Category Archive

Established 1968 | Reeves County | 751 acresEstablished 1968 | Reeves County | 751 acresScuba Diving in Balmorhea | The Cummings Collection (1964)San Solomon Springs has served as a vital natural resource for thousands of years, from prehistoric hunter-gatherers and the Mescalero Apache to Mexican farmers and white settlers. As personal car ownership soared in the early twentieth century, the … Read More

Established 1937 | Bastrop County | 6,600 acresEstablished 1937 | Bastrop County | 6,600 acresBastrop State Park | Made in Texas (1990)To create harmony with the surrounding landscape, Bastrop State Park architect Arthur Fehr directed Civilian Conservation Corps Companies 1805 and 1811 to use native woods and sandstone. The craftsmanship of the park’s facilities contributed to its recognition as a … Read More

Established 1983 | Harris CountyEstablished 1983 | Harris CountyBattleship Texas | The Easterwood Family Films (1958)Launched on May 18, 1912, USS Texas saw action in both World War I and World War II, including D-Day and the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In 1948, the battleship made anchorage along the Houston Ship Channel near the San Jacinto Monument in … Read More

Established 1944 | Hidalgo County | 764 acresEstablished 1944 | Hidalgo County | 764 acresBentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park | Exploring the Texas State Park System (1970s)As this 1970s government film segment explains, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park is “one of the few remaining tracks of Lower Rio Grande Valley brush.” Encompassing multiple biodiverse habitats, the park serves as a … Read More

Established 1934 | Blanco County | 104 acresEstablished 1934 | Blanco County | 104 acresBlanco State Park | Vacation Trails: Hill Country and the Highland Lakes (1943)Blanco State Park was among the first Texas parks constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, with Company 854 working six days a week for 11 months to build roads, bridges, dams, and picnic spots—spots … Read More

Established 1940 | Bastrop County | 1,016 acresEstablished 1940 | Bastrop County | 1,016 acresBuescher State Park | The Coltman Collection (1973)The land of Buescher State Park was once part of Stephen F. Austin’s colonial grant from the Spanish government. To create the park, architect Arthur Fehr reimagined the existing Smithville State Park as a sister to the nearby Bastrop … Read More

Established 1933 | Harrison County | 468 acresEstablished 1933 | Harrison County | 468 acresCaddo Lake State Park | Texas: Land of Contrast (1966)People have lived in the wilderness surrounding Caddo Lake for at least 12,000 years, including the Caddo Native American tribes that gave the lake its name. The surrounding forests and wetlands are home to hundreds of native … Read More

Established 1982 | Briscoe County | 15,314 acresEstablished 1982 | Briscoe County | 15,314 acresTexas State Bison Herd | The Weidman Collection (1998)In 1882, Charles Goodnight began purchasing vast acres of land in the Texas Panhandle to create the J.A. Ranch—part of which would later become Caprock Canyons State Park. At the urging of his wife, Mary, the famed rancher … Read More

Established 1938 | Morris County | 507 acresEstablished 1938 | Morris County | 507 acresDaingerfield State Park | Adventure at Our Door (c. 1959)While people have come to the area surrounding Daingerfield State Park for thousands of years (nearby prehistoric sites date to 9,500 BCE), the Civilian Conservation Corps created much of what park visitors encounter today. Beyond the typical … Read More

Established 1938 | Davis County | 2,709 acresEstablished 1938 | Davis County | 2,709 acresDavis Mountains State Park | Adventure at Our Door (c. 1959)The Texas Legislature long considered the Davis Mountains an ideal destination for vacationing motorists and train travelers, so park development began soon after local ranchers donated the necessary acreage. The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of … Read More