Texas Parks Schedule Holiday Events
The countdown is on to Christmas but there are still weeks of activities left at facilities in the Texas Parks system. We've received word of these fun events scheduled primarily for the coming weekends:
Through Dec. 24 -- Candlelight Christmas Dinners -- Starr Family State Historic Site -- Marshall, Harrison County -- Pineywoods
By advance reservation, Starr Family State Historic Site will again offer their annual catered Candlelight Christmas Dinners for group and individual bookings. Vocalists serenade guests with beautiful Christmas melodies while costumed hosts/hostesses serve dinner at the beautifully restored Blake Home.
Following dinner and music, guests will follow a beautifully lit pathway through the grounds to tour the magnificent Starr Mansion. Tickets are $28 per person, including dinner, entertainment and the tour. Reservations for small groups and couples can be accommodated through the evening of Dec. 24. Proceeds go towards preserving the rich heritage of the park for future generations. Phone the site for available dates and details at (903) 935-3044.
Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15 -- Trail of Lights -- Monument Hill & Kreische Brewery SHS -- LaGrange, Fayette County -- Prairies and Lakes
Enjoy a fantastic quarter-mile trail illuminated with thousands of lights that decorate the Monument Hill and Kreische House portions of our park. Walk a trail overlooking the town of La Grange. Experience the more traditionally decorated 1850s-era German home of H.L. Kreische, bedecked in Christmas splendor, in a Texas-German style. Bring your children to tell secrets to Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and enjoy the genuine seasonal hospitality of the Friends of Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery, who sponsor the event. Get into the season's spirit with us! 6-8 p.m.; fees $3 adults, $1 children 3-12; reservations required (979) 968-5658
Dec. 8 -- Christmas Caroling Hayride -- Stephen F. Austin SP -- San Felipe, Austin County, Prairies and Lakes
Enjoy caroling through the park on a hayride, then share cookies and hot chocolate afterwards. 6-8 p.m.; admission is one canned good per person (979) 885-3613
Dec. 8 -- Pancake Breakfast with Santa -- Stephen F. Austin SP -- San Felipe, Austin County -- Prairies and Lakes
Join Santa for a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee and let him know all your dreams for this Christmas. 8-10 a.m.; fee $4 per person (979) 885-3613
Dec. 8 -- Candlelight Christmas -- Barrington Living History Farm-Washington-on-the-Brazos SHS -- Washington, Washington County -- Prairies and Lakes
Come share a traditional Christmas with the Jones family at their annual gathering of friends and neighbors. Enjoy a festive atmosphere with a sampling of 1850s crafts, games, music and dancing. Wassail and cookies will be served. 1-8 p.m.; fees: $2 Texas State Parks Pass members, $6 non-members, $4 students, free for children 6 and under. (936) 878-2213
Dec. 8 -- Caroling Through Penn Farm -- Cedar Hill SP -- Cedar Hill, Dallas County -- Prairies and Lakes
We will begin the evening with a lantern lit tour of Penn Farm then have a Christmas carol sing-along around the campfire. Afterwards we will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. 6-7:30 p.m.; call to confirm program (972) 291-3900, ext. 232
Dec. 15 -- Holiday Celebration -- Martin Dies, Jr. SP -- Jasper, Jasper County -- Pineywoods
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of activities and music. At 2 p.m. we will hold our Annual Gingerbread House Design and Construction Marathon, with the Friends of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park supplying all supplies to create truly unique creations. At 4 p.m. we will have a festive sing-along live-band concert of seasonal songs and hymns. All activities held in the Dining Hall. 2-5 p.m.; call for more information (409) 384-5231
Dec. 15 -- Holidays with Nature -- Sheldon Lake SP -- Houston, Harris County -- Gulf Coast
Celebrate the holidays the wild(life) way! Join us in creating wildlife tree ornaments that can be taken home or put in a tree at park. Along with hot cocoa and apple cider, children can enjoy coloring and writing letters to Santa to receive a post card from Ole Saint Nick himself! 1-4 p.m. (281) 456-2800
Dec. 15 Estero Llano Grande State Park near Weslaco
One of the newest additions to the state park system, will be celebrating the Christmas season with Breakfast with the Birds and Santa Dec. 15. Texans of all ages are encouraged to enjoy breakfast on a magnificent covered deck situated right on one of their lakes and take some time to visit with Santa. Afterwards, Santa's elves -- knowledgeable park naturalists -- will be conducting a guided nature walk through the park. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. and reservations are required. For additional information call (956) 565-3919 or visit http://www.worldbirdingcenter.org.
