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Lake Tales

Memories from the Community

Hundreds of families have memories of Crystal Lake. Here are just a few of the stories shared with us over the years. We'd love to hear yours too.

Camping at Crystal Lake

— Mark Phillips

From Mark Phillips: I lived and grew up in Deer Park, Texas, outside of Houston. I can remember my family and I going there every year in the early to mid 70's. We would bring a tent and all our camping equipment and spend 3 or 4 days there. I remember waking up to the smell of bacon and scrambled eggs my dad was cooking on a Coleman stove. We would eat the hamburgers that y'all made… best I ever ate. Also remember getting my first kiss from a girl in a white bikini… And we would listen to Freddy Fender on the juke box… Wasted days and wasted nights… Anyway, they were some of the best summers of my life. It's a shame that places like that are no longer.

Piney Woods Paradise

— Carolyn Lackey

We spent many a summer Saturday at Crystal Lake — a small lake somewhere near enough to Carthage, TX to make for a good day trip but enough of a drive to keep a 6-year-old lounging on the back dashboard asking 'are we ALMOST there?!' about a thousand times. It was a very special place back in the day to kids who thought of visiting Disneyland as an unattainable pipe dream and a day at Six Flags as the trip of a lifetime.

A Lifeguard Remembers

— Susan Baucom

I was a lifeguard there 1963, 1964 and 1965. In the photo gallery, pictures #22 and 23 is my brother, Bobby Baucom, who was a lifeguard there from 1966. O.C. Whiddon believed in hard work — he helped many kids in Joaquin through the years. I go back every now and then and it's so sad for me to see it closed. Susan still lives in the Whiddon house across the lake. Thanks for posting this — please keep the memories alive!

Keeping the History Alive

— Blake Tricky LeVasseur

Still need one of those floating thimbles in the back to keep their history alive in my pond that I have replicated like them for the younger generation. Telling them about the history when we were kids.

A Lot of Great Memories

— Jan Goyne Ashley

Loved that place. A lot of great memories from my childhood.

The Trolleys and the Turtles

— Pam Knight Ferguson

Loved the trolleys, but the climb to the top and leaning out to jump was terrifying 😁🎉 Remember admiring lots of turtles 🐢

Birthday Memories

— Carol Foxworth

Soo much fun. Had lots of my birthdays there!

Wonderful Memories

— Chris Rose

Wonderful memories.

A Special Place in a Peaceful Time

— Doug Childress

Thanks for having a place to share memories of a special place in the lives of so many who grew up in a different, peaceful time. My early years in Joaquin, Texas, with much time spent at Crystal Lake, are precious times I will cherish my whole life.

New From Houston, Taken to the Lake

— Lena and Richard Dickerson

I remember moving to Joaquin in 1979. I was an 8th grader and new from Houston. This was one of the first that I was taken to. Living in those days were the most memorable for me. It was a great place to go and I believe that the reopening would bring such joy to the community. It would also be a place for class and family reunions and reconnecting with old memories.

Born and Raised in Joaquin

— Sherron Woolf

My heart is warmed to see this memorial. I grew up in Joaquin, born and raised here. I loved Crystal Lake, even though I couldn't swim! Lol. But most of all, I love Susan Whiddon. She took in her friend, my aunt, during a rough period. I met Susan and she always did everything she could to help me in my troubled life. I worked for her as a teenager, helping her with cleaning up the lake and her cottage. Such a wonderful woman and family.

The Trolley and My Crush

— Barbara Mitchell Burrow

I am by nature very cautious but I threw caution to the wind once in the 60's and risked my life to go down the trolley at Crystal Lake just to keep another girl from going down it with my "crush" — who I have now been married to for almost 49 years. Lots of wonderful memories of times spent at the lake. I have a memory of teaching my Uncle how to bop out on a pier there that I could swear had a jukebox. Saturday nights were magic.

The Dance Hall on Saturday Nights

— Susan Lafitte Stevens

I grew up in Joaquin, TX. I went to Crystal Lake from the time I was very young until I graduated from Joaquin High School in 1961. Oh, what memories I have. My favorite is the dance hall that would be packed full of kids on Saturday nights and I don't remember sitting out a dance. We had so much fun. It was a great time to be growing up in Joaquin, Texas. Sometimes I wish I still lived there because it is the most friendly, down to earth people I have ever known.

Just One More Time, Mama!

— Leisa Black Hergert

My dad Frank Black was a lifeguard there in the 1950s. His best friend was Abner, the owner's son. As a child I spent a lot of time at the lake. So many fond memories. Our favorite saying was… just one more time mama!

From Bossier City to Crystal Lake

— Teresa Taylor

I have been thinking about Crystal Lake a lot lately and was thrilled to find this website. My family and I frequented Crystal Lake when we lived in Bossier City/Shreveport. I have so many fond memories from those days. So happy to revisit those memories even more so because of this website.

After Church, We'd Go to Crystal Lake

— Helen (Parker) Johnson

Mr. Whiddon was a member of the First Methodist Church in Joaquin, where I was also a member. As teenagers we attended MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship). After church we would go to Crystal Lake and meet our friends, play music, dance and visit. We have many great memories of Crystal Lake. Five of my sisters still live in the area. When I go to Joaquin to visit my family and friends I drive by the lake and think of all the good times we had there.

Share Your Memory

Have a story or photo from Crystal Lake? We'd love to hear it. Your memory will be shared with the Whiddon family and preserved for future generations.

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