Built to float, made to last

The remarkable story of how a Wichita Falls family’s floating boathouse became one of the last original Possum Kingdom Lake peninsula cabins.

Story by Mary Hill | Photos by Kim Nussbaum

Few people realize that one of Possum Kingdom Lake’s most remarkable pieces of history still stands quietly along the peninsula shoreline.

What began as an experimental floating boathouse in the late 1950s has evolved into a beloved family cabin where four generations have gathered – and where visitors from around the world have experienced the warmth of Texas hospitality.

For Wichita Falls natives Dee Ann and Noros Martin, the cabin represents far more than a weekend retreat. It’s also an important piece of their family history, and the story began in an unlikely place: a Wichita Falls backyard.

“We built the floating boathouses in Wichita Falls,” Noros Martin said. “They were constructed on 40-foot steel pontoons built by Jack Helmcamp of Burcamp Steel.”

Mounted atop the pontoons was a Nashua manufactured home, known at the time simply as a “house trailer.” The vessels were powered by propulsion systems designed and built entirely from scratch by Martin’s father and uncle, and three floating boathouses were ultimately constructed: two powered by outboard motors, and one by a paddlewheel. The vessel owned by Martin’s father was the most distinctive, featuring both the paddlewheel and a pilothouse.

The idea for the vessels was born over lunch meetings, Martin said, explaining that his father, his uncle and Helmcamp, a family friend, were all members of a group of Wichita Falls businessmen who often gathered at the Wichita Club. It was there where their conversations drifted toward innovative ideas for floating lake homes, and those lunchtime discussions eventually became a reality on the shores of Possum Kingdom Lake.

For almost a year, Martin’s parents used the boathouse to transport groceries to their Chris-Craft boat, which brought supplies to their floating home.  Eventually, practicality led them to anchor the structure permanently, setting the stage for the Martin family cabin.  Photo contributed by Noros and Dee Ann Martin.

Launching the unusual vessels attracted plenty of attention, Martin said.

“Life magazine was doing something in Wichita Falls,” he said. “They heard about these pontoon boats and came down with us when we launched them. I don’t think it was ever in Life, but they were there.”

Although the photographs apparently were never published, the visit reflected the curiosity these handcrafted floating homes inspired during the late 1950s.

For about a year, Martin’s parents lived with the boathouse exactly as it was intended. Groceries and supplies were hauled from shore to their Chris-Craft boat and then transferred to the floating home. Eventually, though, practicality won out, and the floating structure was permanently moored, becoming the foundation of what would grow into the Martin family cabin.

Nearly seventy years later, visitors entering through the kitchen and walking down the hallway toward the guest bedroom are literally walking across the original floating structure.

The cabin originally featured a modest kitchen, two bedrooms and a centrally located bathroom. Thoughtful renovations over the decades, including raised ceilings, larger windows, a remodeled kitchen and an expanded living area, have transformed the home while preserving its historic core. A spacious lakeside deck and a comfortable primary suite now blend seamlessly with the original structure.

Dee Ann Martin’s granddaughter was the one who added the finishing touches, and it was her sense for interior design that helped her select flooring and tile that complement both the cabin’s rustic history and its modern comforts. The result is a warm, inviting retreat that honors its unique beginnings while continuing to serve the growing Martin family.

Dee Ann Martin said she vividly remembers what Possum Kingdom Lake looked like when she first visited it in the late 1950s.

“There was one small grocery store at the four-way stop,” she said. “They sold block ice, mayonnaise and bread – and not much more.”

She added that families packed nearly everything they needed before leaving Wichita Falls, making each weekend at the lake feel like an adventure.

For her, though, the cabin has always been her “happy place.” Whenever she arrives, her first stop is the deck, where she fills the hummingbird and cardinal feeders before unpacking anything else. Looking across the water toward Costello Island, she enjoys watching birds while family and friends gather nearby. This year, another chapter was added to the family’s story when her great-grandchildren visited the cabin for the very first time.

The couple’s deck has also become the setting for countless gatherings with guests from around the world.

Hospitality has long been part of Wichita Falls’ identity, thanks in large part to Sheppard Air Force Base and its international pilot training program. For nearly five decades, the Martin family has embraced that tradition by welcoming military families into their home, especially the students participating in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program. Many of those friendships have lasted a lifetime, the Martins said.

Each summer, the Martins also serve as hosts for what has become affectionately known as the “Dutch Lake Party,” welcoming newly arrived Dutch military families to experience a classic Texas summer at Possum Kingdom Lake. Swimming, boating, great food and long conversations on the deck overlooking Costello Island have become cherished traditions.

This year’s gathering, which took place July 18, featured 38 guests, and for many of the visiting pilots and their families it was their first experience at an American lake – and their first invitation into a Texas family’s home outside of their assigned military base.

The builders of that floating boathouse built by hand in a Wichita Falls backyard nearly seventy years ago probably never imagined what it now has become: a place where family traditions continue, where lifelong friendships are formed, and where visitors from across the globe discover the simple pleasures of Possum Kingdom Lake.

The Martin cabin stands as a reminder that while remarkable structures may be built of steel, wood, and ingenuity, their true strength comes from the memories they hold – and the people who gather within them.

Noros and De Ann Martin, along with their dog Honey, enjoying their stunning lakeside view from their back deck.

What began as an experimental floating boathouse in the late 1950s has evolved into a beloved family cabin, uniting four generations and hosting visitors worldwide to experience authentic Texas hospitality.

Each summer, The Martins host the “Dutch Lake Party” for newly arrived Dutch military families at Possum Kingdom Lake, featuring swimming, boating, great food, and scenic conversations.  This year’s event on July 18 welcomed 38 guests, many experiencing an American lake and Texas family’s hospitality for the first time.

The cabin features a quaint kitchen, two bedrooms, and a centrally located bathroom.  Renovations have elevated ceilings, enlarged windows, redesigned the kitchen, and expanded the living space, revitalizing the home while preserving its historical charm.  It now includes a lakeside deck and a cozy primary suite, enhancing the original structure.

Remnants of the original Powerwheel remain anchored to the home today.