Dec. 16 38th Annual Tree Lighting at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site
A longstanding Christmas tradition continues in the Hill Country region with the 38th Annual Tree Lighting at the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site. Throughout the evening refreshments will be served and the public is welcome to enjoy a live nativity, carolers and Santa Claus, as well as the tree lighting. Later, get a taste of history as the Sauer-Beckman Living History Farm will provide cookies amid glowing lanterns and a traditional German Christmas tree. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 16. (830) 644-2252
Dec. 22 -- Christmas Carols -- Lake Texana SP -- Edna, Jackson County -- Gulf Coast
Celebrate Christmas as we sing carols around the campfire. 6-7 p.m. (361) 782-5718
Dec. 22 -- Santa Swingin' 40s Christmas -- Battleship TEXAS SHS -- LaPorte, Harris County -- Gulf Coast
Visit the Battleship TEXAS and enjoy the spirit of the holidays. Write and mail letters to Santa, see dancing to swing music performed live onboard, enjoy hot wassail, meet and have your picture taken with Santa and much, much more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; fees free for Texas State Parks Pass members, $10 non-members, $5 senior citizens, free for children 12 and under (281) 479-2431
Dec. 22 -- Christmas Crafts -- Lake Texana SP -- Edna, Jackson County -- Gulf Coast
Make your own Christmas crafts to give or decorate your home. Held at the Nature Center. 2-3 p.m. (361) 782-5718
Dec. 22 -- Campfire Program -- Goose Island SP -- Rockport, Aransas County -- Gulf Coast Join us at the Recreation Hall for an evening of food and fun as we get ready for Christmas with an old-fashioned campfire gathering. Bring your s'mores fixin's and enjoy hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows as we share our favorite Goose Island holiday stories. 7-8 p.m. (361) 729-2858
Dec. 29 -- Holiday Dinner -- Landmark Inn SHS -- Castroville, Medina County -- Hill Country
A special candle-lit dinner served in a festive holiday atmosphere, catered by one of Castroville's gourmet dining establishments. Seating is limited to 40 for this fundraising event, proceeds benefiting Friends of the Landmark Inn. 6:30-8:30 p.m.; fee $25 per person; reservations required, deadline December 22, 2007 (830) 931-2133
Labels: holidays, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 2:01 PM
Palo Duro Canyon SP Will Remain Open This Winter
This winter season, Palo Duro Canyon State Park will remain open through the winter months. In recent years, the park closed facilities past Water Crossing #1 to public access, including many trails and campgrounds. The park also reduced staffing and hours at the front gate.
Camping & Cabins: All campsite and cabin reservations are handled through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s central reservation system at 512-389-8900 or visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Winter Hours: Winter hours for Palo Duro Canyon State Park are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The park may close occasionally due to weather. The direct phone number for the park is 806-488-2227.
TEXAS: One part of the park that will be closed this winter is the outdoor musical drama TEXAS which always closes in the winter. Its 2008 season starts in early June. For information call 806-655-2181 or visit
www.texas-show.com.
About the Park: Palo Duro Canyon State Park has grown in recent years to more than 26,000 acres, one of the largest in the state park system. It is located about 25 miles southeast of Amarillo at the end of State Highway 217. The canyon is one of the largest canyons in the U.S., stretching for miles in a northwest/southeast direction. Within the state park, the canyon’s maximum depth may reach 1,000 feet.
Activities include camping, from primitive to RV, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and camping (bring your own horse or, weather permitting, join a trail ride from the private stable in the park) and star gazing (the stars are very bright during the winter months). Visitors can also stay overnight in cabins on the canyon rim or in the Cow Camp located at the end of Park Road 5.
Labels: Panhandle Plains, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 9:04 AM
Lake Tawakoni State Park Becomes a Star Thanks to Spiders
You may not have heard of Lake Tawakoni State Park, located near Wills Point, before now but since late August the state park has been a media star.
National news coverage--on everything from CNN to FoxNews to the Discovery Channel. The coverage brought over 3,300 visitors to this 376-acre park on the shore of Lake Tawakoni, 50 miles east of Dallas, over the Labor Day Weekend.
Why all the attention? Spiders...or, more specifically, spider webs. Not just any web but a truly Texas-sized web that spanned several acres.
"When I first saw it," said Park Superintendent Donna Garde, "I was totally amazed. What ran through my mind was that this looked like something out of a low-budget
horror movie, but I was looking at something five times as big as what you'd see on a Hollywood set."
