Possum Kingdom State Park sits in the Palo Pinto Mountains and Brazos River Valley on the shore of Possum Kingdom Lake, a vast reservoir with clear water and extensive shoreline. Built in the 1940s by Civilian Conservation Corps Company 2888 and opened in 1950, the 1,530-acre park has long served as a center for boating and camping, supported by a store and marina. The surrounding lake region is also known for youth camps and for Hell’s Gate, a narrow channel between an island and cliffs. In 2011, severe drought and wildfires forced a temporary park closure and later damaged homes and recreation vehicles around the lake.