Texas Almanac, 1984-1985 Page: 75
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RECREATION AND SPORTS
Mexico, and to the men of the "black bean lottery" Rusk/Pal
(1843) of the Mier Expedition. Bodies of these heroes cent to Texas
were brought to Monument HiU for reburial in 1848. In age of 100.
LaGrange, old tree under which Captain Dawson re- State Railroa
cruited ill-fated expedition still stands. Park scheduled Sabine P
to reopen in summer of 1983 after major developments. County, sout
Mother Neff State Park was the first official state park quired by dee
in Texas. It originated with six acres designated for ard W. Dowli
park purposes by the will of Mrs. I.E. Neff, mother of an attempted
at M. Neff, Governor of Texas from 1921 to 1925. The gunboatsdur
park now contains 259 acres along the Leon River in Sam Bell
Coryell County and is classified a historical park. The Lamar Count
additional land was deeded to the state in 1934 by pri- sists of .4 ac
vate owners. Maxey fami
Mustang Island State Park is 3,790 acres on Gulf of House was of
Mexico in Nueces County, 14 miles south of Port Aran- Historical Pla
sas; acquired from private owners in 1972. San Jacin
Old Fort Parker State Park, an 11-acre historical site which is situa
in Limestone County, was deeded by private owners in honor of Tex
1933. In the park is a replica of Fort Parker stockade, Lopez de San
built in 1834 and was site of abduction of Cynthia Ann fled a historic
Parker on May 19, 1836, by Comanche and Kiowa Legislature t
Indians. and Wildlife
Palmetto State Park, a scenic park, is 263 acres along state historic
the San Marcos River in Gonzales County. The land was San Jose
deeded in 1934-1937 by private owners. Artesian wells Park Service
produce distinctive, sulphur-laden water. Nearby Gon- Sea Rim
zales and Ottine important in early Texas history. Gon- west of Sabin
zales settled 1825 as center of Green DeWitt's colonies, with five mil
Nearby is site of Elks' Hospital and Texas Rehabilitation private owne
Center. waterfowl; al:
Palmetto Bend State Park, in Jackson County. (See can alligator, I
Lake Texana State Park.) Sebastop
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, the state's largest, Guadalupe C
consists of 16,402 acres in Armstrong and Randall Coun- from Seguin
ties. The land was deeded by private owners in 1933 and acres. Period
is the scene of the annual production of the drama, Tex- Pending facil
as. Scenic canyon one million years old and exposes public.
rocks spanning about 200 million years of geological Seminole
time. Coronado may have visited canyon in 1541. Can- County, nine
yon officially discovered by Capt. R. B. Marcy in 1852. acres; acquir
Scene of decisive battle in 1874 between Comanche and 1973. Canyon
Kiowa Indians and U.S. Army troops under Gen. Ronald toric Indian p
MacKenzie. Also scene of early ranch undertaking start- ter open.
ed by Charles Goodniaht in 1876. S tarr MaD
Pedernales Falls State Park, 4,851 acres in Blanco shall Harriso
County about 14 miles east of Johnson City. Acquired Stephen F
from private owners in 1970 along banks of scenic Pe- Brazos River
dernales River. This area, formerly Circle Bar Ranch, park and na
typifies Edwards Plateau with live oaks, deer, turkey was deeded
and stone hills. Glden-cheeked worbler nests here. and the San
Port Isabel Lighthouse State Park, a historic site, con- township of S
sists of .5 acre in Port Isabel in Cameron County. It was conventions
acquired by purchase from private owners in 1950 and held. These I
includes a lighthouse constructed in 1852; near battle . San Felipe w
site of Palmito Ranch (1865); lighthouse remodeled 1952 famous early
and is still -used. Resort facilities available across paper (the Te
Queen Isabella Causeway at South Padre Island. tem of Texa
Port Lavaca Fishing Pier is a recreational area, ac- Ranaers.
quired by transfer of authority from Texas Highway Texas Sta
Department in 1963. It is 1.8 acres on Lavaca Bay in and Cherokee
Calhoun County. Main attraction is a 3,200-foot fishing and Rusk, ad
pier made from the former causeway across the bay. quired by Le
Port Lavaca City Park is at base of the pier and offers a runs in summ
boat ramp, camping and picnicking facilities. Operat- schedules. Th
ed by leased concession, to support the
Possum Kingdom. State Park in Palo Pinto County is 1896, the rail
1,528 acres of recreational land adjacent to Possum reached Pale
Kingdom Lake, in Palo Pinto Mountains and Brazos service betwe
River Valley. Numerous deer, other wildlife and some Tips State
cattle of official Texas longhorn herd live in park. The on the Frio Ri
area was acquired from the Brazos River Authority in west of Three
1940. 1925 and then
Purtis Creek Park Site in Henderson and Van Zandt near sight of
Counties, three miles north Of Eustace on FM 316. Total operated.
acreage 1,582.5 acquired in 1976 from private owners. Tyler Stat
(Closed pending development.) tional, north o
Queen Isabella Pier in Cameron County was trans- acre lake. Th
ferred from the Texas State Highway Department in 1934 and 1935.