Stumped as to the web's origin, the initial consensus of arachnologists and entomologists who saw an online photo of the web sent by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist Mike Quinn was that it may have resulted from a "mass dispersal" event. In such an event, millions of tiny spiders or spiderlings spin out silk filaments to ride air currents in a phenomenon known as "ballooning."
Quinn collected a sample of spiders August 31 from in and around the gigantic web and took them to Texas A&M University in College Station for analysis. Entomology Department researcher Allen Dean identified 11 spider families from the sample.
Quinn described the Lake Tawakoni web as "sheet webbing" since it covers a large area of trees, which is more typical of a web spun by a funnel web spider rather than the classic Charlotte's web, or orb web, like that produced by long-jawed spiders. He speculates that the park's spider population exploded due to wet conditions this summer that resulted in an abundance of midges and other a small insects upon which the spiders feed.
Those wet conditions brought about the end of the web phenomena, however; a heavy rainstorm knocked down much of the huge web.
"So far," Horner said, "we have been informed of webs of this nature occurring in Florida, California, Canada, Italy, Ohio and now Texas. In all cases, they appear to have been produced by tetragnathids, but have other species associated with them."
Superintendent Garde said Sept. 5 that the crowds coming to see the wondrous creation had slowed to a trickle, and that they were not being allowed to access the nature trail due to the sloppy conditions.
"It was fun, but we were really tired," Garde said. "The spiders are great little guys. They put our park on the map."
For More Information:• visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/lake_tawakoni/• visit
http://www.Texasento.netPhoto © Joe Pase, Texas Forest Service
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 3:34 PM
Minor Planet Named for Texas State Park
If you're a nature lover, you might think that Brazos Bend State Park is "out of this world"...and now it really is.
"Brazos Bend" is the official name recently accepted by the International Astronomical Union to designate a minor planet discovered through telescopes located inside Brazos Bend State Park at The George Observatory, a satellite facility of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Joseph Dellinger, Max Eastman and Bill Dillon are a team of volunteer researchers at the George Observatory who spent four years observing the minor-planet Brazos Bend before it was eligible to receive its name.
Brazos Bend State Park Superintendent Steve Killian said, "The [park] staff and I thought it was a great way to showcase our great park, home of the George Observatory. We really have a hand-in-glove relationship with the observatory. We're partners, and it is really a wonderful opportunity to have the observatory inside the park. It allows our neighbors from the Houston metropolitan area to really see a night sky. The stars are big and bright in Texas, and here especially, you can see that."
The night sky over Brazos Bend's 5,000 acres offers an unobstructed view of the stars unlike any other in the Houston area. On Saturday evenings, the George Observatory is open to the public for a small fee. An available 36-inch Gueymard Research Telescope is one of the largest telescopes in the nation open to public use.
In addition to stargazing at the observatory, Brazos Bend State Park offers wildlife viewing, fishing, picnicking and camping opportunities and more than 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.
Brazos Bend State Park is located approximately an hour's drive southwest of Houston. The park is open all week, year-round, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
For more information:• visit
Brazos Bend State Park• visit
George ObservatoryLabels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 11:49 AM
Third Paddling Trail Opening in Goliad
On April 25, the third location on the Texas Paddling Trail will open in Goliad. The event will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Goliad State Park.
The initial segment of the Goliad Paddling Trail begins at Highway 59, flows 5 miles to historic Ferry Street, and continues 1.46 miles to a take-out at Goliad State Park. The newly designated 6.6 mile segment of the San Antonio River in Goliad County becomes the state’s third inland paddling trail — the first on a Texas river that is anchored by a state park.
The Goliad trail joins the Luling-Zedler Mill Paddling Trail (on the San Marcos River), the Columbus Paddling Trail (on the Colorado River) and seven coastal paddling trails.
As part of TPWD’s Texas Paddling Trails network, the Goliad Paddling Trail will include highway signage, maintained put-in and take-out locations, designated parking and interpretive information and maps to help visitors get the most out of a day on the water.
“Year-round river flows, direct access to Goliad State Park, and proximity to Goliad’s historic Courthouse Square, the Angel of Goliad Hike and Bike Trail and Mission Espiritu Santo make the segment an attractive canoe or kayak experience,” said Dale Bransford, SARA’s Park Services Manager, who is coordinating the planning and operation at the trail.
For more information on the trail system, visit
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/paddlingtrails/ .
