Texas Almanac, 1982-1983 Page: 79
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RECREATION 79
ceremonial sites of Comanche Indians. Nearby Pease
River was site of battle, 1860, in which Cynthia Ann
Parker was recovered from Comanches. Portion of
official Texas longhorn herd maintained in park.
Fort Griffin State Park. - (See Abilene, Fort Griffin
State Park.)
Fort Richardson State Park. - (See Dallas, Fort Rich-
ardson State Park.)
Hardeman County State Park. - (See Copper
Breaks State Park.)
Lake Arrowhead State Park, south of Wichita Falls
in Clay and Archer Counties, this 524-acre recreation
park was acquired from City of Wichita Falls in 1970.
OTHER PARKS
Following is a list of park facilities, many of which
are under development and closed to the public. These
were not included by the State Parks Department in
their compilation of parks within 100 miles of a major
city. However, their location will allow those inter-
ested to figure the mileage from a major city.
*Acton State Park, a historical site, is a .006-acre
cemetery plot where Davy Crockett's second wife,
Elizabeth, was buried in 1860. It is six miles east of
Granbury in Hood County.
*Big Creek Park Site (originally Hale Ranch Park
Site) in Fort Bend County, seven miles west of Rosha-
ron on FM 762. Total acreage 4,897 acquired from pri-
vate owners in 1976. Not open to public pending devel-
opment; planned opening in 1984.
*Bryan Beach State Park, is 878 acres near
Freeport. Acquired by purchase in 1973 from private
sources. (No developed facilities.)
*Caddoan Mounds State Historic Site in Cherokee
County near Alto. Total of 70 acres acquired in 1975 by
condemnation. Closed to public pending development.
*Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site in Anderson and
Grimes Counties; acquired by purchase in 1977 from
Edward Buffington. Closed to public.
*Fort Leaton Historic Site, four miles east of Presi-
dio in Presidio County on FM 170, was acquired in 1967
from private owners. Consists of 17 acres, 5 of which
are on site of pioneer trading post. In 1848 Ben Leaton
built fortified trading post known as Fort Leaton, near
present Presidio, Texas. Ben Leaton died in 1851. Par-
tial reconstruction of fort begun in early 1930s and in
1936 Texas Centennial Commission placed marker at
site.
*Fulton Mansion State Historic Structure 3.4 miles
north of Rockport in Aransas County. Total acreage of
2.5 acquired by purchase from private owner in 1976.
Three-story wooden structure, built in 1871-1876, was
home of George W. Fulton, prominent in South Texas
for economic and commercial influence; mansion de-
rives significance from its innovative construction
and Victorian design. Not open to public in 1981.
*Guadalupe River State Park in Kendall and Comal
Counties, 15 miles east of Boerne on Texas 46. Total
acreage 1,900 on Guadalupe River. Acquired by deed
from private owners in 1975. Park has four miles of
river frontage with several white-water rapids and is
located in middle of 20-mile stretch of Guadalupe
River noted for canoeing. Closed to public pending
development.
*Hale Ranch Park Site. (See Big Creek Park Site).
*Hill Country State Natural Area (Louise Merrick
Unit) in Bandera and Medina Counties, nine miles
west of Bandera on FM 1077. Total acreage 4,753 ac-
quired by gift from Louise Merrick in 1976. Park is
located in typical Texas Hill Country on West Verde
Creek and contains several spring-fed streams. Park
closed to public pending development.
*Jeff Davis State Park is a 38-acre recreational
tract southeast of Hillsboro in Hill County. The state
acquired the land in 1924 from the Veterans' Adminis-
tration and leased it to the American Legion until the
year 2043. (No park development; not operated by
Parks Department.)
*Kreische Complex Park Site located adjacent to
Monument Hill State Park in LaGrange, Fayette
County, is 35.98 acres, acquired by purchase from pri-
vate owners. Contains Kreische Brewery and house
complex built between 1850-1855 on Colorado River;
probably first commercial brewery in state. Brewery
closed in 1888; it now consists of several intact struc-
tures surrounded by ruins in various stages of deterio-
ration. Various out-buildings located on site were as-
sociated with brewery and family. Closed to public
pending development.*Lake Mineral Wells State Park, located four miles
east of the City of Mineral Wells on Highway 180 in
Parker County, consists of 2,843 acres encompassing
Lake Mineral Wells. The City of Mineral Wells donated
1,095 acres and the 646-acre lake to Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department in 1976. The remaining 1,102 acres
resulted from a transfer of a portion of Fort Wolters
Army Post by the U.S. Government to the State of
Texas for use as park land. The site closed to the pub-
lic pending development.
