Lake Belton was a popular attraction, as residents were loading up on supplies at local merchants and dining at restaurants along the lake.
“The Fourth of July is always one of our busiest days of the year,” said Ron LaForce, a clerk at Point Package Store, which sells liquor along FM 2483 in Morgan’s Point Resort.
“I would say that it’s right up there with New Year’s Eve, and the days before Christmas,” LaForce said.
Morgan’s Point Resort is one of Bell County’s only “wet” cities, meaning it sells liquor, along with Harker Heights and Holland.
LaForce said today will be even busier than Friday. “There should be a lot of people coming in here on their way out to the lake,” LaForce said.
“Because of where we’re located, people can pick up their drinks and head out to the lake,” he said.
Mary Stillwater of Rogers, who purchased beer at the store, was on her way to Temple Lake Park with family members. “We brought some things to eat, so we’re going to try to find some tables when we get there and have lunch,” she said. “We’re not going to go out (on the lake). The kids just like looking at the boats and goofing around in the park area.”
“I’m heading out to the lake,” said Roger Ward of Salado, who was filling up his truck at the Shell gas station at 5510 W. Adams Ave. in Temple.
Boats being towed behind trucks toward the lake were a common sight in Temple.
“It’s going to be a fun day - I’m hoping it’s not too crowded - I would just like to navigate around with my family,” Ward said, adding that with the Fourth falling on a Saturday they had an extra day to celebrate. “Because the holiday is on a Saturday, we got to pick between Friday and Monday as to which day we wanted off. I decided it would be nice to take it a day early.”
Sarah Greshock of Belton said she was hoping to get some time in at her family pool over the long weekend. “I’m just going to relax,” Greshock said. “I’m going to try to get some sun. I’m hoping I can lay outside for a while before it gets too hot.”
People were also flocking to the Dead Fish Grill at Lake Belton. The restaurant’s back deck and outdoor dining area was already crowded shortly after opening Friday.
“Fourth of July weekends are always really busy,” Dead Fish General Manager Jeff Chupik said. “They’re right up there with Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day for us.”
Chupik mentioned that the restaurant was preparing for a crowded weekend by opening up an additional outdoor patio, which could seat an extra 120 guests.
Capt. Fred Churchill of Texas Parks and Wildlife said department officials would be patrolling Lake Belton throughout the weekend. He said he the most boaters to come out Friday evening and Saturday afternoon and night.
“We will have multiple game wardens monitoring the lake throughout the holiday weekend,” Churchill said. “I’m expecting most the most boaters to be on the lake throughout the day and evening Saturday, so that’s when we’ll have the most people out.”
“Typically, we’re trying to make sure people aren’t breaking any laws, or doing stupid things like drinking and operating their boats. We’re going to go after those types of people if we see them,” Churchill said.
State officials in March, who feared a repeat of 2008’s near-record boating fatality numbers, now say a quiet Fourth of July weekend could put Texas on track for the lowest number of boating deaths in years, according to a TPWD press release.
Last year, 61 boaters died in Texas, tying the 10-year high in 2002. By July 3 last year, the fatality count was at 36, with four multiple-fatality accidents. In the same time period this year, 20 boaters have died in Texas with only two multiple-fatality accidents.
“We certainly don’t want people to become complacent on the water,” said Texas Game Warden Maj. Alfonso Campos, chief of marine enforcement for the TPWD. “Even one boating fatality is too many because in almost every instance it could have been prevented. Still, things are looking better this year.”
Campos attributed the drop in deaths to stepped-up enforcement of boater safety laws on the water and increased public awareness.
