Texas State Resolution Declaring Lake Whitney the “Getaway Capital of Texas”

WHEREAS, Texas is widely known for its excellent recreational activities and vacation destinations, and among the state’s most unspoiled and inviting getaways is the picturesque Lake Whitney area; and

WHEREAS, Located in the Brazos River Basin, Lake Whitney was one of the earliest recreational lakes built near the Dallas/Fort Worth area; completed in April 1951 as part of the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation Program, it is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, and is situated five miles from the town of Whitney on the edge of Hill and Bosque Counties; other nearby communities that help provide visitors with the comforts of home include Hillsboro, Clifton, Meridian, Aquilla, Morgan, Lakeside Village, Laguna Park, Blum, Valley Mills, and Kopperl; and

WHEREAS, The 955-acre Lake Whitney State Park was named Park of the Month by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in July 2004, and features 137 campsites, screened shelters, swimming beaches, boat ramps, and an air strip; the region also provides four full service marinas and 34 overnight accommodations, including cabins, cottages, bed and breakfasts, condos, and lodges; and

WHEREAS, Lake Whitney’s reputation as a premier center for bass fishing is a big draw for the nation’s fishing enthusiasts, and Field and Stream magazine in May 2004 ranked a lakeside resort there as one of “the top 5 places in the U.S. to eat, sleep, and live bass”; and

WHEREAS, For those who prefer their recreation on land, the area is home to three public 18-hole golf courses and 3,000 acres of winding trails for horseback riding; bird and wildlife watchers can delight in the lake area’s 300 migratory and nonmigratory bird species, and a local wildlife population that features more than 50 different species of mammals, including the white-tailed deer; and

WHEREAS, Historically visited by everyone from Native Americans and European settlers to gunslingers, such as John Wesley Hardin, the Lake Whitney area is today easily accessible from the four largest metropolitan areas of the state, yet it is used by only two million people each year, making it the perfect getaway for those who enjoy a relaxed pace, abundant amenities, and reasonable prices, and the area is indeed worthy of a special designation befitting its myriad attractions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate the Lake Whitney area as the Getaway Capital of Texas.