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 5:32 PM
Stagecoach Days at Fanthorp Inn State Historical Site
Hop a ride on a replica stagecoach and tour the 1850s stagecoach inn at Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site in Anderson during Stagecoach Days. The event will include cowboys, cowboy poetry, and dulcimer music.
When: February 10, 11am-3pm
Admission: $1 for Texas State parks Pass members; $4 for others, $2.50 for children 12 and under
For More Information:• call 936-873-2633
Labels: Prairies and Lakes, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 11:55 AM
Valentine's Package at Landmark Inn, Castroville
Looking for a romantic Texas getaway for Valentine's Day? The answer just might be Castroville's Landmark Inn, one of only two two Texas Parks & Wildlife properties that operates as a bed and breakfast establishment. (And what's the other, you ask? The Starr Mansion Historical Site in Marshall.)
The 150+ year-old inn is offering a deluxe romantic package throughout the month of February. You'll be pampered with breakfast in bed one morning and enjoy the serenity of antique-furnished rooms with no telephones, television sets or other distractions.
The Package: The package includes a two-night stay at the inn on the banks of the Medina River, one evening of fine French dining at La Normandie Restaurant and lunch at the Castroville Café. Guests will arrive to find in their room a fresh flower arrangement and gift basket.
Breakfast in bed will be served one morning, with the other breakfast being offered in the parlor of the riverside Vance House, one of several historic structures on the five-acre site operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Guests booking the special package for the weekends of Feb. 10 and 17 also will receive free entry to an exhibit featuring handmade quilts from a handful of Castroville collections. The quilts will be on display in the Landmark Inn's new 800-square-foot reception/banquet hall that occupies the former location of the inn's museum.
Price: The package price ranges from $330 plus tax to $404 plus tax per couple.
About the Landmark Inn: The Landmark Inn offers 10 heated and air-conditioned rooms, four with private baths. Six of the rooms are in the main, two-story inn, while two are in the old rock bathhouse and two others are located in the Vance House.
Ranked among the state's Top 10 B&Bs by Texas Highways magazine readers, the Landmark Inn has been carefully restored and maintained to provide guests with an opportunity to touch Texas' frontier past while enjoying all the modern comforts of home. The inn dates to 1849 when Swiss merchant Cesar Monod built a store on El Camino Real at the nearby Medina River crossing.
To reserve your Valentine's package, call the inn at (830) 931-2133.
For More Information:• visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landmarkinnLabels: Hill Country, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 10:44 AM
LBJ Park Plans 37th Annual Tree Lighting
Mark your calendars for December 17 when the Lyndon Baines Johnson State Park and Historic Site will illuminate their Christmas tree and enjoy a community-wide event in Stonewall. The festivities include carolers, a live nativity, Santa Claus, a candle and lamp tour of the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm, and a nighttime holiday tour of the LBJ National Historical Park and the Texas White House. For more information, call (830) 644-2252.
While you're in the Johnson City area, don't forget the special events in town. On December 16, the Christmas at the LBJ Boyhood Home is held and every night you can enjoy the holiday lights (over a million!) downtown. Check out our article on the
Hill Country Lighting Trail for details.
Labels: Hill Country, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 8:33 AM
Go Caroling at a State Park
Next weekend offers several opportunities to enjoy Christmas carols at several Texas state parks:
*
Penn Farm, Cedar Hill, Dallas County: On December 9, start with a lantern tour of Penn Farm then enjoy a Christmas carol sing-along around the campfire. Call to confirm program which is scheduled for 6-7:30pm. (972) 291-3900 Ext. 232.
*
Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, Fulton, Aransas County: On December 9, the historic Fulton Mansion celebrates with caroling on the grounds followed by gingerbread and cider. For a reduced fee, you can then tour the Christmas decorations on the first floor. Scheduled for 6:30pm-8:30pm. (361) 729-0386.
*
Stephen F. Austin State Park, San Felipe, Austin County: Enjoy a Christmas caroling hayride through the park, followed by cookies and hot chocolate. Scheduled for 6-8pm; admission is one canned good per person. (979) 885-3613.
*
Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, Jasper, Jasper County: Enjoy a holiday celebration on Dec. 9 with the annual Gingerbread House Design and Construction Marathon starting at 2pm followed by a sing-along at 4pm. The activities are held in the Dining Hall in the Walnut Ridge Unit of the park. (409) 384-5231.
