Lake Quitman sits at the edge of northeast Texas’s Piney Woods region in Wood County five miles north of Quitman, Texas, and 22 miles southeast of Sulphur Springs, Texas. Lake Quitman covers 814 acres and has a maximum depth of 25 feet. Wood County owns and operates Lake Quitman for flood control and recreational purposes.
Dry Creek, a tributary of the Lake Fork of the Sabine River, feeds Lake Quitman. Lake Quitman is comparatively small as compared to most Texas lakes, but it's shoreline hosts several lakeside communities within a rural ecosystem. FM 69 flanks Lake Quitman’s eastern border and FM 2966 flanks its western edge.
Lake Quitman has several islands with the largest ones in the northern part of the lake where there are wide-open waters. Its terrain consists of gently rolling hills with post oak and blackjack oak trees lining its shoreline. Mineral resources in the Lake Quitman region include oil, natural gas, sand, gravel, and clays.
History of Lake Quitman
Wood County began construction of Wood County Dam No. 1 in June 1961 and impoundment began in May 1962.
Caddo Indians inhabited the Lake Quitman region before European invasion. Pedro Vial, Spanish explorer, embarked on an expedition from Natchitoches, Louisiana, to San Antonio in 1788. East Texas took on the culture of the Antebellum era of the Deep South in its early years of settlement around the 1850s.
Spain issued land grants for today’s Wood County up until 1921, when Mexico won independence from Spain. The Texas Revolution and the subsequent victory of Texas invalidated the Spanish land grant. George T. Wood, governor of Texas from 1847 to 1849, is Wood County’s namesake.
Most settlers of Wood County arrived from the southern states and brought with them their slave-holding culture. By 1860, Wood County had a Caucasian population of 3,963 and 923 slaves. Together, they produced 1,108 bales of cotton in 1860.
Wood County’s economic growth was fraught with pitfalls and witnessed an ebb and flow of opportunity and stagnation throughout the eras of its history. From 1870 to 1920, the population and the number of farms grew, raising corn and cotton as its principal crops.
In 1938, the Rural Electrification Administration and the Wood County Electric Coop brought electricity to Wood County’s rural areas, and then in 1955, the Peoples Telephone Coop supplied communication by phone. Between 1938 and 1955, Wood County experienced an oil boom in 1941.
In 1962, Wood County built four lakes, Lake Quitman, Lake Winnsboro, Lake Hawkins, and Lake Holbrook for flood control and recreation. Along with Lake Quitman, these lakes brought an economic boost to Wood County.
By 1980, Wood County had moved from an agricultural base dependent on farming to one that relied on beef and dairy cattle. In the 1980s decade, tourism and light-scale manufacturing supplemented Wood County’s economy. Today, Lake Quitman in Wood County presents a beautiful and rural east Texas natural gem.
Fishing Lake Quitman
Predominant game species are largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, white crappie, and redear sunfish. Other species include Florida largemouth and spotted bass, and black crappie. Habitat consists of natural shoreline, boat docks, brush piles, flooded timber, and emergent aquatic vegetation, including species alligator weed. Water hyacinth presents a threat to Lake Quitman’s ecosystem.
Three ramps maintained by Wood County are the North Access on FM 1460, West Dam located on FM 1427, and East Dam located on FM 1416. The East Dam ramp has restrooms, a cleaning station, live bait, parking, courtesy docks, picnic areas, and camping. The West Dam has restrooms, parking, picnic areas, and camping. North Access has parking and picnic areas.
The Lake Quitman Marina at the East Dam has gas, burgers, live bait, and boat rentals. Lake Quitman’s western border is only three miles from Lake Fork’s eastern arm. To book a charter on Lake Quitman, some of the Lake Fork guides will be happy to accommodate you.
Find experienced local guides on our Lake Quitman Fishing Guides page.
Boating Lake Quitman
Lake Quitman has three boat ramps, a marina, a small swim beach, and several picnic areas. The marina is closed on Mondays except for Mondays that fall on a holiday. Wood County sets the boating regulations for Lake Quitman. The rules differ for each area around the lake, and Wood County posts signs in those areas.
