Twain Harte Lake

Nostalgic. Thanks Grandee and Papa. Everyday is indeed a winding road. … … … …. ..

Whats not to like about Twain Harte Lake? Clean, Safe beautiful ! Great Snack Bar!

Great place to spend summer vacation! I come to Twain Harte every summer and Twain Harte Lake is always the highlight of my trip. Nice cool water to cool off in during the hot days of the Summer, with raft docks around the lake, a couple water slides near the beach, and diving boards across the lake in the deep water. There’s also a great little Snack Shack for lunch, early dinner, or frozen treats whenever you want them! Always willing to help, the lifeguards are fantastic and even provide two weeks of free swimming lessons for kids every summer. It’s always a great time at the lake!

Been coming here for 40 years. Kids, grand kids, everybody loves it. Always a refreshing swim. Don’t forget to buy the kids a snowcone!

You can’t not LOVE Twain Harte and Twain Harte lake. I have school girl crush-​like nervousness in my stomach just thinking about going this weekend.
It reminds me (for some reason) of the lake in Dirty Dancing, not necessarily the one PS picks up Baby in, but the scene where she is playing with the wigs on the beach with her sister. I LOVE IT!
Don’t forget to catch breakfast at the Sportsman and hike the flume around the later part of the afternoon B4 dusk.
See you Friday TH!

I love Twain Harte Lake! So much fun. Unlike other lakes that get ruined with litter and trash this place is clean and pristine! There are a lot of rules to be followed but that is what keeps the lake so perfect!
Tuesdays and Thursday night bingo is so much fun and they have great prizes. They have a «Dam Duck Race» at the end of the summer that Local business owner Tim Ewing started in 2010 and it’s great! Nothing like seeing hundreds of little yellow duckies with shades on floating across the lake while enjoying free wine and «quackers».
This place holds so many speacial memories and I look forward to going back for years!

I’ve been going up to Twain Harte since I was a baby (and my mother since she was nine years old) and the lake is ALWAYS a must, no matter how short the stay. My grandfather was the manager for many years, and the current manager (Dennis, who seems to know everyone) is a good family friend. And I must say, I think the lake only gets better with each passing year.
The snack shack is still churning out their amazing burgers (though the snow cones could have a little less ice in them), the bridge over the dam is new and improved, there’s a very nice little dining area beside the bridge now, and they’ve added another slide for the kiddies.
They also have bingo at the Snack Shack every Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm (I’d suggest getting there early to avoid the rush traffic of little old ladies who are fiercely determined to get the best seats). They usually have a small cash prize (between $ 5 – 20) for each game, plus coupons for a free ride on the surf bike or a free haircut or something.
I see some complaints here about how strict the rules are, and in defense of the lifeguards and management, I think they’re good rules to have. It’s sort of in the job description of a lifeguard at any pool or lake to yell at kids who are running (in this case, I’d hate to see a kid running on the Rock and face-​planting on the hard stone surface… better safe than horribly sorry/​facing a lawsuit). As for the food, it’s the biggest reason the lake and beach stay so clean. If some kid spilled their blueberry sno-​cone all over the sand, you can be sure the beach wouldn’t look quite so pretty.
Anyhow, I’d highly recommend the Lake to anyone staying in Twain Harte, if you can find a way in (they’re strict as ever with who they allow in). It’s a beautiful place and more relaxing than any swimming pool you could find.

Just returned a few hours ago from Twain Harte and visiting the lake for 3 days. My husband and I both went here separately as kids and now return to take our kids. So many great memories both new and old. I love that they have slides, diving boards, swings and plenty to do for kids. Rules are strict-​no outside food and food/​drink only by the snack bar, but I guess it keeps the place clean! My kids were determined to pass the swim test so they could have all access to the lake without us having to be with them constantly. They even have compressed air to blow up your rafts and float toys. Not much has changed here over time including the warden type ladies who run the front gate! Gotta laugh it off as they seem to take this job more seriously than guards at a national border!

Like the other reviewers, I agree that Twain Harte lake is a beautiful lake and great place to spend a summer day. The one downside, is the gestapo type attitude the owners (?) take to policing all their rules… and there are a ton of ‘em. No outside food or drinks. No food or drinks beyond the snack area. No lids on soft drink cups (because apparently that will encourage someone to walk out of the designated food area with their Diet Coke) No large floating toys in the lake. No swim diapers on kids. No no no… They need to loosen up a little!
Other than that, love it.

I too have been coming to Twain Harte Lake since I was a little girl in diapers. Now, thirty years later, I love it even more. They have done an incredible job of keeping this lake in pristine shape. The beach is always clean and the lake itself is so well managed it’s most impressive.
The left hand side of the lake is generally where the kids congregate due to the slide and swing set. They also have the ropes in full force which means if you are a child and have not passed the swim test, you have to stay within the ropes unless supervised by a parent. The right side of the lake closest to the Snack Shack is where most of the older crowd hangs out. You’ll find card tables and lounge chairs and a somewhat quieter experience during the busier summer months.
The Snack Shack is a great place for a burger, frosty or snow cone. I personally recommend the corn dog and French fries.
There is no better feeling than being out in the middle of the lake on a raft with a book and just watching the sun bouncing off the water. Ahhhhh.
Thank you to all who contribute to the up-​keep of this beach. However just one question, do you really need to yell at every kid who runs on the bridge. Trust me it is a frightening experience to here the words through the megaphone, «Walk on the beach please… THANK YOU.» Still gives me the chills a little.