Upgrades Keep Happening at Lake Fayette

Nick Crandall, the general manager of Lake Fayette, is excited about all the improvements being made out there.

“We’re constantly improving the park,” he said. “One of the latest upgrades includes the installation of new boat slips at Park Prairie. Currently, there are two cabins and 21 RV sites, four of which are lakefront, for rent on that side. Eight cabins, 20 RV sites, and six screenedin shelters can be rented at Oak Thicket. I run both parks and really enjoy being out in the country. We love Fayetteville. My wife Matilde and I rented a house there for a few years from Country Butler.”

Crandall brings 30 years of experience to the job and runs both parks. Matilde is a culinary director at Camp Lone Star. On the side, the couple operates What’s the Dills, a catering firm.

The Old Park Lodge on the Park Prairie side of the lake took on a new face three weeks ago. Big John’s Bait & Lodging offers beer, bait, cabins and more. Bring your own liquor or wine, pick up bait and fishing gear or sit back with a brewski and Hunt’s pizza. Three refurbished cabins, a party boat and kayaks are for rent. Owner John Harvey has changed the place up a bit but the downhome ambience still prevails. In the future, the plan is to serve hamburgers, hold a chili cookoff and a steak night.

“We came off the lake one day, saw the place was for sale, and lots of good signals made me think it was meant to be. At the time, we lived in Houston. My family moved here from Germany in 1906,” stated Harvey. “My mom’s maiden name was Treybig and when I saw the Treybig circle, I thought it was a good sign. And my wife Vicki is from Giddings. We remodeled the house on the property and live there now.

Lots of folks remember the old place when Jimmy ran it and they’re all coming back to visit.”

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday 11:30 a.m.-midnight; Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.; and Sunday from 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Follow Big John’s Bar, Bait and Lodging on Facebook. 

City Council 

The City Council meeting was postponed until Monday, Jan. 22. It will be held at 7 p.m. in the City offices.

Graduate 

Former FISD student Julie Marie Korenek graduated from Texas A&M in December. Korenek graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Poultry Science.

Trip 

Fayetteville residents Cathy Bauer and her motherin- law June Helmer, recently traveled to Tulum, Mexico, to attend the Indian wedding of Helmer’s grandson and Bauer’s nephew.

Board Members Sought 

The Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce is seeking volunteer board members. Go to https://www.greaterfayettevillechamber. org/ contact.

Church News 

St. Paul Lutheran holds services on Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Worship services at Fayetteville Brethren are held on the second, third and fourth Saturday of every month at 10 a.m. An adult Bible Study is held before the worship service from 9-9:45 a.m.

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fayetteville holds mass Saturdays at 6 p.m., and Sunday’s at 10 a.m.

St. Mary Catholic Church in Ellinger holds mass on Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sunday’s at 8 a.m.

Celebrations 

Happy Birthday wishes are extended to: Amalia Woolf-19; Maurine Schley and Sadie Tiemann and Jaxson Tiemann-20; Joe Coufal, Jr., Julie Korenek-21; Emily Warren-22.

Have News? 

Deadline for sending news for this weekly column is every Sunday morning. Email: newsinfayetteville@ gmail.com.