Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 49, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 20, 1993 Page: 32 of 94
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Page 10, JUNE 20,1993, Polk County Enterprise
The Big Thicket is a
To most people, the Big Thicket is a
mysterious, bewildering name for a
vaguely defined area. But it is more
than a “thicket”
To the scientist it is an area of great
plant and animal diversity, produced
from complex interactions between soil
formations, drainage and climate, which
has created a giant field laboratory. It is
a place that has resisted human intrus-
ion until only recently. Yet, its
resources attracted hardy pioneers, fol-
lowed by lumber and oil industries. Its
definition is bound up in its natural
resources and history.
But if the Big Thicket is difficult to
define, the Big Thicket Preserve is not.
It is a relatively new area within die Na-
tional Park Service that has been set
aside to preserve its natural, scenic and
recreational values.
The preserve covers 85,550 acres
and is composed of 12 distinct units dis-
persed within a 50-milc range. Two of
these units, the Big Sandy Creek Unit
and the Menard Creek Corridor, lie
within Polk County.
The preserve is still being developed,
but there are a number of areas with
facilities available for use.
Hiking trails can be found in the
Sandy Creek, Turkey Creek, Hickory
Creek and Beech Creek areas. The
Woodland Trail of the Big Sandy unit
extends into die Alabama-Coushatia In-
dian Reservation, which provides a tour.
Trail maps can be obtained at the in-
formation stations at the Turkey Creek
unit and at Woodvillc. The Turkey
Creek information station is located
near Kountzc on FM 420 two and a half
miles east of its junrtlonwith U.S. 69.
Call (409) 246-2337 from 10 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. It is open daily except in win-
ter, when it is open on weekends.
The Woodville office is on U.S. 287
west of its junction with U.S. 69 and the
main office is at 3785 Milam St. in
Beaumont.
The preserve also has two trails that
are accessible to the handicapped.
These arc the Sundew Trail at Hickory
Creek and the Pitcher Plant Trail at
T urkey Creek.
Camping in its traditional sense is
not allowed within the preserve, but
there are several developed
campgrounds within an hour’s drive.
Remote backback camping is allowed in
certain areas by permits only. Obtain
details and permits at the Turkey Creek
information station or the Preserve
headquarters in Beaumont.
Fishing (state license required), hik-
ing, photography, nature study, canoe-
ing and relaxing are the activities one
can do in the preserve.
Park naturalists lead a guided walk
on the weekends, and additional ac-
tivities tire scheduled, depending on the
season. They range from canoe tours (in
your own canoe), short couses in nature
photography, survival demonstrations
for the children and more. Some events
require reservations.
To confirm schedules or make reser-
vations, call (409) 839-2689.
For additional information, the
natural preserve
Kountze information station can be
reached at (409) 246-2337. The address
of the Beaumont headquarters is P.O.
Box 7408, Beaumont, TX 77706.
The Sundew Trailhead is between
Village Mills and Warren. Turn west on
FM 2827 off U.S. 69, go a half mile to
the dirt road, turn left and the parking
area is a half mile ahead.
The Woodland Trail trailhead is on
FM 1276, 3.3. miles south of U.S. 190
and 5.9 miles north of Dallardsville in
Polk County.
The North Turkey Creek trailhead is
off U.S. 69, 3.5 miles east of Warren on
FM 1943.
CINCO de MAYO — Hispanic elementary students in Livingston take
the opportunity to celebrate this Mexican holiday with ethnic games.
^WeCcmne *7k cmd
FIRST
National Bank of Livingston
‘T'V&ene Oun fa,.,.
SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
LIVINGSTON OFFICE
308 W. CHURCH
327-5741
CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
WEST SIDE BRANCH
HWY. 190 W. & FM 350
OPENING SOON
ONALASKA BRANCH
HWY. 190 WEST
646-3535
Serving Our Friends And
Neighbors In Polk County
. Since 1 ^>''2.................
MEMBER
____-EB.I.C......
Available At Our Livingston Office Only
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 49, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 20, 1993, newspaper, June 20, 1993; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth781925/m1/32/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.