Grapevine Lake sits in the middle of the northern edge of the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex with Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport for a neighbor in Denton and Tarrant Counties. Grapevine Lake covers 7,380 acres with 60 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 65 feet. Denton Creek, a tributary of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, feeds Grapevine Lake. On its southern side, Grapevine Lake stretches from Grapevine, through Southlake, Westlake, Trophy Club, and Roanoke, Texas, on SH 114. FM 1171 runs across its northern border from Lewisville, Texas, through Flower Mound to US 377, which borders its western edge.
The U.S. Government owns Grapevine Lake, and the Fort Worth district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) operates it. Many communities surround Grapevine Lake in between the cities and towns. Lewisville and Grapevine, Texas, offer shopping centers, eateries, and nightlife. Grapevine, Texas’s historic downtown area is beautiful during the Christmas holiday season. Over two million people visit Grapevine Lake every year.
History of Grapevine Lake
The River & Harbors Act of 1945 authorized the construction of Benbrook Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lavon Lake, and Ray Roberts Lake for the purposes of flood control and navigation. An extensive floodway system of levees works to coordinate these lakes to minimize flooding along the Trinity River floodplain corridor in the Fort Worth and Dallas metroplexes. Originally known as the Grapevine Dam and Reservoir project, its construction began in 1947 and was completed in 1952.
In 1843, General Sam Houston and representatives of the Republic of Texas met with members of ten American Indian nations. They negotiated a peace treaty at Grape Vine Springs, which the Indians called Tah-Wah-Karro Creek. They held the meeting at Fort Bird. The Treaty of Bird’s Fort opened up the region to settlers. Wild mustang grapes, which still grow around the area, gave Grapevine, Texas its name. Grapevine was the first Anglo settlement in Tarrant County.
A large wagon train of settlers left Platt County, Missouri, in 1844 to settle in the Cross Timbers region of today’s Grapevine and Southlake. The Lonesome Dove Baptist Church was organized by a man named Joshua Hodges and established at the settlement in 1846. It is still in existence in Southlake, Texas. At first, the pioneers met in each other’s homes to worship. As more and more settlers arrived, they created the church. At the end of 1846, the Lonesome Dove Baptist Church had 40 members in the first church in today’s Grapevine, Texas.
Fishing Grapevine Lake
The predominant species are largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass and white bass, blue and channel catfish, and black and white crappie. Other species include hybrid striped bass, bluegill, flathead catfish, longnose and spotted gar and sunfish. Anglers will find drop offs, underwater boulders, and rocky shorelines where the largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass hide. The aeration system of the water intake at the dam attracts white bass. Crappies float around under boat houses and in flooded timber areas.
There are plenty of boat ramps around the lake, and most are fee based. Kayak fishing is quite popular on Grapevine Lake. Lakeside parks have a lot of room for shore fishing. During high water or flooding, some boat ramps may be closed. The northern end of Grapevine Lake is quite shallow, and the shoreline is comprised of sand, mud, and rocks with stumps creating an underwater hazard.
A great way to spend a day fishing with an almost guaranteed catch is to hire a fishing guide. There are plenty of guide services on Grapevine Lake. They know where the fish are hiding and you can even try out new fishing tackle and rods. With over 2 million visitors a year, it is best to book your fishing adventure in advance on Grapevine Lake.
Find experienced local guides on our Grapevine Lake Fishing Guides page.
Boating On Grapevine Lake
Grapevine Lake is home to three marinas, all owned, and operated by Marinas International. On the southern shore, you will find Scott's Landing and Silver Lake Marina in Grapevine. In Flower Mound on the north shore, is Twin Coves Marina. Numerous Grapevine Lake charter companies launch out of Silver Lake Marina. Scott’s Landing is the largest marina with access to the main body of water at Grapevine Lake. Combined, the three marinas have 1,400 moorings and dry dock storage for 575 vessels.
All types of boats personal watercraft are welcome on Grapevine Lake, but this lake is popular and crowded. Twelve boat ramps give access to the Grapevine Lake, but only the two ramps at Murrell park are managed by the Corps of Engineers for no fee. Trophy Club Park, The City of Grapevine, Silver Lake Marina, and the City of Flower Mound offer fee-based ramps.
The Grapevine Sailing Club and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 5-11 of District 8, are based at Scott's Landing. The City of Grapevine operates public fee-based ramps at Meadowmere, Lakeview, Oak Grove, and Katie's Woods parks. Boaters can find smooth water near the dam and in the multitude of coves. Find swimming beaches at Meadowmere Park, Katie’s Woods, and Lakeview Park on the south shore. On the south shore, there is Rockledge Park, Murrell Park, and Twin Coves Park.
Explore boating on Grapevine Lake with our Grapevine Lake Marinas and Grapevine Lake Boats for Sale pages.
Lake Grapevine Rental Cabins
Visitors will find bungalows, cabins, glamping, vacation homes, and even houseboats to rent at Lake Grapevine. There are many options from quaint one-bedroom cabins to huge vacation homes on the lake or nearby in one of the lakeside communities. The Vineyards Campgrounds and Cabins has 12 cabins, and Twin Coves Park has a few cabins as well. They have all the modern amenities you expect, and some rentals are pet friendly.
