It was named after Ray Roberts (a local congressman who supported creation of the lake) in 1980.
The reservoir is located in, and supplies water to, Cooke, Grayson, and Denton counties.
Ray Roberts Dam and Lake
On March 2, 1945, the U.S. Congress approved the River & Harbors Act of 1945 which, among many projects, provided for the construction of Benbrook Lake, Grapevine Lake, Lavon Lake and Ray Roberts Lake, as well as modifications to the existing Garza Dam for the construction of Lewisville Lake. Ray Roberts Dam, an earthen structure 141 feet high, is owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
The construction of Lake Ray Roberts resulted in the dissolution of several communities in the surrounding area. One notable community, which surrounded St. James Baptist Church, was given funds to build a new church in the nearby town of Pilot Point.[2]
