The Boathouse at White Rock Lake

While walking, running or cycling at White Rock Lake in Dallas, it's not unusual to hear shouts of encouragement coming from the water as rowers from the White Rock Boathouse skim by in their sleek boats, closely shadowed by their bull-horn toting coaches in small motor boats.

The image below is of women's crew of eight rowers with the coxswain on the far left hand side, training at White Rock Lake. Downtown Dallas can be seen in the distance.

Rowing is becoming a popular sport at White Rock Lake in Dallas

Open water rowing is fast becoming a popular sport at the lake due largely to the efforts of The White Rock Boathouse whose facilities include three buildings on the southwest shore of White Rock Lake: The Filter Building, The Boomerang and the new White Rock Boathouse.

The historic Filter Building is located on the southwest shore
of White Rock Lake

The historic Filter Building is located on the southwest shore of White Rock Lake. It's a beautiful illustration of the urban industrial style of the 1920’s.  The building features red brick walls, original iron trusses, and some of the windows offer breathtaking views of the lake. 

In the image below, the shadow of the railing is such that it gives the impression that the walkway has steps when it fact it is a gradient with no steps whatsoever. 

Another view of the Filter House at White Rock Lake in Dallas

The White Rock Boathouse provides rowing lessons and also promotes rowing as a sport in local high schools in and around Dallas.

A rowing crew hard at work, with their coaches alongside

The Boomerang is a 36-birth boathouse built in the art deco-style by the City of Dallas in 1930. It is located on T & P Hill at White Rock Lake. The architects were Carsey & Linskie. The Boomerang is the primary staging area for the recreational rowing offered by The White Rock Boathouse, Inc., and is used for rowing scull storage and launching. 

This art deco-style boathouse was built in 1930

The new White Rock Boathouse is home to 6 different programs, including the SMU men and women teams and the Jesuit Crew.  

The rowing facilities are operated by The White Rock Boathouse, Inc., a non-profit corporation with a mission of creating opportunities for the citizens of Dallas to experience the sport of rowing and other paddle sports in a safe, professional and enjoyable way. Their website can be found here: http://whiterockboathouse.com


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White Rock Lake, Dallas – a Hidden Gem

White Rock Lake in Dallas is an Urban Oasis

White Rock Lake is truly a hidden gem. So many people have lived in and around Dallas for many years, and have no idea whatsoever as to the existence of this tranquil lake.

The lake is fed by White Rock Creek, a tributary of the Trinity River, and is located in East Dallas. It is surrounded by an impressive trail used by cyclists, runners, walkers and in-line skaters.

  White Rock Lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities,
including sailing

Apart from running and cycling, the lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities that include fishing, picnic and barbeque areas, sailing, rowing, bird watching, and offers a multitude of opportunities for photographers.

The lake is a wonderful place for families to enjoy some time together, or for people just wanting to commune with nature or meditate. There's lots to see as well, such as the beautifully restored historic Filter House, or the art deco-style Boathouse built in 1930.

And if you do decide to picnic in the park, please have the courtesy to clean up after yourself!

 Please clean up after yourself!

The bird life is nothing short of spectacular, with over 217 species of birds, including pelicans, coots, sea gulls, terns and all kinds of ducks and waterfowl. White Rock Lake is on the migration route from Canada to Mexico and many migrating birds stop over at the lake on their long journey.

A pair of Mallard ducks foraging for food in Sunset Bay

The objective of this blog is to promote White Rock Lake as a destination, to capture the essence and beauty of the lake, and to portray it as the living, breathing organism that it is.

Enjoy the blog. Enjoy the lake. Enjoy life!

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