Texas Almanac, 1990-1991 Page: 446
611 p. : col. ill., maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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446 TEXAS ALMANAC 1990-1991
13,500 surface acres with 106 miles of shoreline. The land
surrounding the lake is generally semiarid, gently roll-
ing prairie, much of which has been invaded by mes-
quite in recent decades.
Lake Bob Sandlin State Recreation Area, on the
wooded shoreline of 9,400-acre Lake Bob Sandlin, is lo-
cated 12 miles southwest of Mount Pleasant off FM 21 in
Titus County. Facilities in the 640-acre park include
picnic sites, a group picnic shelter, screened shelters,
multi-use campsites, primitive camping, trails, a two-
lane boat ramp and a fishing pier. Oak, hickory and
pine abound, and the reservoir is stocked with large-
mouth bass, catfish and crappie.
Lake Brownwood State Recreation Area in Brown
County is 537.5 acres acquired from the Brown County
Water Improvement District No. 1 in 1934. Park situated
on Lake Brownwood near geographical center of Texas.
Lake Colorado City State Recreation Area, 500 acres
leased for 50 years from a utility company. It is located
in Mitchell County 11 miles southwest of Colorado City.
Lake Corpus Christi State Recreation Area, a 365
land-acre park located in San Patricio, Jim Wells and
Live Oak counties, was leased from city of Corpus
Christi in 1934. Lake noted for big blue, channel and yel-
low catfish. Sunfish, bass and crappie also taken. City of
Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore are
nearby.
Lake Lewisville State Recreation Area is a 721-acre
park located on the reservoir's east central shore and
was developed as the result of a 50-year lease
agreement with the Corps of Engineers. Located north
of Dallas in Denton County, the park has campsites,
screened shelters, boat ramps, park store and swim-
ming. Geology of Lake Lewisville directly affects the
soils, thus the vegetation. Underlying the east side of
the lake is the Eagle Ford Formation, a dark gray to tan
shale with marine fossils deposited about 100 million
years ago. Lake Lewisville State Park is located on
what is called an upland terrace, where silts were de-
posited on top of shale by the ancient Trinity River.
Lake Livingston State Recreation Area, in Polk
County, six miles southwest of Livingston on FM 3126,
contains 635.5 acres along Lake Livingston. Acquired by
deed from private landowners in 1971. Near ghost town
of Swartwout, steamboat landing on Trinity River in
1830s and 1840s. Polk County's first commissioners court
met there before voters selected Livingston as county
seat.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park, located four miles
east of the city of Mineral Wells on Highway 180 in Par-
ker County, consists of 2,905 acres encompassing Lake
Mineral Wells. The city of Mineral Wells donated 1,095
land acres and the 646-acre lake to Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department in 1976. Some of the remaining
acreage was transferred from Fort Wolters Army Post
by the U.S. Government to the State of Texas for use as
park land.
Lake Somerville State Recreation Area, in Lee and
Burieson counties, was leased from the federal govern-
ment in 1969. The 5,200-acre park includes many recre-
ational facilities. Many species of wild game observed
at park; white-tailed deer, fox, coyote, raccoon, rabbit
and quail abundant. Various park areas feature sandy
or grassy shallow shorelines ideal for wading or swim-
ming.
Lake Texana State Recreation Area is 575 acres, sev-
en miles east of Edna on State Highway 111, with camp-
ing, boating, fishing, picnicking facilities. It was
acquired by a 50-year lease agreement with the Bureau
of Reclamation in 1977.
Lake Whitney State Recreation Area is 955 acres
along the east shore of Lake Whitney in Hill County.
Acquired in 1954 by a Department of the Army lease,
the state has control until 2003. Located on Lake Whitney
near ruins of Towash, early Texas settlement inundated
by Lake Whitney. Towash Village named for chief of
Hainai Indians that moved into area in 1835. Park noted
for bluebonnets in spring.
Landmark Inn State Historic Site 4.7 acres in Castro-
ville acquired through donation by Miss Ruth Lawler in
1974. Castroville, known as Little Alsace of Texas, head-
quarters for group of Alsatian farmers settled there in
1840s. Landmark Inn built about 1844 as residence and
store for Caesar Monad, mayor of Castroville 1851-1864.
