Toledo Bend Lake Country on the northwestern border of the state is home to the mighty Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the crown jewels of Sportsman’s Paradise. Spring is the perfect time to explore its 186,000 acres of water and 1,200 miles of shoreline. The area provides great opportunities for enjoying the great outdoors, delicious food, great hospitality, and numerous accommodations to fit any need, including lodges, motels, and marinas ranging from cozy cottages to a full scale, all-inclusive resort.
First and foremost, Toledo Bend Lake is a world class bass fishing lake. Though bass is the most popular catch on the Bend, the Reservoir is also home to crappie, bream, white bass, striped bass and catfish, among other species. The Toledo Bend Lake Association offers a lunker bass program designed to help memorialize the big catch while encouraging the release of trophy fish back into the wild. Toledo Bend attracts approximately 100 large regional and national fishing tournaments every year, for both amateurs and professionals alike.
Toledo Bend Lake has a ton of underwater stumps. Imagine a forest covered with water; timber has rotted off, leaving the stumps. The Sabine River Authority (SRA) has cut boat lanes marked with PVC pipe and buoys for boats to follow. Buy a good map of the lake for your electronics. All of the underwater obstructions are a large part of what has made Toledo such a popular fishery in addition to Louisiana and Texas marine biologist stocking the lake with fry and doing fish population counts on the lake. Always remember Toledo Bend is open to the wind and can become very hazardous in very short period of time. Wind can dictate when you are able to safely enjoy the main lake.
Although fishing is the most popular past-time on Toledo Bend, the lake also offers water sport areas for jet skiing, wake boarding, and tubing. Go canoeing in the quiet protected coves of Toro Creek below the dam. Enjoy great sandy beaches at Cypress Bend Park, Pleasure Point Park, South Toledo Bend State Park & San Miguel Park for those loving sun and sand castles. ATV trails at South Toledo Bend State Park and Cow Bayou Wilderness Area, hiking trails, biking, and birding opportunities are available for the adventurous.
No worries if you aren’t the biggest fan of fishing–perhaps you’d enjoy one of the annual area festivals. Bloom on Main, Zwolle Loggers and Forestry Festival, the Battle of Pleasant Hill, and the Zwolle Tamale Festival are all loved by locals and visitors alike. Shop the local vendors, experience the culture of Toledo Bend Lake Country, hear live music, get tasty snacks from local food trucks, and so much more! You won’t find shopping malls and many chain stores in the area, but travelers looking for a unique shopping experience may enjoy one of the many antique stores along the Antique Trail or find unique must-haves ranging from home décor, apparel, children’s clothes, jewelry, and more at one of the local boutiques in the area.
Make the most of your stay at Cypress Bend Golf Resort & Conference Center, which features an Audubon Trail Golf Course with spectacular views. Cypress Bend is a southern hospitality hideaway tucked away on the Texas/Louisiana border on the central part of the lake. It provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, allowing guests a welcoming place to rest, recharge and enjoy the great outdoors. Experience fine dining in the Cypress Dining Room or a casual bite in the Cypress Café or Sabine Social Room. Pamper yourself with the elegant full service spa and enjoy the heated indoor/outdoor pool. Cypress Bend Resort is pet-friendly and wheelchair accessible offering 95 guestrooms, including golf suites, conference center, and more.
One of the most popular attractions at Cypress Bend is the resort’s Audubon Trail golf course. The 18-hole championship course was originally completed in 1997. At almost 25 years old, the Cypress Bend greens were overdue for turf replacement and problems with an aging irrigation system called for its replacement as well. Through the years of operation some holes were deemed as problem holes for a quality course. In 2019, the Sabine River Authority stepped in with funding to help support and sustain the aging golf course. SRA’s involvement in the golf course and subsequent review of the conditions ultimately led to a renovation project of the entire property. Jeff Blume, golf course architect, was hired by the SRA to suggest renovations that would correct the existing problems of the aging course as well as create interest among golfing enthusiast to encourage their playing Cypress Bend.
Through the restoration, problem holes were redesigned to create a much improved 18-hole golf course. The nearly $5 million dollar project was completed in mid-2023 and reopened in September. All 19 greens were reshaped with new drainage and bunkers. All of the tee boxes were reshaped to give more teeing area and most of the fairways reshaped and landing areas enlarged for more forgiving play. All four of the par five holes were reworked to accommodate use of the driver off the tee, a common complaint of the course for many years. As a result of redesigning hole number 9, a par 5, the par 3 number 8 was moved and the new green location is on a point with water surrounding three sides. The renovation of Cypress Bend golf course included new turf for all the fairways, greens, and tee boxes. The golf course re-build and renovation included clearing several areas that has opened the course, creating a view of the lake from almost every hole.
The renovation project did not stop with the golf course, all of the buildings including club house, cart barn, conference center and hotel, have been repaired and painted. Additional repairs and upgrades are in the works for the hotel and the conference center. The dream that was conceived and built over 25 years ago has been refreshed and the golf course, that has always been associated as one of the most beautiful in the Louisiana, has a new look that enhances and confirms the assumption.
For information or tee times, call Cypress Bend Golf Course at (318) 256-0346.
As you can see, there is plenty to see and do in Toledo Bend Lake Country for sportsmen, adventurers, sun lovers, shoppers, foodies and everyone in between. Call (800) 358-7802, (800) 259-5253, or visit www.ToledoBendLakeCountry.com for details on the many places to stay, things to do, a list of over 30 qualified fishing guides and more.