There is so much to do and see around Lake Grapevine, that you could spend a two-week vacation and never see or do it all. It makes sense to rent a cabin or home so you have more time to enjoy not only the natural beauty of Lake Grapevine, but also the many attractions this region has to offer.
Find the perfect vacation home on our Grapevine Lake Cabins page.
Camping
Seven parks provide primitive and tent camping with hookups and RV sites. Twin Coves Park and Campground and Murrell Park reside on the north shore. Meadowmere Park, The Vineyards Campground and Cabins, Oak Grove Park, McPherson Slough Park, and Lakeview Park are located on the south shore. Numerous communities and housing subdivisions surround Grapevine Lake, and the parks are busy pretty much year round.
There are plenty of grocery stores and convenience stores all around Grapevine Lake, so you can do your shopping for supplies at the lake. If you access Grapevine Lake through Grapevine, take a drive through its charming historic downtown. Grapevine Lake offers views of rolling hills and rocky boulders and stunning homes to see on the shoreline. Camping on Grapevine Lake offers an idyllic adventure for family and friends to create lifetime memories.
Check out our list of campgrounds and RV parks for your family adventure on our Grapevine Lake Camping page.
Hiking Grapevine Lake
Grapevine Lake offers 30 miles of natural surface trails that include nature, biking, and equestrian trails. One superior trail for hiking and biking is the Northshore Trail, and parts of it require advanced hiking skills. It is nine miles long and wanders in and out of the trees along the shoreline. This trail is also challenging for mountain biking. You can bike or hike the trail starting at Rockledge Park and take a break at Little Pete's for a good meal at Twin Coves Marina. The Northshore Trail has five trailheads, Murrell Park MADD Shelter, Lakeside, Boy Scout Camping Area, Twin Coves Park, and Rockledge Park. The MADD Shelter, Lakeside, and Boy Scout Camping Area Trailheads are free to enter. You can get a trail map and information at the kiosk at MADD shelter trailhead.
The four-mile Rocky Point Trail in Flower Mound is for moderate hiking skill levels, and dogs are allowed on a leash. Knob Hill Trail is an 11.4 miles, for moderate skill levels, and heavily trafficked near Roanoke, and dogs also must be leashed. The Cross Timbers Equestrian Trail is six and a half miles long with light traffic. It runs along the northwestern shore of Lake Grapevine. The trails are accessible year round, but the Northshore Trail is closed when muddy.
Lake Grapevine Hunting
There is a large area for open hunting with access just north of Roanoke on US 377 at the western border of Lake Grapevine that stretches all the way to I35W by the Texas Motor Speedway. Legal game includes white-tailed deer and feral hog hunting by archery only, waterfowl, feral hogs, and general hunting. Permits are issued by draw or request. Permits for general and waterfowl hunting are available first-come, first-served months ahead of the season, and archery deer permits are typically available as a drawn lottery. Check the regulations and how to obtain a hunting permit on the USACE Website.
From the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers:
Lake Wide Special Restrictions:
- White-tailed Deer and feral hog hunting are by archery only (includes crossbows).
- All other legal game may be taken with a shotgun using shot size not larger than #2.
- You must be 600 feet from homes, developed parks, roads and farm/ranch yards while hunting. This includes Trophy Club Park and its shoreline!
- Shooting for fun, practice or at targets is prohibited.
- Trapping of any kind is prohibited
- Sport chasing with dogs is prohibited
- Non bark-penetrating portable tree stands as well as free standing stands are allowed. However, any blinds/tree stands used must be completely removed from project lands upon completion of each hunting day
- Hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of hunters orange material when hunting and are also required to wear some type of orange head wear. Hunters exempt from this requirement are: persons hunting deer or turkey or feral hog or waterfowl and migratory birds. Hunter orange is highly recommended for hunter’s safety.
- Possession of manual or electronic varmint calling devices, baits, or lures is prohibited while hunting. Again, no baiting of any kind!!!
- Waterfowl decoys are allowed!
Things to Do at and Around Grapevine Lake
If you spent two weeks at Grapevine Lake and its surrounding cities, you could not do and see everything there is. Grapevine Lake is one of the most exciting lakes to visit in Texas. The area is jam-packed with marvelous adventures with a thriving restaurant and nightlife scene. Grapevine Lake calls the Texas Motor Speedway its neighbor, which holds year round events besides the huge NASCAR race. The speedway is about five miles from the western border of Grapevine Lake on I35W.
Take a charter boat with Island Bound Adventures, Black Watch Sailing Charters, or Sam’s Dock. The Gaylord Texan is right on the water, with a beautiful 10-acre outdoor swimming area with a lazy river, outdoor pool, rocky grotto style whirlpool, and an indoor pool. Paradise Springs at the Gaylord, is family-friendly outdoor water park styled play structure with cabanas and lounge areas. Great Wolf Lodge offers family fun and has a large indoor water park with multi-story water slides, play structures, and splash areas. Check out Hawaiian Falls Waterpark in Roanoke with slides, rides, and play areas.
