SRA’s Sabinetown Recreation Area expected completion in Spring of 2026

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HEMPHILL, TX - Construction is well underway at the Sabine River Authority's (SRA) Sabinetown Recreation Area on Toledo Bend and is expected to be completed in Spring of 2026. The $16 million project will feature a six-lane boat ramp in a deep-water protected cove, parking for approximately 300 trucks and trailers, a large tournament-style pavilion, public restrooms, and additional amenities. The facility is designed to accommodate recreational boating and fishing, regional tournaments, and professional fishing events.

The site is located at the end of Bayou Fork Road North, off FM 83 east of Hemphill. SRA has improved 3.5 miles of the existing roadway from FM 83 to the facility by upgrading it to an asphalt surface.

Including the Sabinetown Recreation Area, SRA has now invested over $36 million in parks and recreation along the Texas shores of Toledo Bend. These investments include the new Pendleton Recreation Area, renovations at the Sam Forse Collins Recreation Area, the 6-Mile Recreation Area, the Highway 84 Boat Ramp at Joaquin, the placement of fish habitats throughout the reservoir, and stump-cutting efforts to improve boating safety on Toledo Bend. Funding for these improvements comes from a Lake Fork water-sales contract between SRA and the City of Dallas.

David Montagne, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Sabine River Authority of Texas, stated: "In addition to being a major water-supply reservoir for the East Texas area, Toledo Bend has earned a reputation as a premier fishery. Sabinetown will be a first-class venue that will attract major tournaments and bring enhanced recognition to Toledo Bend. Funds received from the City of Dallas for water sales out of Lake Fork have allowed the Sabine Basin and Toledo Bend to benefit significantly from major recreational projects like Sabinetown, along with other improvements on Toledo Bend. SRA remains committed to making continued investments in the areas surrounding Toledo Bend."

Created by the Legislature in 1949, the Sabine River Authority of Texas is an official agency of the State of Texas. The Authority was established as a conservation and reclamation district responsible for controlling, storing, preserving, and distributing the waters of the Sabine River and its tributaries for beneficial use.

Full Press Release can be downloaded below.

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