Located 11 miles north of McCook in southwest Frontier County, Red Willow was completed in 1962. Some of the finest fishing and hunting in the state are found here, and the Commission has built some excellent facilities for camping and water-oriented recreation. At top conservation pool, the lake covers 1,628 acres of the some 6,000 acres managed for public recreation and wildlife. Dedicated bass fishermen are well-acquainted with its brushy shores (35 miles of them), submerged trees, and underwater structures. Red Willow is a haven for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
All visitors seem to enjoy the antics of the resident prairie dogs. Their town near Spring Creek is protected to insure they will continue to be around the area for the public to observe. Another special attraction at Red Willow is the longhorn cattle display, which recalls the days when huge herds of these rangy animals made the hard journey up the old Texas Trail.