Some rules include no alcohol on beaches and no ATVS. Animals are not allowed on the beach, parking areas, or swimming areas. Reckless operation of a motor propelled or motor-driven boat, or other watercraft, on the lake is prohibited. “Reckless operation” includes driving one under the influence of alcohol or narcotics and driving a boat at an excessive rate of speed. Racing is prohibited.
Lake Quitman has several islands to visit, and its shoreline scenery presents rolling hills, post oak and blackjack oak forests, and grasslands. Goat Island, the biggest island, floats in the middle of Lake Quitman’s open waters in its northern section. Lake Quitman Marina rents boats.
Find or sell a boat on our Lake Quitman Boats for Sale page.
Lake Quitman Real Estate
The Lake Quitman real estate market is a limited inventory marketplace for lake property in Texas. Price points range widely from $40,000 to over a quarter of a million dollars. A 30-minute commute to either Mineola or Sulphur Springs gives you access to restaurants and shopping, along with Walmarts. Lake Quitman Marina has the only restaurant on the lake.
The only school district serving Lake Quitman is Quitman ISD. Lake Quitman is uncrowded with a serene atmosphere and extremely rural. Dallas, Texas, Lake Quitman’s nearest metroplex, is 100 to 110 miles away depending on your location on the lake.
To find your dream lake home, explore our Lake Quitman Homes for Sale page.
Lake Quitman Cabins and Vacation Homes
The best way to find a vacation home or cabin rental on Lake Quitman is to contact a local Lake Quitman realtor. The housing market on Lake Quitman is extremely tight, so it is advised to look for a vacation rental or cabin in advance. The two campgrounds on Lake Quitman do not have cabins.
Find the perfect vacation home on our Lake Quitman Cabins page.
Camping at Lake Quitman
Two campgrounds are located on Lake Quitman, The East Dam ramp and West Dam ramp. The East Dam area is next to Lake Quitman Marina and offers the most amenities besides camping, like restrooms, a cleaning station, parking, and courtesy docks. RV sites are available near the eastside ramp in Lake Quitman Marina, which sells live bait, gas, and burgers.
Plan your next outing at our Lake Quitman Campgrounds and RV Parks page.
Things to Do At Lake Quitman
Lake Quitman, a relatively small lake compared to other Texas lakes, is in an extremely rural area. Lake Quitman is the primary attraction at Lake Quitman. The Lake Quitman Marina has a burger restaurant and is the only restaurant on the lake. Quitman, Texas, has a few restaurants serving several types of cuisine.
The only nearby attraction is the Wood County Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, located at 175 Governor Hogg Parkway. Quitman, Texas. This park covers 23 acres and includes a walking trail, gazebo, sensory garden, shade garden, waterwise garden, and many rose and flower beds.
Lake Quitman is also close to some really charming East Texas small towns such as Winnsboro and Minneola. The two lane farm-to-market roads throughout this entire area are fantastic day-trip driving, especially when the fall leaves start to change colors.
Plan your next adventure on our What To Do At Lake Quitman page.
Lake Quitman Weather and Climate
Lake Quitman sees an average of 45 inches of rain, with one inch of snow, and 224 days of sunshine per year. The winter low in January is 33 degrees with a summer high in July of 93 degrees. April, May, and October are the most comfortable months for this region.
Keep an eye on the skies with our Lake Quitman Weather Forecast page.
Lake Quitman Zip Codes
Wood County: 75410, 75431, 75444, 75494, 75497, 75765, 75773, 75783.
Lake Quitman Flora and Fauna
Lake Quitman lies in the Post Oak Savannah vegetation area, which produces post oak, blackjack oak, and tall grasses, with gently rolling hills to hilly terrain and reddish soils. Common wildlife sightings include white-tailed deer, mourning dove, bobwhite quail, and wild turkey, plus some of Texas’s estimated three to five million birds that rely on the Texas wetlands for winter habitat each year. Egret, Heron, and Kingfisher are found on the shore while migrating songbirds arrive in spring and fall.