Heavy ice accumulation has devastated structures across Grayson County and Lake Texoma, with multiple marina boathouses collapsing entirely under the weight of up to six inches of sleet and snow.
The Eisenhower Yacht Club Marina suffered catastrophic damage, with boathouses 8 through 11 declared a “total loss” according to officials who have now cut power to the affected areas. Additional boathouses remain under “extreme stress” as the accumulated ice continues to threaten structural integrity across the region, local authorities confirmed.
Public access to marina slips has been restricted while roads remain treacherous and assessment teams work to determine the full extent of the destruction. Only boathouses 7 through 11 are currently without power, though that could change as conditions evolve.
Witness James David Archer described the scene as devastating. “There is a lot of damage at the marina, with many docks destroyed and some sinking several feet,” he told reporters. The marina’s wooden structures proved particularly vulnerable to the unusual weather event that caught many Texas residents by surprise.
Beyond the Marina: Widespread Structural Failures
How bad is it? The destruction extends well beyond the waterfront. Livestock barns, carports, and gas station awnings throughout the region have buckled under the extraordinary weight of accumulated ice and snow, creating a widespread infrastructure crisis across Grayson County and surrounding areas.
“We have always worried about Texas storms but never imagined it would be an ice storm,” said local resident Dena Burden, expressing a sentiment shared by many in a region more accustomed to preparing for tornadoes and summer heat than winter weather disasters.
The six-inch accumulation—primarily consisting of dense sleet rather than fluffy snow—created extraordinary weight loads that many Texas structures simply weren’t designed to handle. Unlike northern states where buildings are routinely engineered to support heavy snow loads, Texas construction often prioritizes heat resistance and hurricane protection.
Emergency management officials are urging property owners to safely remove accumulated ice where possible, though they caution against attempting to clear potentially compromised structures without professional assessment. For many at Lake Texoma, however, the warning comes too late—with sunken boats and collapsed boathouses already marking what one marina employee called “the worst winter damage we’ve seen in decades.”
