Luck helped build the recreational destination

Lake Woodlands, a crown jewel of the master planned community, was almost never built.

The early plan of The Woodlands included a lake located around the same spot that Lake Woodlands is today. It was years later before the lake was born out of a bit of misfortune.

"The opportunity to build the lake in 1984 was due to the economic downturn that we experienced throughout the country," said Roger Galatas, The Woodlands first president. "A lot of people were out of work and a contractor out of San Antonio, the Zachry Construction company, offered to build the lake for us and charge just for the time and equipment, forgoing much of his profits. He wanted a way to keep his employees working and his equipment engaged."

The Woodlands also built the lake at the right time, Galatas said. The Environmental Protection Agency may not have given approval if it were built today as the regulatory process has tightened up, said Galatas, who coauthored the book "The Woodlands: The Inside Story of Creating a Better Hometown."

The 200-acre freshwater lake was excavated in 1984 and filled with water in 1985. The Last Annual Bottom of the Lake Festival was held to mark the occasion in the dry lakebed before it was filled.

"It was a big celebration, attended by everyone that lived in The Woodlands at the time," Galatas said. "It was a community building event that was consistent with the master plan."

With public parks and waterfront access, Lake Woodlands functions as a recreational and visual amenity for the community. Swimming is not allowed in the lake and boating is limited.

The eight-foot-deep lake is stocked with fish and serves as a habitat for waterfowl. Residential neighborhoods front the western and eastern shores, while major office campuses are located on the northern reaches of the lake.

There was a plan for another lake near Spring Creek, but the permitting process got so tough to deal with that it never got built, Galatas said. The Woodlands tried all the way up until 1997 to get approval before giving up on the idea.

"It was going to be a 1,000-acre lake, which is five times the size of Lake Woodlands," Galatas said. "It was going to serve the dual purpose of being a recreational lake and water reservoir, but the EPA and Corps of Engineers became quite resistant to building lakes along natural creek bodies."

Over the years, a piece of artwork called Dragon has come to symbolize Lake Woodlands, although its placement wasn't really planned.

Cynthia Mitchell, late wife of The Woodlands founder George Mitchell, was an avid art collector. She bought the piece and donated it to the community. The challenge was finding a place to put it. It was green and red and resembled the Loch Ness monster, which suggested that a suitable home would be near a body of water, Galatas said.

"We considered several lakes near the golf courses, but decided that it would be too much of a distraction to serious golfers," Galatas said. "An urban planner, in our planning department, suggested locating it near Tea Cup Island near Lake Woodlands, which is visible from Woodlands Parkway. It has become a recognizable symbol for those who travel the parkway."