Lake Meridith Marina Closes

Some boats have ended up high and dry as a marina closes in the Texas Panhandle. Low water levels are blamed for closure of the only marina at Lake Meredith.

The National Park Service in November announced plans to close the marina. Lake Meredith National Recreational Area superintendent Cindy Ott-Jones says visitation to the lake, about 30 miles northeast of Amarillo, has slipped by about 20 percent since 2009.

The marina now must rid it's self of items such as boats. Some abandoned boats were moved to a parking lot. Forever Resorts, which owns the facilities and operated the marina, says everything must go by May 1.

Although the marina is closing, the boat ramp will remain open. Whether or not it will be usable is another matter. Ott-Jones told the Amarillo Globe-News, for Tuesday's editions, that the water line is now more than a half-mile from the ramp.