Texas Almanac, 1982-1983 Page: 69
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RECREATION 69
N 143Y1- ="__.RtkY "id .(." YA fisherman winds his boat between cypress trees of Caddo Lake. Many state parks offer facilities for fishing See
State Parks chart on next two pages). Texas Parks and Wildlife photo.
TEXAS PARKS
Because of high gasoline prices, many Texans have limited their vacation trips to recreational facilities
within driving distance of their home cities. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has grouped together parks
and recreation areas within 100 miles of major Texas cities and this compilation is given below. By careful plan-
ning, more than one facility may be visited in one trip. Contact the park directly by mail or telephone to make
reservations. To obtain list of facilities available at each park, write the department at 4200 Smith School Road,
Austin, Texas 78744, or call toll-free 1-800-252-9327.
Unless indicated by an asterisk (*), the parks listed below have camping facilities.
In 1980, 13,800,000 visitors availed themselves of these facilities.ABILENE
Abilene State Park, 19 miles southwest of Abilene in
Taylor County, 490 acres. A recreational park, the land
was deeded by the City of Abilene in 1933. A part of the
official Texas longhorn herd is located in the park. In
addition to Lake Abilene, Buffalo Gap, the original Tay-
lor County seat (1878) and one of the early frontier set-
tlements through which passed the Butterfield Stage
Route (also called the Southern Overland Mail Route),
is nearby. Buffalo Gap was on the Western, or Dodge
City, Trail over which pioneer Texas cattlemen drove
their herds to Kansas.
*Big Spring State Park is 332 acres of recreational
facilities in Howard County. It was named for a natu-
ral spring which was replaced by an artificial spring.
The park was deeded by the City of Big Spring in 1934
and 1935. Drive to top of Scenic Mountain provides a
panoramic view of surrounding country. The "big
spring"' nearby provided watering place for herds of
buffalo, antelope and wild horses. Used extensively
also as campsite for early Indians, explorers and set-
tlers. Prairie dogcolony on mountain.
Fort Griffin State Park is 503 acres north of Albany
in Shackelford County. A historic park. The state was
deeded the land by the county in 1935. A herd of Texas
longhorns resides on the park range. On bluff over-
looking townsite of Fort Griffin and Clear Fork of
Brazos River Valley are ruins of Old Fort Griffin, re-
stored bakery, replicas of enlisted men's huts. (Town-
site is not in park boundaries.) Fort constructed in
1867, deactivated 1881; crumbling ruins of various
structures still may be seen. Albany annually holds
"Fandangle" in commemoration of frontier times.Lake Brownwood State Park in Brown County is 538
acres of recreational area. Park situated near geo-
graphical center of Texas on Lake Brownwood. The
area was acquired from the Brown County Water Im-
provement District No. 1 in 1934.
Lake Colorado City State Park, 500-acre recreation
park, was leased for 50 years from a utility company.
It is located in Mitchell County 11 miles southwest of
Colorado City.
Possum Kingdom State Park in Palo Pinto County is
1,528 acres of recreational land adjacent to Possum
Kingdom Lake in Palo Pinto Mountains and Brazos
River Valley. Numerous deer and other wildlife live in
park. Some cattle of official Texas longhorn herd
located in park. Area acquired from Brazos River Au-
thority in 1940.
AUSTIN
Bastrop State Park is 2,033 acres, including a 10-
acre lake. The park was acquired by deeds from the
City of Bastrop during 1933 to 1935. Site of famous "Lost
Pines," isolated timbered region of loblolly pine and
hardwoods. Nearby Lake Bastrop offers good fishing.
State Capitol at Austin 30 miles away; 13-mile drive
through forest leads to Buescher State Park.
Blanco State Park is 110 acres, along the Blanco
River in Blanco County. A recreational park, the land
was deeded in 1936 by private owners. Park area used
as campsite by early explorers and settlers. LBJ Ranch
and LBJ State Historical Park located less than 30 miles
away.
Buescher State Park, a scenic area, is 1,012 acres
near Smithville in Bastrop County. The state was
Continued on p. 72
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Texas Almanac, 1982-1983, book, 1981; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113816/m1/71/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.