Bastrop State Park
According to legend, the Lost Pines of Bastrop were
a gift from an Indian brave to his new bride, homesick for East Texas.
Scientists provide a less romantic explanation: the coniferous trees were
left in central Texas when a shallow sea receded 80 million years ago.
A prehistoric forest thrived across much of the state, but when conditions
changed only an island of loblolly pines remained.
Regardless of the explanation, one thing's for certain: the Lost Pines
are far from lost. This forest enclave southeast of Austin is found by
over 600,000 guests annually. Today Bastrop State Park is one of the most
visited parks in the Lone Star state.
Travelers come to enjoy the pines, but also to take advantage of the park's
man-made attractions. "What makes this park unique is the diversity
of facilities and services. There is no state park in Texas with a pool,
golf course, hiking, and camping. That's the reason we're the fourth busiest
state park in Texas," explains park supervisor Brent Leisure.
Some of the most popular features of the park are the cabins, built by
the Civilian Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. Two work companies
came to the newly created park to plant pine seedlings and to construct
buildings using native red sandstone. Paid about one dollar a day, these
skilled craftsmen left a legacy of rustic style cabins furnished with
hand crafted tables and carved fireplace mantels.
RVers will find camping facilities with picnic tables as well as electricity,
water and sewage hook-ups.
Bastrop State Park also boasts a 365,000-gallon swimming pool, and an
18-hole golf course that's consistently cited as one of the most scenic
courses in the state.
For all its man-made attractions, this park is even richer in natural
treasures. Fishermen enjoy a 10-acre lake stocked with bass and catfish.
Bird watchers seek out pine siskins, pileated woodpeckers, and painted
buntings. Hikers walk a quiet eight and a half mile trail, the sounds
of campers and picnickers dampened by a carpet of pine needles.
The park is also home to a unique resident: the Houston Toad. This endangered
species has brought widespread attention to the park. To help track the
toads, the park has implanted individuals with microchips; thus far, over
600 toads have been tagged. All future expansion plans for the park take
the Houston toad into consideration.
Bastrop State Park neighbors Buescher (pronounced
Bisher) State Park, but the two boast different environments. The number
of pine trees diminishes as you head east on Park Road 1, when oaks begin
to dominate the landscape.
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