Salmon Lake A summer tradition in a traditional place

By Ashley Keenan

Tradition and travel. Two things that I knew, at a young age, that I would, one day, like to intentionally offer my family. Now that one day has arrived and the gang is all here, I can say, with certainty, that I have included tradition and travel in the raising of my family.

In the summer of 2016, I’d visited a friend who was staying in Cabin #4 at Salmon Lake. I’d spent many adolescent days at Salmon Lake, but as an adult, it had never even crossed my mind to rent one of the many historic cabins that surround the two-acre spring-fed lake. I’d never even been inside any of the cabins. I immediately fell in love with the cabin’s simple aesthetic, the amount of people it could sleep, and the price, which was not much more than your average hotel room.

I booked Cabin #4 the next day.

In late August, my sons were two months and 18 months old, I was able to offer tradition and travel for the first time. My family of four, along our siblings, parents, and a few friends, kicked off a one-night retreat at Salmon Lake. At this point, there were five children under the age of eight. None were strong swimmers, so we stayed on the banks and in the shallow water that was directly in front of our cabin. In the mostly stocked kitchen, we went all out with fajitas, but with lack of communication, we ended up with enough cilantro, avocado, tomatoes and jalapenos to feed an army. The downstairs bedroom hosted a queen bed, upstairs in the open loft, was an array of full and twin beds. Total, the cabin slept 16. An exterior, lower-level porch had a picnic table for our traditional family jam sessions, board games, dominoes, and a perfect sunset view over the lake.

We learned two things that year: we need to meal plan, and one night is not enough.

So began tradition.

On December 7, 2019, my husband and I were o cially married at Salmon Lake. We rented multiple cabins to allow for the wedding party and out-of-town guests to stay the night. e hall of the Sunshine Inn was decorated with a minimalistic, rustic, boho theme. e cedar tables were lined with pine sprigs, eucalyptus, brass candle sticks, and burgundy accents. e capacity was perfect for a medium sized wedding, our 75 guests t comfortably. A stage for the DJ and speeches from our loved ones, a small dance oor, a full kitchen that allowed for prepping of a soup and sandwich bar, and a re pit outside to keep our guests warm a er the reception.

e park was established in the 1960s when Floyd Salmon and his wife, Fannie, purchased 50 acres. e lake was initially built as a watering hole for cattle. e park became open to the public years later and the family began the transformation of the park as we know it. Some of the old buildings and cabins that scatter throughout date back to the 1900s. Today, the park totals 100 acres of history, recreation, and camping.

In 2018, when Mr. Salmon passed away, the park was sold. e establishment has changed hands twice since. In 2019, the building known as the Schoolhouse caught on re and was destroyed. Another re, in February of 2021, destroyed the white house commonly known as the Museum, at the entrance of the loop. Later, in 2021, the dam broke due to extremely heavy rains, destroying the diving board, water wheel and mill, Lemon Shine, and the bridge. Yet, the park continues to prosper. e park hosts a nationally known Bluegrass Festival on Labor Day that originated in 1976 and put Grapeland on the bluegrass map. In 1997, the Memorial Day Gospel Bluegrass Festival began. Dozens of family reunions, some dating back to the park rst opening, are traditions for other families. Summers at Salmon Lake are busy, book in advance when you can, otherwise you might miss out.

Over the years, our annual weekend has changed too. And so has our family. We went from having ve kids in attendance in 2016, to two dozen kids in 2022. I distinctively remember, last summer, as my siblings and I recalled the evolution of our yearly retreat. Most of the kids are swimming to the dock in the middle of the pond, sliding down the intimidating slide, paddling on the paddle boards, and going to the park without an escort. We plan the menu for the weekend a month in advance with the easiest cooking methods and shortest ingredient list, to allow for more relaxing. More than anything, the expansion is what’s most impressive. In the summer of 2022, we had our beloved Cabin #4, plus three additional cabins in order to t our family. And one thing we’ve done for the last several years, late check out.

Salmon (not pronounced like the sh) Lake is nestled between pine trees and sandy pasture, right in the middle Grapeland, yet it’s peaceful and secluded. And this where it started. My rst opportunity to give my little boys tradition and travel. We’ve traveled to Colorado, Tennessee, Florida, and in-between, but if I had to choose tradition over travel, I would. Salmon Lake has become a staple in our family history, and I can only hope that the tradition carries on for years and I’m able to watch my children o er the tradition to their children. I hope this one particular tradition carries on long a er I’m gone, even if it means that the annual Christmas Eve pajamas never happen again.