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 2:58 PM
Christmas Fun at Battleship Texas
Battleship TEXAS is celebrating Christmas in a Texas-sized way with lights, ornaments and decorations all across the ship just as crew members once did when serving aboard the battleship. You can tour the ship from 10am-5pm; the cost is free for Texas State Parks Pass members, $10 for non-members, $5 for senior citizens, and free for kids 12 and under.
Next weekend, the Battleship will also swing to the sound of the 40s with "Santa Swingin' 40s Christmas.) On December 9 from 10-5, come by for the special event which includes live swing music and dancing, hot wassail, the chance to have your photo taken with Santa, and more.
For More Information:
• visit
Battleship TEXAS siteLabels: Gulf Coast, State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 2:53 PM
Indian Lodge Celebrates $4.35 Million Facelift
Out in Fort Davis, the popular Indian Lodge historic inn is celebrating a five-year, $4.35 million renovation. The inn, which is owned and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has long been a favorite site in the parks system.
The Renovation: Original ceilings of pine beams, or vigas, and smaller latillas and most of the 200 pieces of original rustic wood furniture have been resorted. Also, the lodge’s heating and air-conditioning and plumbing systems have been upgraded in the first large-scale modernization to occur in almost 40 years.
The project restored much of the character and original features that had been de-emphasized or covered up in the “modernizing” of Indian Lodge in 1967 and replace outdated mechanical systems. Also, the patio was restored to its original layout with stone-lined concrete terrace, reactivated pool and fountain, and improved drainage and landscaping.
About the Lodge: Indian Lodge is considered the “crown jewel” of the CCC structures in Texas and is the only example of Southwestern Pueblo-style architecture in Texas, according to TPWD historians. The inn has 39 rooms: 15 original rooms built in the 1930s (the 100s wing) and 24 rooms (200 and 300 wings) added during the 1967 expansion, which also included the addition of a restaurant, swimming pool and meeting room.
Location: Indian Lodge’s location in the Davis Mountains overlooking scenic Keesey Creek at 5,200 feet elevation, where air is typically drier and cooler, draws a steady stream of visitors, especially during Texas’ warm-weather months.
Rates: Rooms rate range from $80 to $115 a night.
For Reservations:
• call (432) 426-3254 well ahead of time to make reservations.
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 1:50 PM
15th Annual TX Parks & Wildlife Expo Set for Oct. 7-8
It may seem like a long time until October (and on 100+ degree days like today it seems like a
really long time until October...) but be sure to mark your calendar for the 15th annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo in Austin. We just received info on the expo from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:
AUSTIN, Texas -- America's largest free, family-oriented festival of the outdoors celebrates its 15 year anniversary at the Parks and Wildlife Headquarters in Austin on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7-8. The annual event that began as a tribute to hunting's role in conservation in 1992 today includes fishing, shooting sports, state parks, Texas history, rock climbing, biking, birding, paddling and many other activities, all free to the public.
"Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo emphasizes recreation and having fun, because we believe that's the key to getting people involved in conserving our natural and cultural resources," said Robert L. Cook, executive director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which produces the Expo as a public service with the help of sponsors and conservation organizations. "If you've never tried these activities, it's a great chance to see and do it all in a safe setting with expert guidance. In everything, you'll find a message of stewardship, the idea that we all have role to play to safeguard our heritage."
Activities: Several new activities will tempt visitors of all ages to Expo XV.
The Casting Kids activity in the Fishing and Aquatic area invites young people ages 7-to-14 to test their flipping, pitching and casting skills, learn about fishing, conservation and protection of the great outdoors and win prizes. Participants will also have a chance at competing for a quarter of a million dollars in scholarships and prizes to be given away nationwide. This new Expo activity is presented by the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, part of a new statewide youth outreach initiative the group launched this year in partnership with TPWD.
For the first time, the nationally-known nonprofit group Leave No Trace will teach Expo visitors the seven ethical principals of responsible outdoor use in the Camping and Outdoor Skills area. Leave No Trace principals include Plan Ahead and Prepare, Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, Dispose of Waste Properly, Leave What You Find, Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, and Be Considerate of Others.
A companion activity for youngsters will take place in the Little Critter's Corner area. P.E.A.K. (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) will introduce young children ages 6-to-12 to simple Leave No Trace principles.
Also new this year are presentations about outdoor equipment and clothing geared especially for women and people with smaller physical frames. Many items from kayaks to shotguns are now available tailored to women's needs. These seminars will be presented by Academy Sports and Outdoors in the Main Tent.
For the serious angler, the new Strike Team presentation will offer tips and techniques for fishing in Texas and across the country. Berkley will present this activity with interactive demonstrations designed to show the angler the science and technology behind fishing products. Journals, knot cards and samples will be available.
