The boat ramps are in the lake!  Drewery Construction has placed two ramps in the lake, one two lane ramp and a three lane ramp.  The ramps were poured on dry land and slid into the lake.  This is one of the first times this procedure has been successfully preformed.  We have a high definition video of five bulldozers and assorted other pieces of heavy equipment pushing the ramp into the lake.  Click on the "HD" button at the bottom of the player to play the video in HD.  We also have a Windows Media version.  The first three pictures on the left side of the page were taken from a boat on April 20, 2009.  Check back often for updates.

 

Phase one of the  new facility is scheduled to be completed in time to host Dr. Bill Shelton's Totally Awesome Fishing Adventure scheduled on May 9. 

     

Construction is underway for the Cassels-Boykin Park Improvement Project. 

 

Drewery Construction of Nacogdoches was awarded the bid for construction of Phase I, which is essentially the parking lot, boat ramps and courtesy pier. Completion is expected near the end of March, 2009. Selection of a Construction Manager At Risk is underway for Phase II, which is the Dr. Bill and Emily Shelton Pavilion along with a restroom and concession building. Completion of Phase II should be near the end of this summer. Check back often for an update on the progress.

 

Cassels-Boykin County Park is located on the 142,700-acre Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The park provides year-round access to the northern part of Lake Sam Rayburn, which is noted for excellent fishing, boating, duck hunting, and skiing.  Other water related activities also are quite popular.

Currently:

  • The park has 27 campsites.
    • Ten (10) are multi-use sites which are paved and 17 are tent or picnic sites.
    • Seventeen (17) sites have water and electricity.
  • There are two restrooms in the park. No showers are available.
  • A trailer dump station is available.
  • A boat ramp is available.
  • Click here for a map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

  

At the first First Friday Luncheon of the year,  Angelina County Judge Wes Suiter gave an address on the state of the county at Crown Colony Country Club Friday afternoon.

The luncheon, hosted by the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, was a chance for local officials and business leaders to hear what's in store for 2009.

Suiter began the presentation with a slide show spanning the past year's events and what new things can be expected.

"One of our main goals this year was Cassells-Boykin park," he said. "We've begun construction on phase II and it's something we're all excited about."

Additions to the park on Lake Sam Rayburn include new boat ramps, parking and an amphitheater which can be used to host events such as popular bass fishing tournaments.  Read more about it in the Lufkin Daily News.

 Officials break ground on Cassels-Boykin County Park

By STEVEN ALFORD
The Lufkin Daily News

Friday, July 25, 2008

After years of planning, the dreams of an avid outdoorsman and his supportive friends were realized Thursday morning as groundbreaking commenced on the Cassels-Boykin County Park Improvement Project.

Plans fo the lakeside park include the Dr. Bill and Emily Shelton pavilion and a new five-lane boat ramp.

"This pavilion is one of the many dreams the late Dr. Shelton had for this community," said James Slack, chair of the Lake Enhancement Task Force. "He worked tirelessly to ensure children and the physically challenged had access to the lake. Today his dream has become a reality."  Read more about in in the Lufkin Daily News.

 

Video courtesy of the Lufkin Daily News

 

 

 

 Architectural renderings depicting proposed park improvements.

The Lake Enhancement Task Force of the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce has formulated a strategy to improve the facilities at Cassels-Boykin Park to increase tourism and stimulate the economy on northern Sam Rayburn Reservoir and in Angelina County.

Cassels-Boykin Park, located near Zavalla, is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers, but is on long-term lease to Angelina County. Income generated from boat launch, camping, and other fees at this 110-acre location currently totals $20,000 - $30,000 per year, which is used to maintain the facility.

The proposed improvements of the park include a handicap-accessible fishing pier, swimming area, improved restroom facilities, five-lane boat ramp, 100 car-trailer space parking lot, caretaker residence, landscaping, signage, and an access road. The project will also include a large pavilion, named in honor of Dr. Bill Shelton, one of the pioneers of this endeavor, an outdoor enthusiast and a true hero to all those whose lives he touched. The total estimated cost of the project is $5,000,000.

Funding has already been received from a private foundation for preliminary planning and engineering of this project. A $500,000 Boating Access Grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife has also been awarded to Angelina County.

The potential economic impact of the Cassels-Boykin Park Project is immense, according to studies conducted by Texas A&M University for Texas Parks & Wildlife on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in 2002. The study concluded that the total annual economic value of recreational fishing at Sam Rayburn Reservoir was $15,100,401 in 2001.

 

 

Dr. Bill Shelton lived a life of passion for his patients’ healing but also for the outdoors. After fishing Sam Rayburn Reservoir for nearly 40 years, he spearheaded a group that saw the potential for Cassels-Boykin Park to serve the needs of our children and the physically challenged and all of East
Texas to a much greater extent. He worked tirelessly to ensure access for these individuals and to give all citizens an opportunity to enjoy this beautiful resource by creating facilities for fishing, as well as family gatherings, weddings, reunions, and fishing tournaments. His enthusiasm for seeing this
project reach its fruition remained until his death in October 2006. Today, our dream of enriching our community through the Cassels-Boykin Park is
becoming a reality.