What is Lake Jackson like?

Travel Info
Is there an actual lake there? If so is it nice for kayaking? Can someone give me directions from Houston? Thanks!

Travel Tips

It does not have the clear water you are looking for. For clear water areas near Houston head out west near Austin areas
and I believe you'll be more successful.
Here's a short interesting history on Lake Jackson:

Lake Jackson was founded and developed by the Dow Chemical Co. as a housing project for its employees during 1941-1942. The town was laid out as a model community of permanent homes. It was named for a small lake in the vicinity of a plantation owned by Major Abner Jackson before the Civil War. Today the town is part of the large Brazosport industrial area on the Texas coast.

Dr. Freeman's Antique/Historical Dental Museum-

Features an extensive collection of dental equipment from the mid 1800's to early 1900's. Exterior remodeled to represent a dentist's office at the turn of the century. Open Mon-Thurs 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday 9 - noon. 115 N. Dixie Dr., Suite 200.

Jackson Plantation Archeological Site-

A Texas Antiquities Archeological Landmark, the site is on the banks of Lake Jackson. The plantation was destroyed by a hurricane in 1900. Ruins of eight buildings subject of study at the University of Houston-Clear Lake and the Brazosport Archeological Society. Free, guided walking tours available the first Saturday of the month 10 a.m. -sundown. Handicap accessible via utility vehicle. NE 1 mi. on F.M. 2004 from Texas 332.

Sea Center Texas-

This is a marine development, aquarium, and education center developed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Dow North America, and the Gulf Coast Conservation Association. The marine fisheries center has a hatchery with the capacity to produce 20 million fingerlings annually, primarily red drum and spotted seatrout, for release into Texas coastal waters. The complex also has 35 one-acre rearing ponds, a saltwater marsh demonstration project, and visitors center. It also has two "touch tanks" for visitors to study certain animals, wall displays on marine life, two 500-gallon aquariums, two 900-gallon aquariums, and one 50,000-gallon aquarium. Located at intersection of Plantation Dr. and Medical Dr.

Wilderness Park-

482-acre municipal park in natural state is bordered by Buffalo Camp Bayou and the Brazos River. Interpretive quarter-mile nature loop, 4-mile hiking trail with Brazos River views. Wildlife includes deer, wild pigs, small mammals, and alligators along the Brazos. Picnicking, fishing, and hiking are available on Texas 332, 1 mi. west of city.

EDIT:

Hi, again, G. Your question has been on my mind. Try searching for scuba diving sites in Texas. These divers covet clear waters. This is one site for you to check out (it's about 20 miles south of the city of Austin):

http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/index.ht...

I'll get back to you if I find something closer for you.

2nd EDIT:

Other suggestions:

Blue Lagoon in Huntsville, Tx
Athens, Tx
Denton, Tx
Clear Springs in Terrell, Tx
Medina, Tx
Beorne, Tx
Canyon Lake
Mansfield Dam

For guided kayaking tours (1/2 day - $70; full day $105) on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers visit:

http://southtexaskayak.com/trips.php...

Good luck and stay safe!

FINAL EDIT:

Here's what you've been looking for in Houston---it's called The Reef:

http://www.texasdiver.com/tdiver.pl?site...
Others

I grew up in Lake Jackson! It was a wonderful town to grow up in. It's close enough to Houston that you can access the 'big city' for an Astros game, etc. Big enough that it has it's own mall, 16 screen theater, decent hospital, etc. Small enough to be a nice town.

Much of the community is made up of professional workers from the nearby chemical plants (toward/in freeport), and the area has a good tax base. So, city facilities are very nice, low crime, outstanding schools, etc.

There is an actual lake, but not much of one. It's a horseshoe lake formed by the movement of the Brazos river over time. So, it's as wide as the Brazos river and a little over a mile long. Since water isn't flowing in/out of the lake, it's a little brown and murky. You probably could kayak in it, but I doubt you'd want to.

This type of lake forms when a river erodes away at the distance across a loop or kink in the river. Eventually, the river flows into the newer channel, and the old loop gets cut off, making a horseshoe (or "C") shaped lake. FYI -- the lake, and town, were named after the 'old' Jackson plantation. A few of the building ruins were (and probably still are) preserved near the lake.

Go South on 288 until you get to the edge of Lake Jackson -- and go West (right) on HW 2004. You'll cross Oyster Creek (Yes, the one that runs from Sugarland), and see Lake Road immediately on your right. Lake road runs around the lake. I believe all of the land around the lake is now privately ownend, but there was some discussion about turning a section into a city park.
What is it like? To me it was a typical industrial town. It was actually created by Dow to provide housing for their plants down there. To be honest, I wasn't that impressed... probably because I hated the fifteen months I worked for Dow (and had to make that drive from west Houston once every two weeks).
I was a Dow employee back during the 90s.
It was a pretty nice town when i lived near by (Clute,Tx) in the mid 80's.There is a small lake or sewer overflow or something like that there.