The new Texas Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) tent in Camping, Outdoor Skills and RV area will explain this new state program to create or improve OHV venues that provide safe and legal family-oriented trail riding and camping opportunities in Texas. Enthusiasts can learn where to ride and hear about plans and proposals for new trails and OHV.
Nearby visitors will find the latest on recreational vehicle travel opportunities at Texas State Parks, including where to go and what's offered at more than 70 state parks with RV facilities.
Also new this year, Expo Recycles! Through a new partnership with Keep Austin Beautiful, the event will recycle thousands of plastic beverage containers, with KAB providing receptacles and volunteers.
Longtime visitors may notice the Expo grounds look different this year. Notably, the arena for the popular sporting dog demonstrations and the live raptor Birds of Prey presentation by John Karger of Last Chance Forever has been relocated to the north side of the grounds near the Wet Zone paddling area. This allows organizers to consolidate and better present Wildlife and Law Enforcement exhibits and activities.
The Expo Friday night banquet from 6:30-10 p.m. Aug. 6 is moving off site for the first time in 15 years to the new Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort on Highway 71 east of Austin. This upscale Expo tradition raises money for conservation causes, featuring live music and a sumptuous Texas-style feast. In the past, it has been attended by top elected officials, sports and media celebrities and movers and shakers in the world of conservation. The banquet auction will feature items like a guided hunt with baseball legend Nolan Ryan, a lady's diamond pendant and a New Zealand safari. This year's banquet honors Joe McBride of Austin for his many years of contribution to the conservation cause. Tickets cost $100 in advance, $150 at the door. The banquet is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Kelli Sellers with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation at (214) 720-1478, ext 205.
All events on Saturday and Sunday are free, as are water and air-conditioned shuttle bus service and parking. Although food may be brought in, coolers are discouraged because of the long walk to the grounds. Special shuttles on site will serve people with disabilities. Sorry, no pets allowed. Visitors are advised to bring cameras and sunscreen, and a little cash can be handy to buy food or outdoor gear and apparel.
Expo remains free to the public through the support of major sponsors such as Anheuser-Busch, Clear Channel Austin, HOLT CAT, Recuerdo, The Dow Chemical Company, Time Warner Cable, and Toyota. Other sponsors include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Careco Multimedia, Inc., ChevronTexaco, Farm Credit, Highland Mall, Arby's of Central Texas, Austin Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Boone & Crockett Club, Briley Manufacturing, CEMEX, Crosman Air Guns, Lower Colorado River Authority, McBride's, Shikar Safari Club International Foundation, Shoot Where You Look, Temple-Inland, and Weatherby Foundation International.
Out-of-towners looking for a place to stay can call the Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau at (512) 478-0098 for hotel and motel information. To make reservations at a Central Texas state park, call (512) 389-8900 or book online.
There is limited free parking near the grounds, but the best way to get to the Expo is to catch a free shuttle bus at Highland Mall (Foley's side) near I-35 and Highway 290. If rain shuts down on-site parking, all visitors must catch shuttle buses, which run from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
For more information about Expo, including maps and directions, visit the
TPWD Web site or call (800) 792-1112.
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 8:35 PM
Ad Campaign Urges Texans to Get Outside
With school out, there's no better time to enjoy Texas outdoors...but if you need a little nudging, there's a new Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept. ad program called Life’s Better Outside.
“State parks and the great outdoors are healthy, fun, educational—these things are all true,” said Lydia Saldaña TPWD communications director. “But research has also shown that the natural world is ideally conducive to provide something important that is missing for most modern families— the opportunity for quality time spent together.”
The ad is the creation of Austin's GSD&M, firm that created “Don’t Mess With Texas,” the anti-litter public education campaign.
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 1:18 PM
State Parks Damaged by Rita Reopen
Last September, Hurricane Rita ripped through East Texas and forced the closure of several state parks. Good news: one has reopened and a second will be reopening soon.
Martin Dies Jr. State Park near Jasper reopened over the Easter holiday weekend after being closed for repairs, maintenance and cleanup for more than six months. A partial reopening of Village Creek State Park near Lumberton about 60 miles to the south is expected by summer.
The majority of campsites at Martin Dies Jr.’s Hen House Ridge unit, one of three park units on O. A. Steinhagen Reservoir, were occupied over the busy holiday weekend, according to park manager Dan Odom. The swimming beach, too, saw plenty of action.
