Lake Worth

Entirely within Fort Worth, on the West Fork Trinity River, USA

Lake Worth is Fort Worth’s original lake—an urban reservoir on the West Fork of the Trinity River, created in 1914 for water supply and recreation.

3,489 acres

Surface Area

22 ft

Max Depth

60 miles

Shoreline

1914

Created

Ginger Trimble Knox

Broker, CRS, CLHMS, e-Pro, GRI, RSPS, CRB, Ginger and Associates

Our team has over 50 years of experience in real estate. We provide a full range of real estate services with experience in luxury homes, waterfront and investment properties, and first time homebuyers.

817.637.9184

ginger@gingerandassociates.com

www.gingerandassociates.com

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About Lake Worth

Lake Worth sits entirely within Fort Worth city limits and covers about 3,489 acres with a maximum depth of 22 feet—shallow by Texas standards, which makes it a friendly lake for small craft and close-to-shore fishing. Water is typically stained, and normal pool is 594 ft above mean sea level. The shoreline includes coves, boathouses, and patches of cattails and emergent vegetation.

Built by damming the West Fork of the Trinity River, the lake first filled in August 1914 and quickly became a regional recreation draw (hello, historic Casino Beach). The City of Fort Worth still owns and operates it. Just northwest, the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge wraps the lake with 3,600+ acres of prairie, woods, and wetlands—one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the U.S.

Key Features

Swimming Areas

Boating & Water Sports

Fishing (Diverse Species)

Marinas & Boat Services

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

Picnic Areas & Outdoor Leisure

Minimal Water Level Fluctuation

Wildlife Viewing

Quick facts (at-a-glance)

Location: Entirely within Fort Worth, on the West Fork Trinity River.
Surface area: 3,489 acres; Max depth: 22 ft.
Normal pool elevation: 594 ft msl.
Impounded: 1914 (construction 1911–1914; first fill Aug 19, 1914).
Owner/operator: City of Fort Worth.
Owner/operator: City of Fort Worth.
Water clarity: Stained.
Zebra mussels present: Clean, Drain, Dry required by law.

Lake Worth Vacation Homes For Rent

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Lake Worth EVENT GUIDE

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Lake Worth DINING GUIDE

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What you can do there

Boat and paddle: Powerboats, pontoons, and PWCs enjoy broad open water; kayakers and canoeists can launch within the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge for quiet, wildlife-rich paddles among cattails and shallow flats.

Fish a classic urban lake: Target white crappie, catfish (blue & channel), largemouth & spotted bass, and seasonal white bass runs. Docks, boathouses, and reed beds are reliable structure; blue cats over 40 lb are “not uncommon,” per TPWD.

Picnic and relax at lakeside parks: Casino Beach Park and Arrow S Park offer lakeshore access, green space, playgrounds, and ramps—ideal for a post-launch picnic.

Hike & watch wildlife: Tackle nature-center trails like Greer Island (1.5 mi) and look for herons, turtles, deer, and the refuge’s bison herd (seen from designated viewing areas or on hayride programs).

Soak up history & lore: Stroll the old Casino Beach area and read up on the 1969 “Lake Worth Monster/Goatman” legend tied to Greer Island—still celebrated locally.

Access, marinas & ramps

Public ramps (fees apply): Arrow S Park: Two-lane concrete ramp; ~50 vehicle parking; city-operated; open year-round. Casino Beach Park: One-lane concrete ramp; ~20 parking; city-operated; open year-round. Sunset Park: One-lane ramp in shallow water (best for small craft); ~20 parking. Fort Worth Nature Center: Kayak/canoe launch only (no trailered boats). The city has enabled QR-code pay at Arrow S & Casino Beach for ramp passes.

Ramp fees & stickers: Fort Worth ordinance requires a boat ramp use sticker at Arrow S and Casino Beach; as codified, resident $15, nonresident $20, weekly pass $5 (check on-site signage/app for current pricing).

Marinas & boat services: Lake Worth Marina (4025 Marina Dr.) offers slip rentals and lake access close to Marina Park and the Boating & Ski Club. (Call ahead—services vary.) Lake Worth Boating & Ski Club (4001 Marina Dr.) is a private club with launch/day dock amenities and occasional public events/ballroom rentals.

Safety & regulations

Fish consumption advisory: The Texas Department of State Health Services advises do not eat smallmouth buffalo from Lake Worth and the Trinity upstream to Eagle Mountain; limits also apply to several catfish and bass species (e.g., adults: flathead catfish no more than one 8-oz meal/month; blue catfish/striped & white bass/common carp no more than two 8-oz meals/month). Review the full, current advisory before keeping fish.
Invasive species compliance: Zebra mussels are present—by law, CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY all boats/gear and drain water on land before leaving.
Boat inspections: Boats with a toilet facility or any enclosed area capable of containing one require a Lake Worth inspection sticker (valid Jan 1–Dec 31). Carry your sticker and comply with inspections.
On-water conduct: Obey no-wake and restricted areas; towing sports require a properly mounted rearview mirror; never operate in marked swim/diver zones; don’t discharge waste into the lake. General Texas boating rules also apply (e.g., no skiing between ½-hour after sunset and ½-hour before sunrise).
Camping: Not permitted at the public ramp parks listed above.

Gallery

Nearby highlights & suggested day trips

Fort Worth Stockyards (15–25 min): See the twice-daily Texas Longhorn cattle drive at 11:30 a.m. & 4 p.m., then explore Mule Alley and historic sites.
Cultural District: The Kimbell Art Museum and neighboring museums make an easy post-lake afternoon.
Fort Worth Zoo: One of the country’s top zoos, home to ~7,000 animals.

Events & community

Programming centers on the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge—think guided hikes, canoe tours, wildlife workshops, and seasonal happenings. A local favorite is the Lake Worth Monster Bash (celebrating the 1969 “Goatman” lore), hosted every other year in October by the Nature Center; the site posts monthly program calendars for tours, paddles, and family activities. The Lake Worth Boating & Ski Club also hosts member events and occasional public rentals at its lakeside ballroom—keep an eye on their updates if you’re planning a gathering.