This is the history of Johnson's Ranch and Caddo Lake according to Dottie Carter. It's her story and she's sticking to it.

In 1811, the chief of the Caddo Indians living in the wetlands of what is now known as Caddo Lake, had a vision that he must move his people to higher ground. The ground shook as the Native Americans quickly left the bayou that had been home. The New Madrid earthquake opened the earth, forming Caddo and her sister lake, Reelfoot, in Tennessee. The great upheaval caused major wave action to move up river on the Mississippi River, appearing as a backward flow on the mighty river. Caddo remained mostly inaccessible until the mid 1800's when steamboats began to ply the tannic water, taking travelers to Jefferson and returning to New Orleans with loads of cotton. Finding the water level on the Big Cypress to be "uncertain", the term "uncertain" stuck and did and still does aptly describe the area. Outdoors, men and women began to discover the plentiful game and fish of what was then the only lake in Texas. The sportsman's paradise had been discovered. On the shores of the lake, cypress boats were built and camp houses began to appear. Among the first was a camp called "Uncertain".

When the City of Uncertain was incorporated in 1962, the name was not a difficult choice. The term, "uncertain" had been associated with the area for almost a century. When the paperwork for the incorporation was sent to Austin, it was returned with a note that the founding fathers would have to decide on a name for their new town before it could be incorporated.

The Uncertain city limit sign is stolen so frequently that the Texas Highway Department balks at replacing it. You can now get your own (Uncertain, TX, Population 150) signs at Johnson's Ranch.

Johnson's Ranch Marina is believed to be the oldest inland marina in Texas. Before the concept of reservoirs, Caddo was the only lake in Texas. Johnson's Ranch celebrated it's 100th year of continuous operation in 2008. In 1908, two Johnson brothers came to Caddo Lake from Minnesota to establish a button factory. They planned to use the lake mussel shells for button material. When they found the local shells too brittle for buttons, the brothers developed a fishing camp. (Why the brothers called the property a "ranch" remains a mystery). In the 40s, the Mauthe family purchased the property and ran the marina for over 60 years.

If the marina could talk, she would tell stories of the Caddo Lake pearling industry, when families moved out onto the then exposed islands of Broad Lake to gather mussel shells in hopes of finding greatly sought-after fresh water pearls. The first offshore drilling for oil was done on Caddo Lake. At times, the wells could be serviced by boats and at times, by trucks. The in-between time is the reason for the dam at Mooringsport, which gave Caddo a more consistent level. Most of this activity was on the Louisiana side of the lake, but the Texas side surely benefited from all the activity.

In the days when Harrison County was "dry", and Marion County, just across the bayou was "wet", stilted "beer boats" sprang up across from Johnson's. "Water taxis (row boats) were for hire at Johnson's to take folks across Big Cypress Bayou for dining, dancing and drinking a little beer.

Johnson's Ranch is presently being operated by Billy and Dottie Carter, both lifetime residents of the Uncertain area. The manager is Karen Holzman. Along with associate, Leroy Jones, the Carters and Karen welcome you to visit Johnson's Ranch and take advantage of the view and the breeze that usually cools the large covered dock, or the warm comfort of the indoor lounge on winter days. Enjoy refreshments (beer, sodas and snacks) sold inside while meeting a lot of local folks who use Johnson's Ranch as a gathering place. Learn more about the Carters and their guesthouses and fishing and touring at www.spatterdock.com and www.billycarterscaddoguideservice.com.