Odom said 31 water-and-electric campsites, 19 screened shelters, a mini-cabin and 35 water-only campsites in the Hen House Ridge unit are available for overnight camping.
Hardest hit was the Walnut Unit just across U. S. Highway 190, where 75 water-and-electric sites remain unusable, 20 screen shelters were smashed and a mini-cabin was crushed by fallen timber. In all, Martin Dies Jr. State Park has 227 campsites. Odom said he hopes to have the Walnut Unit’s group dining hall, boat ramp and fishing pier back in operation by May, though campsites will remain closed until repairs can be made.
For more information:
• call contact Martin Dies Jr. State Park, (409) 384-5231
Village Creek State ParkAt Village Creek State Park, park officials are shooting for a May 1 opening of 19 of its 25 water-and-electric campsites, as well as the children’s playground, cabin, group picnic pavilion, 4 out of 15 picnic sites and 2 of its 8 miles of trails. The Customer Service Center in Austin (512-389-8900) is accepting camping reservations at Village Creek for June 1 and after.
“We were lucky structure-wise,” said park manager Jerry Rashall, “but we lost about 50 percent of our trees. Three tornadoes touched down, one 25 yards from the park residence.”
Rashall said he hopes to have the rest of the picnic area, the walk-in campground and remainder of the trails open before the end of the summer.
For more information:
• call the park, (409) 755-7322
Sea Rim State Park and Sabine Pass State Historic SiteFarther south along the Gulf Coast, Sea Rim State Park and Sabine Pass State Historic Site, both of which suffered serious damage to their facilities, remain closed until funds for repairs can be identified, said Jerry Hopkins, director of state parks for southeast Texas.
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 7:23 PM
2006 Texas State Park Guide Now Available
We'll be swinging by a state park soon to pick up our copy of the newly released 2006 Texas State Park Guide. The publication is free but, due to mailing costs, you can't order it but must go by and pick it up in person.
The new 112-page guide can be picked up free at any Texas state park, most TPWD law enforcement offices, the state’s 12 Travel Information Centers and at various chambers of commerce and convention and visitor’s bureaus. The guide is available, too, as a downloadable PDF file on the
TPWD web site in English and Spanish.
Photo courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department © 2006
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 9:53 AM
Luling Opens First Inland Paddling Trail
There's now a new reason to visit Luling: the Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail.
This six-mile route on the San Marcos River between U.S. Hwy 90 and the historic Zedler Mill in Luling is the state's first inland paddling trail and offers canoeists and kayakers a safe, well-mapped route with convenient access and parking.
It may also bring an economic boost to this small town just off IH-10 east of San Antonio and south of Austin. To increase local tourism appeal, Luling residents, the city government and the local economic development corporation have come together to restore and redevelop the historic Zedler Mill (built in 1874) near the city's existing nine-hole golf course.
Local companies will provide canoe and kayak rentals and shuttle services between the paddling trail take-out at the Zedler Mill and the put-in at a new city park on U.S. Hwy. 90 six miles upstream. The city will maintain the put-in and take-out locations (parking is free), and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is providing interpretive materials, signs and promotion of the paddling trail.
For More Information:
• visit
www.tpwd.state.tx.us/paddlingtrailsLabels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 3:27 PM
TEXAS Returns to Palo Duro Canyon
We were glad to get this news today: the popular, long-running TEXAS show is returning to Palo Duro Canyon. You'll remember that for the past three years, the show was replaced by Texas Legacies. Here's a rundown on the show change:
TEXAS, the outdoor musical drama produced from 1966 through 2002, is returning to its magnificent stage in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This classic story of the settling the Texas Panhandle is back thanks to popular demand, with preview performances on June 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 and the season debut on June 9.
“It became very obvious that our customers were clamoring for the return of TEXAS. This timeless story about the determination of the people who settled in the Texas Panhandle still delivers a lot of entertainment punch. Now, we get to introduce a new generation to this saga,” Joe Groves, Executive Director of TEXAS, says.
And the play returns to the Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, one of the most magnificent settings ever created for the theater. The play sprawls across a 600-foot cliff behind the stage, adding some very special effects that enhance the play’s entertainment value. More than three million visitors enjoyed TEXAS in its previous 37-year run, when the outdoor musical drama was regularly listed as one of the top 100 events by the American Bus Association.
