On April 22, Lincoln Parish lost a man who was a visionary in the truest sense. Fredric Lee Hoogland was the founder of one of the most popular attractions, not only for Lincoln Parish but for the surrounding area and regions far removed from the hills of north Louisiana. It was Hoogland who located and promoted and worked for the parish to purchase the area and that would become Lincoln Parish Park.
I had the privilege of visiting with Hoogland some 20 years ago after the park was up and running and attracting visitors from everywhere. I wrote a story about our visit that appeared in Lincoln Parish Park Notes newsletter and in honor of his memory, following are excerpts of that article.
“When I stepped up on a bluff that spring day in the late 1970s and saw what lay before me, I’m sure if somebody had heard me, they’d have thought I was an evangelist praising the Lord. I’ve never had an experience quite like that and I was overcome with emotion, realizing that my prayers had been answered. After walking thousands of acres around Ruston for the better part of three years, I realized that God had led me to the right spot and it was just about more than I could handle,” Hoogland recalled.
“That’s not all; the further I walked into the woods, the better it got. There was no doubt in my mind that here was the site that would ultimately become the park I’d dreamed about since high school.”
Once the property was located, there were hurdles that had to be crossed. First of all, the property, no matter how perfect it was as a park site, was privately owned and not for sale.
It took a lengthy period of negotiation and persuasion and, according to Hoogland, another Divine miracle or two, the owners finally agreed to sell. Hoogland was an elected member of the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and the jury formed a Parks, Recreation and Tourism Committee and the obvious choice to chair this committee was Fredric Hoogland. The jury had the amount of money in the bank needed for the purchase, took a vote and five members voted for it; unfortunately seven voted against it. Not about to give up, Hoogland lobbied the seven no-voters and three weeks later, votes were cast again and the final count was seven for; five against. The property was purchased in February, 1982.
After all the legal requirements were met, the park was opened on a limited basis in 1989 and for the seven years following the purchase, it took a plethora of planning and work to turn this rugged hunk of Lincoln Parish property into the jewel it is today.
You can just imagine what was involved into turning the rough piece of land into something visitors could utilize. Concession stand, restrooms, shelters, nature trails and bike trails all had to be planned and constructed. The park became fully operational in March, 1990 and by 1995 was averaging approximately 70,000 visitors a year.
Current park Director, James Ramsaur, saw the potential to adding to the park bike trails and today, Lincoln Parish Park is home to one of the most popular mountain bike trails in the United States with the most recent addition being a Flow Trail Hub.
The park is also home to a 3-D archery range, a lake for swimming and fishing and camping sites from tents to recreational RVs.
“Looking back now,” Hoogland told me, “I know that it was the Good Lord who made this place beautiful. We just massaged what He had already made.”
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Big chinquapins are on the beds and some real good fish are being caught on small crawfish, worms and crickets. Some bass are still on the beds while most have moved out to secondary points. Wacky Worms, Sinko, Bandits and spinners are taking the most fish. Crappie are best fishing jigs or shiners around submerged tops in 12 foot water. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU –Bream are bedded and biting crickets and worms around the trees. Crappie are around the trees and are fair on shiners and jigs. Bass are fair on spinners, Chatter baits and crank baits Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass have about done spawning and have moved off the banks. Best lures are creature baits. Some big crappie are being caught on the flats on shiners and jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still high. Bream are beginning to bed in the backwaters. Bass are fair in the backwater on spinners; no report on crappie. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie are good with most having completed the spawn and they have moved out of the shallows on the flats and are hitting shiners and jigs fished 6-8 feet deep in 12-14 foot water. Some bass are still spawning in the shallows with soft plastics and creature baits picking up some nice fish with the frog bite just beginning. Bream are on the beds and taking crickets or worms. Catfishing is improving fishing cold worms off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE –Crappie are starting to move out to 12 foot water and are hitting mostly shiners. Bass are best fishing Carolina rigs, spinners and jerk baits around the docks. Stripers are beginning to school and hitting shad imitation lures. Bream are on the beds and worms and crickets are working on them. Catfishing has been good on night crawlers fished on noodles with some nice fish to 12-14 pounds caught. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing is good and the bream are on the beds. Crappie and bass are fair. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is rising again and the only fish biting are catfish mostly caught on trotlines. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.