Organization wants to renovate Shadow Mountain Lake
An effort is underway to revamp a once-popular lakeside destination by Horizon City.
An organization called American Patriots of Shadow Mountain Lake is working on purchasing the 4,000 acre property.
Its vision for the lake’s future extends beyond simply increasing recreational options for El Pasoans.
“There’s not another little lake area with pavilions and trees and a lot of nature out here,” said Tony Lang, the organization’s president. “(We want to create) a place for veterans and wounded warriors and their families and the local community to come out and they can have a relaxing, healing environment. If they haven’t been together because of deployment, they can come here and reintegrate and bond.”
The American Patriots said they’d like to employ vets to run the facility — veterans like Jesus Rodriguez.
“I underwent multiple surgeries — knee surgeries, back surgeries, leg surgeries — and as you can see, I’m still recovering from that.” said Rodriguez, gesturing to his right leg, which is wrapped in a brace. He depends on crutches to get around.
The Afghanistan conflict veteran is passionate about the project. He told ABC-7 about how he hopes it will recreate for others his experience when he was flown to San Diego for the Wounded Warriors program.
“Just walking along the ocean was very theraputic for me. But why travel so many hours when we have this in our backyard?”
“We want this to be a retreat/resort environment,” Lang told ABC-7. “We’re talking RV park, cabins, a path that goes around the whole lake so anyone in a wheelchair can still get around it.”
“There’s a huge veteran base in the community and I think this is the right spot for that,” added Lang.
The American Patriots are always looking for volunteers to help rehabilitate the area, and they’re there almost every weekend.
If you’d like to help — or even donate to the project — you can email Jesus Rodriguez at jesus.r.rodriguez01@gmail.com.
The group’s website offers more information. You can find it here
