A Nearly Accurate History of Sunrise Beach
By Dick Hart (deceased)
Written for the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the City in November of 1998
recovered and updated in 2005 and continued by others (I hope, hjs)
Page 1 of 19
When one assumes the responsibility of attempting a historical
recollection of the past twenty five years of a community, particularly
when the old memory itself is in a state of decline, one can only
question one's own sanity. However, with the best of intentions in
mind, I will undertake this quest to the best of my recollections.
To be sure, one purpose in this effort is to make all who are now, have
been, and will be future residents of Sunrise Beach, understand that
Sunrise Beach just didn't come into being. It did not evolve out of
nothing. It was built, bit by bit, by the people who are and were
residents and who were willing to put forth much hard effort in the
making of a community in which all could take pride. Regrettably,
many of those who performed these many important tasks are no
longer with us. And worse of all, it is my personal regret that I cannot
remember all the names; there were so many. If in the process of this
writing I mention a name, I, no doubt, will fail to mention one that
,
,
,
,
should be. Therefore I apologize in advance for any omissions: I
merely hope to give credit where credit is due. However, I seem to be
digressing.
Most of this bit by bit building was done with donations, fund-raisers,
suppers, flea markets, picnics, volunteer labor, and on and on. All
were aware, especially before the community was incorporated, that if
anything was to be accomplished that the residents would have to do
it. The developers were only interested in selling property. And once
the prime waterfront properties were all sold, the developers interests
were turned elsewhere, to Canyon Lake for instance. So, a few
grabbed the bull by the horns and set out to build Sunrise Beach into
something other than a lakeside fishing camp.
In the mid fifties, this land on which you stand was purchased and a
development started, Once a few roads were graded the property
started to sell. People bought property and built small weekend places
before there was even water available. Most had to haul their drinking
water from wherever their homes were. But man they could take a
bath in the lake after a day of fishing or skiing or boating or whatever
pleasure in which they indulged. I remember when you could buy a
lakefront lot for a little as $1200, $200 down and $20 a month for the
rest of your life. I remember looking at the property which is now at
the end of Beach Drive. Could have bought all three sides of the point
for $3800. Of course back then it might as well have been 35 million. I
didn't have a pot to &, well, you know.
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