All the favorite characters will be back: cattle rancher Uncle Henry and his wife Aunt Anna; star-crossed sodbuster Calvin Armstrong; Henry and Anna’s beautiful niece Elsie McLean; drifting gold prospector and crowd favorite Tucker Yelldell; sassy and bold former entertainer Kate Lucas; straight-shooting and hard-working ranch foreman Dave Newberry and prissy Panhandle girl Parmalee Flynn. They will be joined by a cast of singers and dancers and a band of top-notch musicians.
Dates: This season of TEXAS, the 41st season of musical drama in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, will run from June 2 through August 19. TEXAS will be performed Tuesday through Saturday nights.
Getting Tickets: Reservations can be made by phone (806-655-2181),
on-line or through the mail (1514 5th Ave., Canyon, TX, 79015).
Prices: Ticket prices will range from $7-25, depending on the seat location and age of the visitor. Tickets during preview week (June 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8) will be discounted 25%. A barbecue dinner is available nightly from 6-8 p.m. for $8.50 per person ($7 for children 11 and under). A special family pack, including dinner and the show for a family of four, will be offered for $99 and for a family of six at $139.
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 8:39 AM
Texas Independence Celebration at Washington-on-the-Brazos
Under siege at the Alamo on March 3, 1836, commander William B. Travis dispatched a horseman with a terse message imploring the 59 men convened here in a drafty frame building to continue their deliberations to give birth to the Republic of Texas.
The resulting Texas Declaration of Independence, the only handwritten copy still in existence, comes home March 4-5 to "The Birthplace of Texas" to highlight the annual Texas Independence Day celebration.
An 1836 newspaper copy of Travis' last letter imploring "let the convention go on and make a declaration of independence," the original handwritten Texas Declaration of Independence and several other rare documents will be on public display together for the first time in 170 years at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.
The historic papers will be part of the "Let the Convention Go On" exhibit that opens March 2, Texas Independence Day, at the historic site's Star of the Republic Museum.
The exhibit includes the declaration, Travis' letter, the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, journals of the Convention of 1836, William Fairfax Gray's diary detailing convention proceedings and other key documents clarifying the Texians' grievances against the Mexican government and reasons for seeking independence.
Visitors to Washington-on-the-Brazos can view the documents at the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the two-day celebration.
Travis' two-sentence missive to those gathered at the convention, attended by such Texas heroes as Sam Houston, Thomas Rusk and Jose Antonio Navarro, concludes, "If independence is not declared, I shall lay down my arms and so will the men under my command."
"The reason the letter is so important to us," Houston McGaugh, director of the Star of the Republic Museum, explained "is that Travis was imploring the convention to continue so the world would recognize Texas as an independent country and the United States would protect Texas. He knew if they (the delegates) didn't declare independence, Mexico would come back into Texas and wipe them out."
The unprecedented exhibit results from collaboration among the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (Texas Declaration), Texas General Land Office (Constitution), University of Texas at Austin's Center for American History (Gray's diary), the Dallas Heritage Society (Convention journals) and Star of the Republic Museum. The documents will be on display through March 16.
Gray, a Virginia soldier and lawyer, arrived in Texas in 1835 and attended the Convention of 1836, recording proceedings in his diary. Gray's diary was published in 1909 under the title From Virginia to Texas 1835.
In addition to the "Let the Convention Go On" exhibit, park visitors attending the two-day celebration can experience the early days of the republic through costumed re-enactors engaged in 19th century folkways, such as blacksmithing and quilting, military drills and old-timey music performed by the No Foolin' String Band and Fathers of Texas. The latter band features Texas favorite K. R. Woods.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Houston television personality Ron Stone will emcee a special program honoring invited guests, signers of the 1836 Declaration of Independence and their descendants, concluded by the Texas Army's black gunpowder salute. A Fathers of Texas concert, featuring Austin music legend Rusty Wier, follows as a lead-up to the traditional cutting of a giant Texas birthday cake.
During the two-day celebration, park visitors can see a replica of Independence Hall on the original site where the Convention of 1836 took place, tour the Star of the Republic Museum and experience 1850s farm life at the Barrington Living History Farm, which includes the original home of Anson Jones, the Republic of Texas' last president.
All admission fees will be waived during celebration weekend. Festival vendors will offer a variety of food and drinks. The Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association sponsors the Texas Independence Day Celebration.
The historic complex is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Barrington Living History Farm is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The Star of the Republic Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is located off Texas Highway 105 on FM 1155 between Brenham and Navasota, approximately an hour northwest of Houston. For additional details of the weekend celebration, please call (936) 878-2214.
Source: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Labels: State Parks
posted by Paris and John @ 1:49 PM
