79R11918 MAM-D

By:  Pitts                                                      H.C.R. No. 154



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Texas is widely known for its excellent recreational 
activities and vacation destinations, and among the state's most 
unspoiled and inviting getaways is the picturesque Lake Whitney 
area; and
	WHEREAS, Located in the Brazos River Basin, Lake Whitney was 
one of the earliest recreational lakes built near the Dallas/Fort 
Worth area; completed in April 1951 as part of the Brazos River 
Conservation and Reclamation Program, it is maintained by the 
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, and is 
situated five miles from the town of Whitney on the edge of Hill and 
Bosque Counties; other nearby communities that help provide 
visitors with the comforts of home include Hillsboro, Clifton, 
Meridian, Aquilla, Morgan, Lakeside Village, Laguna Park, Blum, 
Valley Mills, and Kopperl; and
	WHEREAS, The 955-acre Lake Whitney State Park was named Park 
of the Month by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in July 
2004, and features 137 campsites, screened shelters, swimming 
beaches, boat ramps, and an air strip; the region also provides four 
full service marinas and 34 overnight accommodations, including 
cabins, cottages, bed and breakfasts, condos, and lodges; and
	WHEREAS, Lake Whitney's reputation as a premier center for 
bass fishing is a big draw for the nation's fishing enthusiasts, and 
Field and Stream magazine in May 2004 ranked a lakeside resort there 
as one of "the top 5 places in the U.S. to eat, sleep, and live 
bass"; and
	WHEREAS, For those who prefer their recreation on land, the 
area is home to three public 18-hole golf courses and 3,000 acres of 
winding trails for horseback riding; bird and wildlife watchers can 
delight in the lake area's 300 migratory and nonmigratory bird 
species, and a local wildlife population that features more than 50 
different species of mammals, including the white-tailed deer; and
	WHEREAS, Historically visited by everyone from Native 
Americans and European settlers to gunslingers, such as John Wesley 
Hardin, the Lake Whitney area is today easily accessible from the 
four largest metropolitan areas of the state, yet it is used by only 
two million people each year, making it the perfect getaway for 
those who enjoy a relaxed pace, abundant amenities, and reasonable 
prices, and the area is indeed worthy of a special designation 
befitting its myriad attractions; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby designate the Lake Whitney area as the Getaway Capital of 
Texas.