Historical Sour Lake, Texas

Mural of Springs Hotel on Oil Patch Cafe

Historic Sour Lake

Steeped in history, Sour Lake began as a health resort

in the 1840s complete with a grand hotel and bath houses.

Sam Houston came several times to Sour Lake springs seeking relief

from his war wounds. His last trip was in June, 1863.

He died at his home in Huntsville on July 26, 1863.

The discovery of oil in 1902 would soon doom the grand

hotels and mineral baths.

The TTC Fee No. 3 on January8, 1903 would be the start of

the world oil giant Texaco.

The Sour Lake oilfield produced about 90,000,000 barrels

of oil up to 1948, when it was producing about 3,500 barrels daily and new

drilling was still underway.

Today the springs are gone but oil remains.

Oil Derricks