The Gordon Country Club of Paris

Gordon Lake was located just outside of Paris, Lamar County, Texas. Built to supply water to steam locomotives, it was leased by the Gordon Country Club for exclusive fishing and swimming privileges.

Whenever you peruse your maps to trace old railroad lines (and who doesn't?), you may chance upon a lake along one of the right-of-ways. It's a good bet that the lake was built by the railroad to supply its steam locomotives. This is the origin story of little-known Gordon Lake in Lamar County, Texas.

Dug around 1900, Gordon Lake became not only a re-fueling stop (so to speak) for the Texas & Pacific Railway, but also a popular fishing hole. The railroad leased a portion of the land to the Gordon Country Club outside of Paris for that purpose, making it the first of its kind in northeast Texas.

Determining that the lake was only accessible to private, paying members ensured that access to the lake was segregated. Officially, only whites could fish and swim here.

Back when trains still ran on the tracks, local kids from Paris hopped on flatbed trucks and, according to the pumper for the railroad, they jumped into the lake from there. It was >only< a four mile trek back home!

Today, one can still drive on Gordon Country Club Road, just south off Old Bonham Road in Paris, Texas, in an attempt to reach the lake -- but fences keep the water away from the general public. I believe the country club is now closed, but the club house (the original one was built in 1901, but it may not be the original anymore), still stands.

A 2011 or 2013 image from Realtor of the club house, which I believe became a private residence. The original clubhouse (unsure if this is the original one) was built in 1901.