*Landmark Inn State Historic Site in Castroville ac-
quired through donation by Miss Ruth Lawler in 1974.
astroville, known as Little Alsace of Texas, headquar-
ters for group of Alsatian farmers settled here in 1840s.
Landmark Inn built about 1844 as residence and store
for Caesar Monad, mayor of Castroville 1851-1864.
Closed for restoration.
Lipantitlan State Park, a historical site, is five acres
east of Orange Grove in Nueces County. The property
was deeded by private owners in 1937. Fort con-
structed here in 1833 by Mexican government; fort fell
to Texas forces in 1835. Lake Corpus Christi State Park
nearby.
Mackenzie State Park in Lubbock County is a 542-
acre recreational area acquired in 1935 from the City
of Lubbock, then leased to that city until 2037. The
park was named for Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie, fa-
mous for his campaigns against Indians in West Texas.
One of the main features is a colony of native Texas
prairie dogs; a section is called "Prairie Dog Town."
(Not operated by Parks Department.)
*Magoffin Home State Historic Site, in El Paso
County in the City of El Paso. Total acreage, 1.5. Pur-
chased jointly by the State of Texas and the City of El
Paso in 1976, it is operated by the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department. The Magoffin Home was built in
1875 by pioneer El Pasoan Joseph Magoffin and dis-
plays a regional architectural style developed in the
Southwest between 1865 and 1880. (Site closed to public
pending development.)
*Martin Creek Lake, in Rusk County, 4 miles south
of Tatum off State Highway 43. Total acreage 216
acres, deeded to the Parks and Wildlife Department
by the Texas Utilities Generating Company in 1976
Pending development, approximately 15 acres im
mediately adjacent to the boat ramp is available foi
public use. The site is being operated by a concessior
contract at this time and provides boat ramps anc
parking area, fishing and picnic supplies and limited
picnic sites for day use visitors. The primary use of the
Martin Creek Lake State Park Site is to provide boat
ramp access to the reservoir for fishermen.
*Palmetto Bend State Park Site, located in Jackson
County, six miles southeast of Edna on Highway 111;
contains 575 acres adjacent to Palmetto Bend Reser-
voir. (Site closed to public pending development.)
*Purtis Creek Park Site in Henderson and Van
Zandt Counties, three miles north of Eustace on FM
316. Total acreage 1,533 acquired in 1976 from private
owners. (Closed pending development.)
*Rancho de las Cabras State Park Site located in
Wilson County. Acquired in 1977 and consists of 55
acres. Consists of chapel and three rooms facing
walled patio. (Site closed to public.)
*Resaca de la Palma State Park Site in Cameron
County, three miles northwest of Brownsville, consists
of 1,190 acres. Acquired by purchase from private
owners in 1978. (Closed to public pending develop-
ment.)
*Sam Bell Maxey House Historic Structure in Paris,
Lamar County, donated by City of Paris in 1976. Most
of furnishings accumulated by Maxey family included.
In March 1971, the Maxey House was officially listed on
the National Register of Historical Places. Site closed
to public pending restoration and development.
Seminole Canyon State Historic Site in Val Verde
County, nine miles west of Comstock, contains 2,182
acres; acquired by purchase from private owners in
1973. Canyon area contains several important prehis-
toric Indian pictograph sites; Fate Bell Rock Shelter
tours.
*Starr Mansion State Historic Site in Marshall,
Harrison County, not open to the public.
Tips State Park, 31 acres of recreational facilities,
is on the Frio River in Live Oak County. The park, a
mile west of Three Rivers, was deeded by private
owners in 1925 and then leased for 99 years to Three
Rivers. Park near sight of first glass factory in Texas.
Privately operated.
*Parks have no camping facilities.
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Texas Almanac, 1982-1983, book, 1981; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113816/m1/81/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.