History of Southton Lake in San Antonio, Texas explored.

Southton Lake is one of the lesser known but historic lakes of San Antonio, Texas. This news article will explain what Southton Lake was. Southton Lake was a man-made lake.

Southton Lake was established and filled in 1914 when Southton Park first opened. Southton Rail Yard established the man-made lake southeast of the Southton Railroad when workers constructed a dam called Southton Dam. A spillway for the lake was conveyed to flow into Salado Creek. (Ref: Bexar County Plats, Volume 368, Pages 123-126)

50,000 fish were placed in the immense 3 mile long lake called Southton Lake at Southton Park on June 11, 1914. Hundreds of bathers enjoyed the cool fresh waters. The water was perfect for swimming in. Many families enjoyed swimming in the lake during the early part of the 20th century. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth434757/m1/4/)

The first Southton Dam raised the water in the creek 10 feet above the bed of Salado Creek and Southton Lake. This water would flood onto acreages of land including Southton Park. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39259906/)


 

However during World War I, flood waters tore a ravine along the spillway and destroyed the concrete gates connecting to the Southton Dam. Southton Park along with several acreages of land were flooded as a result which led into a major catastrophe.  A new dam was built across the spillway in the year of 1919. Waters at the Salado Creek were reinforced by an artesian well to be stored by the Southton Dam at Southton Park and distributed from there. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39260129/)

The dam was built at a cost of $23,000. The building of the new dam was necessary because when came on, work had to be halted, the Southton Lake flood waters tore a ravine along the spillway and destroyed the concrete gates put there for holding the water. The new dam improvements made the irrigation, as a whole, one of the cheapest projects in the entire United States. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39260129/)

Waters at Salado Creek were reinforced by an artesian well to Be Stored by the dam at Southton Park and distributed from there. The dam was built at a cost of $23,000. The building of the new dam was necessary because when World War I came on, work had to be halted, the Southton Lake flood waters tore a ravine along the spillway and destroyed the concrete gates put there for holding the water. A new dam was built across the spillway. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=70764551)

Southton Lake no longer exists was workers from Southton Rail Yard destroyed the Southton Dam sometime during the 20th century. Exactly when is unknown.

Southton Park was located across from 12955 Blue Wing Road, San Antonio, Texas, US 78223.