Cooper, Texas
Cooper Bulldogs
Home of the fighting Bulldogs!!!

Cooper Lake State Park

Cooper Dam

Park History: Nestled in the tranquil East Texas woods about 1 1/2 hours northeast of Dallas, Texas. The lake property was acquired in January 1991 with more than 3,000 acres caressing the lake's southeastern and northern shores. The park consists of two main units, Doctors Creek Unit covers over 466 acres a few miles south of Cooper in Delta County and the South Sulphur Unit consists of 2,560 acres about 15 miles northwest of Sulphur Springs in Hopkins County. Doctors Creek Unit opened January 3, 1996 and South Sulphur Unit opened April 27, 1996. Both park units are leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 25 years.The Cooper lake offers pristine facilities with something to suit nearly any camper's dreams.

Doctor's Creek Unit

Park Activities: Features include comfortable cabins, camping grounds, sandy swim areas, fishing, water skiing, picnic, boating, bird watching, nature study, fun and educational nature programs and tours. The lake provides perfect breeding spots for fish, nesting areas for an assortment of birds, attract a variety of migratory waterfowl, as well as duck hunters, in the fall and winter. Nature watchers have a chance to spot a variety of indigenous creatures, including raccoons, bald eagles, Eastern wild turkeys and bobcats. Also, deer, rabbits, herons and assortment of small birds can be seen.

Park Facilities:

Doctors Creek: Park facilities include 6.2 miles of shoreline, a four-lane boat ramp, a fish cleaning table, a swimming beach, a picnic pavilion, a playground, two day-use areas with 50 picnic sites and a group picnic pavilion, 42 campsites with water and electricity, 12-by-14-foot screened shelters feature an overhead light, electrical outlets and a picnic table inside; an open-pit grill and water faucet outside, a 1.3 mile hiking trail, restrooms with and without showers, a trailer dump station, and 3 public telephones.

South Sulphur: Park facilities include 25.5 miles of shoreline; six and two-lane boat ramps; three fish cleaning table; two lighted fishing piers; a swimming beach; a playground; 62 picnic sites, a primitive camping area, 21 screened sheltersthat are 12-by-14-foot feature an overhead light, electrical outlets and a picnic table inside; an open-pit grill and water faucet outside; 15 walk-in tent sites, 87 multiuse slots with water and electricity, and 15 equestrian campsites with water, 15 cabins which has a living room, a bedroom, kitchen and full bath. Plus, a built-in grill and picnic table; 8 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and mountain biking, 5 miles for back packing, and 3 miles for equestrian use; restrooms with and without showers; a trailer dump station and 3 public telephones.

Directions:

Cooper Lake is North East of Dallas. Travel east bound on I-30 until you reach exit 101 which is Hwy 24 (the Commerce and Cooper Lake exit). Continue on Hwy 24 through Commerce towards Paris until you reach Cooper.

To reach Doctors Creek Unit from Cooper go east for 1 mile on State Highway 154, then south for 2 miles on FM 1529 to the park entrance.

To reach South Sulphur Unit from Cooper go east for 1 mile on State Highway 154, then south on FM 1529 for 5 miles ( you will cross the lake dam) to State Highway 19, then south for 5 miles to State Highway 71, then west for 4 miles to FM 3505, then north for 1 mile to the park entrance.

For more information go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/cooper_lake/

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