The kayak launch at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is closed. As of LLELA's September 29, 2026 conditions update, the road east of the Cicada Pavilion is closed to the public, the river parking areas are part of the construction zone, and the old put-in is off-limits until crews finish the new one. The City of Lewisville expects the work to take three to four months.
The closure is the first step in a longer plan. The city plans to rebuild Boat Ramp #2 at Lake Park starting in late 2026, and Eagle Point Marina began an 11-year phased modernization under a new operator this year. All three of Lewisville's best-known ways onto the water are in transition this fall, and on November 1 the switch to winter hours cuts the day short at both LLELA and Lake Park.
LLELA Is Sending River Paddlers to Hebron Parkway
LLELA has been the northernmost access point on a 22-mile stretch of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Lewisville, Carrollton and Irving opened that stretch to paddlers together. While the launch is closed, LLELA points paddlers to the Lewisville Kayak Launch at Hebron Parkway, 1105 Hebron Parkway. LLELA doesn't publish fees, hours or amenities for that site, so call ahead before planning a trip around it.
LLELA's paddling page lists the river's launch and takeout points from north to south:
- LLELA, the put-in, closed for construction this fall.
- Trinity Fork Park, by the Hebron Parkway bridge at 2205 W. Hebron Parkway, the first takeout below LLELA.
- Dimension Tract Park in Carrollton, 1199 Elm Park Drive, the next public takeout.
LLELA's one-way rule still applies. Currents just below the dam are strong, so paddlers are asked to go downstream to a takeout and arrange a shuttle vehicle in advance, not try to paddle back upstream.
The water itself is cooperating. LLELA says kayaking isn't possible below 80 cubic feet per second, isn't recommended for most paddlers above 600, and the river closes to all boating above 3,000. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' reservoir report for 4 a.m. on October 12, 2026 showed a release of 227 cfs from Lewisville Lake. That's comfortably inside the usable range, though the release changes, and the Corps report is the number to check on the morning of a trip.
The new launch is designed to fix the old one's problems. The old put-in was primitive. Paddlers drove a gravel road to a dirt lot, passed their boat over or through a pipe gate, then carried it 50 to 100 yards across sand where carts and wheelchairs struggled. The city's plan for the replacement includes ADA-compliant paths and parking, a more functional staging area, non-slip surfaces, stable launch platforms and water-level markers.
November 1 Cuts the Day Short
Both public sites in this story run on a seasonal clock, and both switch on the same date.
| Site | Closing time through Oct. 31 | Closing time from Nov. 1 | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLELA | 7 p.m. | 5 p.m. through Feb. 28 | $5 per vehicle, card only |
| Lake Park | 9 p.m. | 5 p.m. through Feb. 28 | $10 per vehicle |
Lake Park loses four hours of evening access, from 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. LLELA loses two. LLELA's own paddling guidance tells river paddlers to launch at least four hours before closing and says no one is admitted after hours to retrieve a vehicle. Under winter hours, that means launching by 1 p.m. LLELA takes only Visa, MasterCard and Discover at the gate. It doesn't accept cash, American Express or tap to pay.
The city sells annual passes that cover both Lake Park and Tower Bay, which helps if winter trips to the lake will be short.
The Lake Park Ramp Is Next
Lake Park has two boat ramps and two courtesy docks. One of them is next for construction. According to the city, plans for the peninsula at Boat Ramp #2 were to be finished in July 2026. They call for a new ramp and courtesy dock, repairs to shoreline erosion, a better parking lot, and replanting of the former swim beach. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2026. As of this writing, the city hasn't posted a closure notice, so Ramp #2's status on any given weekend is worth confirming with the city before towing a boat over.
The lake is also lower than normal. On October 12, 2026, Water Data for Texas showed Lewisville Lake at 518.42 feet, 3.58 feet below its 522-foot conservation pool. The daily average for October 11 was 83.6 percent full. Those readings are provisional and change daily. The Corps' facility-closure page was last updated in 2025, so it isn't a reliable guide to this fall's ramp conditions.
The ramp rebuild is part of a larger plan. The Army Corps of Engineers approved the Lake Park master plan, and Lewisville voters passed a bond package in 2024 to add to 2014 funding for its first phases. The city has started an environmental assessment and 30 percent design work for the day-use area, RV campground and marina. That planning is scheduled to finish in 2028.
Eagle Point Has a New Operator, and Changes Will Be Gradual
Suntex announced its purchase of Eagle Point Marina on February 5, 2026. The release described a working marina with 597 wet slips, a fuel dock, a ship store, a boat club and rentals. The marina kept the Eagle Point name. Its website now advertises Suntex Boat Club memberships and rentals and says both are based at a "new Ship Store." The city's agreement with Suntex runs 11 years. During that time, current slip tenants keep renting their slips while a modern marina and expanded services are phased in. Neither the city nor Suntex has published a schedule for specific new amenities.
Sneaky Pete's, the lakefront bar, restaurant and event venue on Lewisville Lake's south shore, has been closed for over a year. Its last day was September 28, 2025, after the city didn't renew its lease, as the Cross Timbers Gazette reported that August. The Denton Record-Chronicle reported that Earl Adams opened the venue in 1989 and that the Corps owns most of the land around the lake, which the city leases and in turn contracts out to vendors. CBS News Texas reported that owner Nick Mehmeti planned to relocate, possibly to The Colony. No new location has been confirmed.
The same Record-Chronicle article described a hotel, restaurant and entertainment area planned for the site in the coming years, with the city expecting to work with Matthews Southwest on the land-side projects. Parks and Recreation Director Stacie Anaya told the paper the area "has been a source of joy and recreation for not only Lewisville, but this entire region for over 50 years." So far, no 2026 City Council approval for that hotel or restaurant has been found, so it remains an idea, not a project.
Residents can still weigh in. The city held public meetings on the Lake Park Improvement Projects on August 12 and 13, 2026. The design team is reviewing those comments, and updates are scheduled for a City Council workshop in November. That workshop is the next public look at the design.
For boaters who want a marina outside the Eagle Point transition, Safe Harbor Pier 121 lists a launch ramp, wet and transient slips, dry storage, rentals, fuel, a ship's store and a waterside restaurant. Its posted hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The page doesn't say whether those hours also apply to the ramp.
What LLELA Still Offers During Construction
The construction zone takes up only part of LLELA. Anglers can still reach the Trinity River on foot by the Redbud Trail. Campsites aren't available right now. The preserve covers 2,700 acres. The City of Lewisville, the University of North Texas and Lewisville ISD manage it together, on land leased from the Corps.
LLELA's October calendar is full:
- October 17: a Women's Migratory Bird Walk, a tree-planting volunteer day and Saturday at the Homestead
- October 18: Thrive Nature Walk
- October 21: Toddler Nature Time
- October 24: a Friends of LLELA lecture
- October 25: Hunter's Moon Night Hike
The night hike on October 25 is the last date on that list before LLELA switches to its 5 p.m. winter closing on November 1. Call the LLELA Gatehouse at 469.635.5483 for current trail conditions before heading out.
At TLC Realty TX, we follow the details that shape daily life around Lewisville Lake, from the Lake Park design workshop to the reopening of the LLELA launch. If you're thinking about a home near the lake or the Elm Fork and want to know what these projects will change, Request a Personalized Consultation.
