I know you. My dad is Everett. You used to kid me about using my 79 AMC Spirit for parts for your Eagle. Not to sidetrack the issue but I was wondering how you had been.

Kelly

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:32:52 +0000

I remember that last big rain that we got. Sadly, the reason the gates were open is because of a contaminate spillage at one of the feed lots up stream on the Beaver river (or the Cimmaron) which ever that is that you cross just as you come up the hill into town.
So is this Doug?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:28:14 +0000

I grew up in Hardesty having moved there from Keyes in '74. My dad was a heavy equipment operator with Guy James Construction, one of the contractors that was building Optima. I also began riding mountain bikes on the walking trails at Angler's point when they finally opened them to bicyclists. A group of guys, my wife, and me all would head out there on Saturdays or Sundays depending on when we could get together and ride the trails.
I moved from the area in 97 and only got back twice once to ride at Optima and the second time to ride at Palo Duro Canyon. Since then I have only been as far as Liberal one time. So, when I see these pictures it pisses me off that the people in the area have not stepped up taken care of this place despite the fact that the rains stopped and the Government failed at it's job once again.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:18:26 +0000

The former owners are dead now. Much of that land belonged to Ida Mae Jones who recieved a healthy compensation for it including but not limited to a brand new home and more land. I grew up in Hardesty, my dad was employed with Guy James Construction, one of the contractors that built Optima.