Lake Palestine Resort begins rebuilding first marina

FRANKSTON, Texas (KLTV) – Nearly five months after an EF-1 tornado ripped through the community, reconstruction of Lake Palestine Resort’s first marina is underway.

Westbrook Services welding manager Ernest Dozier, who is helping with the reconstruction, said the first marina is expected to take about three weeks to complete, while the other two are expected to be completed within four to six months.

“It’s kind of like a new beginning, a chance to make it better than it was,” Dozier added.

Micah Wolfe, general manager of Lake Palestine Resort, hopes to have the boat lifts installed by Christmas. When the elevators arrive, they will support 6,000 pounds, more than the previous capacity of around 3,200 pounds.

“We are excited to bring the marina back online,” Wolfe added.

“We were really blessed with a tremendous community response,” Wolfe said. “Immediately after the tornado, a lot of people came out and helped clear away debris.”

In the months following the tornado, the resort also worked to repair damage to accommodations. The foundation of a hilltop cabin was being repaired after it was shifted about eight inches to the right by the tornado. Other cabins near the water have been torn apart, and Wolfe believes it would be “uneconomical” to put them back into use. His considerations for the former cabin site include a new marina, picnic area or temporary vehicle storage.

“We have to change,” Wolfe added. “We still have a long rebuilding process ahead of us, but we are excited about where we are now and what we continue to see.”

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