Stillhouse Hollow Lake, lake in Bell County, United States

Stillhouse Hollow Lake is a reservoir in Bell County, central Texas, formed by a dam on the Lampasas River. Its shoreline mixes rocky beaches, sandy bluffs, and forested stretches, while the water itself is very clear and reaches notable depths.

The reservoir came into being in 1968 when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Stillhouse Hollow Dam for flood control and water supply. The construction flooded a valley along the Lampasas River, turning farmland and wooded hillsides into the lake seen today.

The lake operates as a shared family gathering point, with group pavilions, picnic tables, a swimming beach, and spaces for basketball and volleyball. On weekends the shoreline fills with people launching boats, grilling, and watching birds like herons and hawks move across the water.

The main day-use area is closed from October through February, but the boat ramp stays open all year with access from early morning to evening. Because much of the shore remains undeveloped, visitors should plan around the open spaces near the park rather than expecting broad paved amenities.

The water is clear enough that boaters can often watch fish move below the surface, a rare condition for a Texas reservoir. A man-made wetland on the south shore adds about 10 acres of shallow habitat, drawing wading birds and wildlife that are easy to miss from the main boat ramp.