Camp James Ray is located on the Texas side of Lake Texoma. The fresh, clean air and the refreshing view of this man-made lake provides a great back drop to another quality Circle Ten Council Summer Camp program. The close proximity to Dallas makes this a great weekend camp to visit during the off-season.

Facilities

The 540 acre camp offers camping, hiking, canoeing, sailing, rifle, shotgun and archery ranges, swimming, and 12 year round campsites.

Summer Camp programs include merit badge classes, rifle, shotgun, archery, sailing, canoeing, rowing, and motor boating using our waterfront on Lake Texoma. James Ray Scout Reservation is home to the Sanford Aquatics Center with a 280,000 gallon, one-of-a-kind swimming pool. This pool features a beach front entrance, two diving boards, two aqua jet systems, and a 141-foot water slide.

Directions

Take highway 120 West from Denison to Pottsboro. Take Highway 996 due west from Pottsboro. When striped roadway ends, take first paved road to the left. At four way stop sign at Locust Store, turn right. Stay on main road, turn right at Mill Creek sign. Camp James Ray is first entrance on left.(Hint: to find Camp James Ray, follow signs to Mill Creek Resort from Pottsboro.)

History

Camp James Ray, originally named Camp Grayson, held its first summer camp operation in 1949. The camp was moved to its location on Lake Texoma, after the previous site of a Boy Scout camp on the Red River was flooded by the Denison Dam. The high ground of Camp James Ray was a campsite for German prisoners of war who were required to work on the construction of the dam and Lake Texoma. The camp has over 500 rolling acres of majestic stands of oaks, hardwoods, pines, and cedars, and some areas maintained in native grasses. The beautiful waterfront area is on the south shore of Lake Texoma.

Camp James Ray 71 Camp James Ray Road Pottsboro, Texas 75076 (903) 786-2591 Click Here for a map of James Ray Ranger: David Carson

In 1982, Okiciyapi Lodge, Order of the Arrow, built a fort-style gateway to Camp Grayson. In 2000, the camp was renamed, the James Ray Scout Reservation, and a new masonry entrance was dedicated. The camp name honors Mr. James Ray, a long-time Scoutmaster in Idabel, Oklahoma and friend of Scouting. Also in 2000, the Sanford Aquatics Center opened. This magnificent pool and water slide was given to the camp, Scouts, and Scouters by Mr. Bob Sanford and his family.