Take an old-timey train ride located in Historic Downtown Grapevine on The Grapevine Vintage Railroad featuring authentic 1920s Victorian coaches. Historic Downtown Grapevine holds year round events that are unique and fun-filled. One of the many restaurants are sure to sate your hunger. There’s so much to see and do, that the City of Grapevine operates their Visitor Center which lists all the events and places to visit. Its yearly GrapeFest is held every September, which is always entertaining and charged with excitement.
Grapevine Mills is so much more than a shopping center and outlet mall. Inside, take a fascinating journey through 16 themed zones of the ocean at the Sea Life Aquarium, or go bowling, play arcade games, and karaoke. Don’t forget to check out the Escape Game while you are there where you can choose your adventure, solve puzzles, and complete your mission!
Grapevine Lake is the gateway to a golfer’s paradise! The Trophy Club Country Club features the only course designed by Ben Hogan, plus operates a great tennis program, and offers a restaurant, pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, and golf simulator. The Grapevine Golf Course is a public facility offering golf lessons and clinics, a range and practice facility, and three nine-hole courses. The Cowboys Golf Club is the only NFL-themed golf club in the world highlighting an all-inclusive, world-class, resort golf property. This course is open to the public seven days a week for golf, dining, hospitality and private events.
Plan a great time on our What to do at Grapevine Lake page.
Grapevine Lake Weather
Grapevine Lake sees an average of 39 inches of rain, with 1 inch of snow, and 232 days of sunshine per year. The winter low in January is 33 degrees with a summer high in July of 95 degrees. April, May, and October are the most comfortable months for this region. Stay up on the weather on our Grapevine Lake Weather Forecast page.
Lake Grapevine Real Estate
Homebuyers will find a plethora of housing options in addition to traditional waterfront homes on Grapevine Lake. The high-rise condos at Lakeside Tower on Lake Grapevine in Flower Mound offer luxury Mediterranean style condominiums overlooking Lake Grapevine with amazing views from over-sized balconies. The housing market on and around Lake Grapevine is expensive, with many homes starting at $300,000 and ranging up to over a million dollars to three million.
The Carroll ISD, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, and Flower Mound ISD provide Lake Grapevine’s public education. The shopping centers offer everything you could possibly want in all the cities and towns surrounding Lake Grapevine. There is a great nightlife plus tons of family-friendly activities and events. Restaurants are everywhere offering most of the world’s cuisines.
Find the perfect lake home on our Grapevine Lake Homes for Sale page.
Grapevine Lake Zip Codes
Denton County: 75008, 75010, 75027, 75028, 75029, 75036, 75056,75057, 75065, 75067. 75068, 75077, 76201, 76202, 76203, 76204, 76205, 76206, 76207, 76208, 76209, 76210, 76226, 76227, 76247, 76249, 76258, 76259, 76266, 76272, 76299.
Tarrant County: 75022, 75368, 76001, 76002, 76003, 76004, 76005, 76006, 76007, 76010, 76011, 76012, 76013, 76014, 76015, 76016, 76017, 76018, 76019, 76020, 76021, 76022, 76028, 76034, 76036, 76039, 76040, 76051, 76052, 76053, 76054, 76060, 76063, 76092, 76094, 76095, 76096, 76098, 76099, 76101, 76102, 76103, 76104, 76105, 76106, 76107, 76108, 76109, 76110, 76111, 76112, 76113, 76114, 76115, 76116, 76117, 76118, 76119, 76120, 76121, 76122, 76123, 76124, 76126,76127, 76129, 76130,76131, 76132, 76133, 76134, 76135, 76136, 76137, 76140, 76147, 76148, 76150, 76155, 76161, 76162, 76163, 76164, 76166, 76177, 76179, 76180, 76181, 76182, 76185, 76190, 76191, 76192, 76193, 76195, 76196, 76197, 76198, 76199, 76244, 76248, 76262.
Grapevine Lake Flora and Fauna
Lake Grapevine is positioned within the Eastern Cross Timbers region, which is a forest region that separates the Black Prairies on the east and the Grand Prairies on the west. The terrain around Lake Grapevine is low-rolling to flat and is surfaced by sandy and clay loams that support scrub brush, cacti, and grasses. Common trees include, American and slippery elm, ashes, black willow, bur oak, cottonwood, pecan, sugarberry, and walnut.
It is called “urban wildlife” around Grapevine Lake. Even though the lake is highly populated with many towns, communities and neighborhoods, Grapevine Lake provides many opportunities for wildlife sightings. The elusive bobcat is rarely seen, and other species you might see are beavers, coyotes, deer, feral hogs, foxes, possums, squirrels, and turkeys.
On Grapevine Lake, birders can catch sightings of the Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and Forster’s Terns. On land there are the Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, American Crow, Red-tailed Hawk, and Blue Jay, but also fun birds like Spotted Towhee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Bluebird, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher just to name a few.