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3 things you may not know about Lake Conroe

forest river with rocks

Lake Conroe is a beloved gem among residents of Montgomery County and the Greater Houston area. Located just a little over 78 miles north of Houston, Lake Conroe is a popular recreational destination that is just as well known for the affluent neighborhoods that dot its shores.

It wasn’t always this way because Lake Conroe’s history might surprise you. Here, then, are three things you probably didn’t know about this dazzling lake:

  1. Lake Conroe is manmade
    Lake Conroe is not a naturally occurring body of water. It was built to provide the Greater Houston area with an alternate source of water. Between 1949 and 1957, Texas experienced severe drought. The state received just half of its usual amount of rainfall as temperatures rose. It was the worst and the costliest occurrence the region ever experienced.

    As a response to the calamity, the Houston city government, Texas Water Development Board, and the San Jacinto River Authority convened in 1968 and created a five-year construction plan to build Lake Conroe.

  2. The dam took five years to build, but only nine months to fill

    Five years after the Lake Conroe reservoir was conceptualized, a 2.2-mile long and 82-foot high dam was officially completed in January 1973. With water from the west fork of the San Jacinto River feeding into the reservoir, it was filled in just nine months.

    At its fullest, the 21,000-acre reservoir holds more than 140 billion gallons of water. Lake Conroe has an average depth of 20 feet, plunging to 70 feet at its deepest.

    The water reached at its lowest level in December 2011, measuring only 8.32 feet during the drought that ravaged the southern United States and Mexico from 2010 to 2013.

  3. It has outgrown its primary purpose

    With its picturesque, naturally rich surroundings, the lake area became a huge draw for metropolitan crowds seeking a suburban escape less than an hour’s drive away from the metropolis. What began as a weekend/empty-nest retreat for Houstonians eventually grew into full-blown neighborhoods as more jobs trickled out from the city center.

    Lake Conroe today is a notable centerpiece for the affluent communities of fast-growing Montgomery County. Real estate selections include condos, townhomes, and single-family homes in subdivisions, with views of the lake or the golf courses that count as another of the area’s attractions.

    With Its glassy waters, 150 miles of shoreline, and lush, natural environment, Lake Conroe has become the ideal setting for social, recreational, and commercial activities. Posh social events, exceptional waterfront dining, various boating activities, and year-round fishing tournaments are held at the lake.

    From its humble beginnings as a back-up plan for a neighboring city, Lake Conroe has evolved into a crucial piece of the local economy.

Seeking real estate opportunities in Lake Conroe? Call me, Katherine Maher, at 936-525-0095 or send me an email at Katherine(at)LakeConroeLady(dotted)com today. As the “Lady of the Lake,” I’ll be happy to share with you my expert knowledge of the area.