Several peninsulas create protected swimming areas. A bathhouse with showers is nearby. Boat rentals are available, as well as skin diving and Scuba equipment. Camping facilities dot the park. Private and group picnic areas have a great view of the lake. Pets are okay on leashes.
There is plenty of parking. Home ». All Rights Reserved. Cummins became the community doctor and a well-liked member of his community.
He served Sparta for more than 10 years. The turn of the century blackened the horizon for Sparta. In , a fire devastated downtown. No businesses remained after the fire. Evidence also suggests a church remained.
Despite the decline in its economic resources, Sparta still managed to maintain status as a haven of life for its citizens. Sparta remained a viable community in Bell County until the federal government removed its residents in for the construction of Belton Lake. Another lost community is Bland. All that remains of Bland, Texas, a community that embraced a simple way of life, can be found near Owl Creek in northern Bell County under the waters of Belton Lake.
The population of this small Texas town never rose above sixty-three inhabitants between and However, despite its small numbers, the people of Bland maintained a very rich sense of community and kept their way of life alive until when the waters of Belton Lake inundated the town. This can be seen both literally and figuratively. Although the waters represented progress, they washed away the old way of life that flourished in rural Texas. A common activity in the community of Bland was moonshining or making illegal alcohol.
A quote from the former postmaster of Bland, Mrs. Ludwick, provides a glimpse of how the people of Bland felt about Prohibition. It has been suggested that Bland's population peak of sixty-three residents in the year was connected to a form of anti-prohibition. Many local law enforcement officers turned a blind eye to moonshiners due to bribes or empathy for the people who had no other means of making a living.
During the Great Depression, townspeople turned to moonshining as a preferable alternative to farming or trying to find a employment. Moonshine was simple to make and they could do it where they were.
Few farmers preferred moonshining to farming, so they sold their farms for money. Most farmers only ran their stills seasonally due to obligations to their crops. Because moonshine required corn as one of its main ingredients, farmers had ready access to the much-needed vegetable. The four main ingredients for moonshine were corn, sugar, yeast and water. A common distillery received its supplies from an outside supplier. Not all the people of Bland were moonshiners.
Some people purchased it from the producers. Bland's original name was Pokerville when it was founded. In , John Atkerson opened the first general store in the area. Atkerson had a great love for the game of poker; therefore, the name Pokerville was selected for the community. Poker in the general store only preceded the other vices that soon surfaced in the area. Everyday activities among the residents included school, farming, moonshining, and searching the land for Indian artifacts.
According to The Story of Bell County, the primary recreational activity involved digging up Native American burial grounds. For whatever reason, the residents of Bland found this quite enjoyable. There were many graveyards throughout the area in Owl Mountain, down in the valley, and around the streams that surrounded the area. The people also enjoyed swimming in the place near the Baptist Church where baptisms were held.
In , Pokerville changed its name to Bland upon the establishment of a post office. Your email address will not be published. How Old is Belton Lake? By Visit Killeen in Blog 0. When Was it Made? Cost Since this lake was manmade it does come with a cost. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.
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