Lake Cypress Springs – A Hidden Lake in Texas
Everyone loves finding or hearing about hidden gems to explore. Well, strap in because I have a GREAT hidden gem near Oklahoma City for you. Not only does Lake Cypress Springs offer all the water activities of any other lake, but it’s also less crowded, more hidden, and not too far from Oklahoma City!
Lake Cypress Springs is located about one hour east of Dallas, TX. It took us about 4.5 hours to get there from OKC, but we took the long route to avoid Dallas traffic (y’all feel me on that, I’m sure).
In this blog, I will share some of my favorite spots in this area. Things to do, where to stay, what to eat, etc. So let’s get into it.
The Lake
Full disclosure: I am not a lake girlie. I did not grow up in Oklahoma so I don’t “get” the appeal of a lake. I grew up near the ocean which seemingly doesn’t end, so when I see a lake and can see all sides of it, I wonder “where does all the crap go”. Is it an irrational ick? Maybe. But that’s for my therapist to decide. Does my lack of interest in lakes disqualify me from writing about them? Maybe. But you can just skip to the next part if you want.
So like I said, lakes (to me) are kinda gross. People are out on the water all day, and rarely do I ever see people dock just to use the restroom. I’m just saying.
Regardless, if you ARE a lake person, there are a ton of water activities to enjoy. If you don’t have your own water toys to bring out there, you can actually rent boats for the day.
They allow all kinds of motored and non-motored boats, kayaks, sails, paddle boards, etc. so have a blast out there!
Where to Stay
You can obviously try your luck with AirBnB, VRBO, etc. but your choices are a bit limited. It’s a hidden gem after all! While exploring, we stumbled on the CUTEST little group of new cottages in Mount Vernon. It’s called The Cottages at the Glove Factory and it’s within walking distance of downtown Mount Vernon.
The Glove Factory is this old warehouse building (used to be a glove factory hence the name) that has been turned into a beautiful event center and a drive-thru coffee shop, so if you are having a family reunion or a wedding, this is a really good option if you’re looking in the area.
The Food
There are a few small towns surrounding the lake, and we decided to venture up to Mount Vernon for lunch one day. Mount Vernon is a town that seems to be on the upswing, with just enough upgrades to attract tourists while the southern Texas charm is still very much at play.
Surrounded by historic buildings, at the center of Downtown Mount Vernon, you’ll find a charming town square – gazebo and all.
It was HOT while we were there, so we had to seek shelter from the heat. We popped into the nearest restaurant and were delighted with our experience. Located in the historic M. L. Edwards general store, Tag’s Hometown Bar & Grill is exactly like it sounds – a bar and grill – but again with that twist of charm, history, and home.
The food was much better than your average bar food. I enjoyed the BLAT (BLT with avocado) and my husband ordered the fish & chips. The french fries alone are something to talk about. They weren’t too thick or too thin, they weren’t too salty or unseasoned. The flavor actually reminded me of Arby’s fries (do not come at me for loving Arby’s).
Definitely check them out and all of the other restaurants in Downtown Mount Vernon!
Duke’s
If you’re not from Oklahoma, let me educate you a bit on how we feel about gas stations (rest stops, corner stores, convenience stores, whatever you call them where you’re from). We choose our favorites and we are die-hard fans through and through. Marriages have ended, lives lost, tears shed over gas stations (maybe not, but it’s probably only a slight exaggeration). There is a turf war between the largest Tulsa, OK gas station and the literal entire city of Oklahoma City. We take these things seriously.
If you’ve been to Buc-ee’s you may understand the hype when you find a really good convenience store. In your neighborhood, I’m sure you have a favorite.
Duke’s is that place in the Lake Cypress Springs area. It’s like if Buc-ee’s, Cracker Barrel, and 7-11 had a baby. I’m talking ready-to-eat food, snacks of all kinds, local beef jerky, souvenirs, HOMEMADE FUDGE. I really don’t think I need to elaborate more.
You can get almost anything there, so if you are cooking out by the lake or simply forgot to pack some toothpaste, Duke is your guy (in gas station form).
All in all, I would give Lake Cypress Springs an 8/10 in my book. There are fun things to do in the area and on the water, great food, historic buildings, a hometown feel, and Duke’s.