1973. )t is a 5,100-foot lighted fishing pier on seven acres, world- there is
which connects Port Isabel with South Padre Island. ium, yler Ros
Operated by leased concession. Goodman Mus
Rancho de las Cabras State Park Site located in Wil- val each fall.
son County. Acquired in 1977 and consists of 55 acres, from park.
Consists of chapel and three rooms facing walled patio. Varner-Ho
(Site closed in 1983 to public.) along Varner
Resaca de la Palma State Park Site in Cameron County. The
County, three miles northwest of Brownsville, consists Varner, a me
of 1,190 acres. Acquired by purchase from private own- Hundred" col
ers in 1978. (Closed . to public in 1983 pending governor, Jam
development.) property in 19estine State Park. Rusk unit located adja-
State Railroad Rusk Depot with total acre-
Palestine unit located adjacent to Texas
d Palestine Depot with 25 acres.
ass Battleground State Park in Jefferson
east of Sabine Pass, contains 56 acres, ac-
d from Kountze County Trust in 1971. Rich-
ng, with small Confederate force, repelled
d 1863 invasion of Texas by Union naval
ing Civil War.
Maxey House Historic Structure in Paris,
y, donated by City of Paris in 1976. Con-
re. Most of furnishings accumulated by
y included. In March 1971, the Maxey
ficially listed on the National Register of
ces.
to Battleground State Park is 327 acres on
ted the 570-foot-tall monument erected in
ans who defeated Mexican Gen. Antonio
to Anna on April 21, 1836. The site, classi-
al park, is in East Harris County. The 59th
ransferred the park to the Texas Parks
Department. The U.S.S. Texas, another
al shrine, is moored in the park.
Mission State Park. Transferred to National
in April 1983.
State Park in Jefferson County, 10 miles
e Pass, contains 15,109 acres of marshland
es of Gulf beach shoreline, acquired from
rs in 1972. It is prime wintering area for
so home of endangered red wolf, Ameri-
rare river otter and muskrat.
oI House State Historic Structure in Seguin,
county, was acquired by purchase in 1976
Conservation Society, approximately two
furnishing is on display in the residence.
ity repair and development, not open to
Canyon State Historic Site in Val Verde
miles west of Comstock, contains 2,182.5
ed by purchase from private owners in
area contains several important prehis-
ictograph sites. Historic interpretive cen-
sion State Historic Site 3.1 acres in Mar-
n County not open to the public in 1983.
. Austin State Park, is 664 acres along the
in Austin County, classified a historical
ned for the "Father of Texas." The area
by the San Felipe de Austin Corporation
Felipe Park Association in 1940. Site of
an Felipe was seat of government where
of 1832 and 1833 and Consultation of 1835
ed to Texas Declaration of Independence.
as home of Stephen F. Austin and other
Texans; home of Texas' first Anglo news-
xas Gazette) founded in 1829; postal sys-
s originated here; beginning of Texas
te Railroad State Historical Park, Anderson
Counties, between the cities of Palestine
jacent to US 84. Total acreage, 507. Ac-
gislative Act in 1971. Opened for limited
er. See local Parks and Wildlife office for
e railroad was built by the State of Texas
state-owned iron worksat Rusk. Begun in
road was gradually extended until it
stine in 1909 and established regular rail
en the towns.
Park, 31 acres of recreational facilities, is
ver in Live Oak County. The park, a mile
Rivers, was deeded by private owners in
leased for 99 years to Three Rivers. Park
first glass factory in Texas. Privately
e Park is 994 acres, classified as recrea-
f Tyler in Smith County. Included is a 64-
e land was deeded by private owners in
Nearby Tyler famous as Rose capital of
located Tyler Junior College and planetar-
e Garden, CaIdwell Children's Zoo and the
eum. Tyler is home of the Tyler Rose Festi-
Morton salt mines in Grand Saline, 40 miles
g Plantation State Park is 65.7 acres
Creek east of West Columbia in Brazoria
land originally was owned by Martin
mber of Stephen F. Austin's "Old Three
ony, but became a later home of Texas
es'Stephen Hogg. The state acquired the
56 by a deed from Miss Ima Hogg, daugh-
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Texas Almanac, 1984-1985, book, 1983; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113817/m1/77/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.