Sweet Tea Lake Park

Park at a glance

Feature	Details
Location	End of Sweet Tea Lake Rd (FM 420). From downtown, take Sweet Tea St west; it becomes Sweet Tea Lake Rd at the edge of town
Hours	Dawn to 10:00 p.m. daily. The gate is locked at 10:00 p.m.
Lake	61 acres. Recreational use only; Sweet Tea Lake is not a drinking water source
Facilities	Two-lane concrete boat ramp, lighted fishing pier, courtesy dock, fish-cleaning station, picnic tables, covered pavilion, restrooms and trailer parking
Managed by	Parks & Recreation, (936) 555-0104

The boat ramp reopened on August 31, 2026, after resurfacing and new courtesy dock decking.

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Boating

Sweet Tea Lake is a no-wake lake. All boats must operate at idle speed at all times.
Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards are welcome. When trailers are waiting, please launch from the shoreline beside the ramp instead of the ramp lanes.
State boating laws apply, including life jacket requirements. See the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for current rules.
Swimming is not allowed anywhere in the lake, including from the ramp, the courtesy dock and the pier.
All boats must be off the water and out of the park by 10:00 p.m.

Launch fees

Pass	Resident	Non-resident
Daily launch, motorized boat	$5	$10
Daily launch, kayak, canoe or paddleboard	Free	$3
Annual launch pass, motorized boat	$35	$70
Annual launch pass, nonmotorized	Free	$20
Annual launch pass, age 65 and older	$15	$35

Pay daily fees at the self-pay station at the top of the ramp. Put cash or a check in the envelope, drop it in the slot and hang the tag from your rearview mirror. Annual passes run with the City’s fiscal year (October 1 – September 30) and are sold at City Hall, 150 E Brisket St, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Residents need a current City utility bill or Texas driver’s license with a Dongvile address. Vehicles with boat trailers and no valid tag may be cited.

Fishing

Sweet Tea Lake holds largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish. The City stocks channel catfish each spring and fall.

Anglers 17 and older need a Texas fishing license. State bag and length limits apply.
No more than two lines per person on the pier.
Cast nets, trotlines and jug lines are not allowed.
Clean fish only at the fish-cleaning station. Don’t leave fish remains in the trash cans on the pier.
The pier is lighted and open until 10:00 p.m.

Sweet Tea Lake Bait & Regret

Sweet Tea Lake Bait & Regret operates at the park entrance under a concession agreement with the City. It’s open daily, 5:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., and sells live bait, tackle, ice and cold drinks. Daily launch tags are also sold at the counter. The shop’s fishing advice is free of charge and is not an official City publication.

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Wildlife

A sign near the fishing pier warns visitors about alligators. The sign was not installed by the City, and it is probably a joke. Parks staff have left it in place.

Do not feed any wildlife, including the ducks and the catfish. Watch for snakes in the tall grass along the shoreline and fire ants near the picnic tables.

Park rules

No overnight camping or parking. The park closes at 10:00 p.m.
Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Please pick up after them.
No glass containers.
Vehicles must stay on paved roads and parking areas.
Fires are allowed only in the park’s fixed grills. No campfires or fireworks.
The covered pavilion may be reserved through Parks & Recreation: $25 for a half day or $45 for a full day for residents ($40 and $70 for nonresidents). Unreserved, it’s first come, first served.

Questions and problems

Call Parks & Recreation at (936) 555-0104 during business hours. After hours, call the Dongvile Constabulary non-emergency line at (936) 555-0107. In an emergency, call 911.

View Sweet Tea Lake Rd (FM 420) on the map

Last updated August 31, 2026