- STEVE: We're at Cooper Lake State Park.
We're located in northeast Texas,
only about an hour and 20 minutes from downtown Dallas.
Just an easy drive from the metroplex.
We have a 20,000-acre lake as a backdrop.
The land around the lake is all publicly owned,
which means when you're out on the lake
and you look back to the shore, you'll see a ring of green.
It takes you to a different place and a different time.
There's just so much to see and do here
at Cooper Lake State Park.
[light music]
- Woo woo!
♪ ♪
- WOMAN: Glad y'all are here today at Cooper Lake State Park.
Hey, we're gonna go on a hike down Coyote Run Trail.
[clicking]
And we're gonna listen, because if you're quiet,
you can see and hear the squirrels.
[clicking]
- STEVE: If you love trees, this is the place.
It's the land of the oaks,
with the predominant species being the Post Oak,
these large, majestic shade trees that you'll find
in our campground, in our day use areas,
that just beckon visitors
to relax underneath on a hot summer day.
[light music]
Cooper Lake is blessed with two really nice swimming areas.
We have a swimming beach at the South Sulfur unit
and also a swimming beach at the Doctor's Creek unit.
We have added white sand to both of these swimming areas.
It's just a great place for families
to enjoy a summer afternoon swimming
and the cool waters of the lake.
[light music]
If you love being out on the water,
we have kayaks for rent.
You can actually fish off our kayaks,
or just cruise and enjoy the scenery.
The Corps of Engineers built
and impounded this back in the early 90s.
And it has created one of
the best blue catfish fisheries in the state.
- Headed into the timber right now to
go look under some birds,
see if there's any fish hanging around them.
Cooper Lake is primarily a shallow lake.
It's about divided halfway in timber and halfway open water.
Lots of white bass, crappie fishing is pretty decent.
Got a lot of good catfish in there.
There's the first blue cat today.
Best thing I like about this lake is low pressure,
not crowded, never too many boats around.
Makes fishing peaceful, anyway.
- We've got a monster right there.
[Chris laughs]
He's mad at me.
I must have poked him.
- He's talking to you. Good job.
[splash]
- Man, the site was really good.
This is beautiful.
And we love being this close to the water.
It's been beautiful to listen to the wind and the trees
and we've loved every minute of it.
We get to sit around the fire and talk
without a TV screen or anything around to distract.
- STEVE: We have a wide variety of camping opportunities.
- MAN: Oh man, he's got a stick.
- STEVE: We have campsite on the water,
cabins on the lake with the back decks overlooking the lake.
We have 30 amp and we have 50 amp RV hookups.
We have shelters.
We have something for everyone.
[chopping]
- Tonight, we are doing bratwurst,
and then we'll do some roasted vegetables.
I've got some potatoes in here.
- It's great for the family, and it's great, I think,
for your personal health to get out of the city
and get out here where you can relax
and you know, be outside and enjoy nature and the fresh air
and kind of slow down a little bit.
- They're nice, big spacious campsites
and plenty of room, and we're here by the lake.
It's just beautiful.
- LEE: It's our way of changing pace
for a little while.
And you kind of always go back a little refreshed
and a little different perspective on life I think.
[light music]
- STEVE: What I love about Cooper Lake State Park
is the views.
It's the vista views over the lake.
It's the white tail deers that you see browsing
on the forest edge.
It's the happy campers.
Just a short drive away from the city,
and you can immerse yourself in nature.
It's a great place to recreate, relax,
and recharge your soul.
[water lapping]