Lipantitlan State Historic Site is five acres east of
Orange Grove in Nueces County. The property was
deeded by private owners in 1937. Fort constructed here
in 1833 by Mexican government; fort fell to Texas forces
in 1835. Lake Corpus Christi State Recreation Area is
nearby.Lockhart State Recreation Area is 263.7 acres near
Lockhart in Caldwell County. The land was deeded by
private owners between 1934 and 1937. Emanuel Episco-
pal Church in Lockhart is one of oldest Protestant
churches in continuous use in Texas. After Comanche
raid at Linnville, Battle of Plum Creek (1840) was fought
in area.
Longhorn Cavern State Park in Burnet County is 639
acres classified as a scenic park. It was acquired in 1932-
1937 from private owners. The cave has been used as a
shelter since prehistoric times. Among legends about
the cave is one that the outlaw Sam Bass hid a $2 million
cache of stolen money. Another legend is that the de-
fenders of the Confederacy made gunpowder in the
cave during the Civil War, and another story states
Gen. Robert E. Lee, while stationed in Texas before the
Civil War, chased some Indians into the cave but lost
their trail. Inks Lake State Park and federal fish hatch-
ery located nearby. Park operated by concession
agreement.
Lost Maples State Natural Area consists of 2,174.2
scenic acres in Bandera County, four miles north of
Vanderpool on Ranch Road 187. Acquired by purchase
from private owners in 1973. Outstanding example of
Edwards Plateau flora and fauna, features isolated
stand of uncommon Uvalde bigtooth maple. Golden-
cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo have been
sighted in park.
Lyndon B. Johnson State Historical Park, in Gillespie
County near Stonewall, contains 732.8 acres. Acquired
in 1967 with private donations. Statue of Johnson
unveiled in 1974 ceremonies. Home of Lyndon B.
Johnson located north bank of Pedernales River across
Ranch Road 1 from park; portion of official Texas long-
horn herd maintained at park. Wildlife exhibit includes
turkey, deer and buffalo. Living history demonstrations
in progress at restored Sauer-Beckmann house. Recons-
truction of Johnson birthplace, located east of ranch
house at end of Park Road 49, open to public. Nearby is
family cemetery where former president and relatives
are buried. In Johnson City is boyhood home of Presi-
dent Johnson. Near outskirts of Johnson City is cluster
of stone barns and buildings constructed by his grand-
father, Sam Ealy Johnson Sr., and his brother Tom.
(See also National Parks.)
McKinney Falls State Park in Travis County east of
Interstate 35 and near Bergstrom AFB is a 640.6-acre
park acquired in 1970 from private donation. The head-
quarters of the Parks and Wildlife Department are at
this location.
Mackenzie State Recreation Area in Lubbock Coun-
ty is a 542.2-acre park acquired in 1935 from the city of
Lubbock, then leased to that city until 2037. The park
was named for Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie, famous 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 Coun-
ty in the city of El Paso; total acreage, 1.5. Purchased
jointly by the state of Texas and the city of El Paso in
1976, it is operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife De-
partment. The Magoffin Home was built in 1875 by pio-
neer El Pasoan Joseph Magoffin and displays a
regional architectural style developed in the Southwest
between 1865 and 1880.
Martin Creek Lake State Recreation Area, in Rusk
County, 4 miles south of Tatum off State Highway 43.
Total acreage 286.9 acres, deeded to the Parks and Wild-
life Department by the Texas Utilities Generating Com-
pany in 1976. The area provides 20 primitive campsites,
60 campsites with water and electricity, 21 screened
shelters, 48 picnic sites, a pavillion and a boat ramp.
Martin Dies Jr. State Park, until 1965 the Dam B
State Park, is 705-acre recreational area in Jasper and
Tyler counties. The land was acquired from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers by lease in 1964. Park located
at edge of Big Thicket. In spring, Dogwood Festival is
held at Woodville. Park approximately 30 miles from Al-
abama-Coushatta Indian Reservation.
Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Manage-
ment Area: Separated from the mainland by San Anto-
nio and Espiritu Santo bays, Matagorda Island is one of
the barrier islands that border the Gulf and protect the
mainland from the great tides and strong wave action
of the open ocean. The southwestern tip of the island,
consisting of 11,500 acres, is privately owned, and the
remainder, which extends approximately 24 miles to the
northeast, consists of 24,893 acres of state land and 19,-
000 acres of federal land. Under a cooperative agree-
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Kingston, Mike. Texas Almanac, 1990-1991, book, 1989; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth162512/m1/448/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.