Holly Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 872
Holly Lake Ranch, Texas 75765
Phone: (903)769-1207
Email: hlr-chamber@etex.net
A History of
“Holly Lake Ranch”
Indians lived and hunted among the big trees, marshes and thickets, where Holly Lake is located; part of which today is known as Holly Lake Ranch. The white settlers began making their homes here, while Texas was still a Republic.
Mr. E. C. Liles tells of riding horseback from Gilmer to Mineola, a distance of about 35 miles, through towering pines, in the early part of this century, without ever having to open a gate or cross a fence. Wild game and fish were plentiful.
In 1900, prior to World War I and the Depression years, a cotton buyer from Central Texas by the name of D. B. Contes moved to this area and began buying land at a good price along Big Sandy Creek in Wood County. Holly Lake Ranch (not its actual name until some years later) came into existence when Dee Contes, during the World War I and Depression years, discovered one of the best “cash crops” from his 2,700 acre wilderness ranch to be the sale of “hunting and fishing rights” to city folks.
In developing a place for these sportsmen, Holly Creek was dammed to make Holly Lake; cabins were erected at the lake and along Big Sandy Creek. In 1964 Dee Contes sold out to E. G. Rodman, a prominent oil producer from Odessa, in West Texas. He built a spacious guest house on the lake for his family and oil company friends. Additional land was purchased and combined with the original 2,700 acres. Cattle were purchased and the cattle ranch was name “HOLLY LAKE RANCH”; the same “HOLLY LAKE RANCH” we know today. After a few years, the Rodmans decided to sell the ranch and move to Colorado.
On a gray day in December 1969, Bill McKenzie and Jack Wilson started out from Dallas to look for a 300 or 400 acre farm in East Texas. Their separate real estate experiences sparked the idea that they could turn a modest investment into a profit for themselves, and make a lot of pleasure possible for others by acquiring such a tract and developing it into five or ten acre “ranchettes.” After looking with mild interest at several tracts “with possibilities”, they were shown the “impossible” – 4,165 acre HOLLY LAKE RANCH. Both men fell in love with the expanse of pine covered hills, sparkling lakes and coastal Bermuda meadows; all this beauty in the dead of winter! What would it be like in spring, summer and fall! A contract of sale was signed that same day.
Their enthusiasm was transmitted to Alex McKenzie (Bill’s father) and Allen Campbell, a mutual friend of the three who added to their financial support. Before the week was out, Holly Lake Development Co. was born and a contract to buy the Ranch from the owners had been signed.
Soon the land planning firm had come up with plans for Section 1. Surveying crews were staking lots and contractors were atop their bulldozers clearing and cutting roadways. The developers proposed a Master Plan that would provide beautiful home sites and a variety of recreational opportunities for all who would respond to their many types of promotional efforts. A “family” atmosphere and preservation of natural beauties – as opposed to slick country club effect – were emphasized. From the very beginning, chapel services were made available to those who wished to enjoy a worship experience on Sundays, and the new flourishing Holly Tree Chapel, an independent church, grew out of these beginnings.
Progress accelerated in 1971 with vigorous sales efforts, meeting with HUD, negotiating the purchase of additional key tracts of land for the construction of Greenbriar Lake and the golf course.
In 1972 and 1973, the tempo reached a new high when, through the efforts of the golf course architect, Leon Howard and others leading the construction and maintenance activities, the Golf Course became a reality. During the same years, Holly Leaf Restaurant, Holly Park Activity Center, Administration Building, Holly Lake Condominiums and many other structures took shape.
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