According to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, the determined women of Texas were responsible for creating the first state parks in Texas. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas convinced the state legislature to buy 300 acres on a historic battlefield and designate funds for its improvement. This set the stage for further historic land acquisition and improvement, and in 1919 the first historic state parks were created under the management of the State Board of Control.
Texas governor Pat Neff created the State Parks Board in 1923 in order to create campgrounds to accommodate the growing numbers of automobile travelers. Mr. Neff and his mother donated 256 acres of land along the Leon River, west of Moody on state highway 236 in Coryell County, to create Texas' first official state park, Mother Neff State Park, where hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation are popular camping activities. The Great Depression gave President Roosevelt the opportunity to create jobs and boost the economy by allocating huge sums of money for the development of state parks, including Mother Neff. Texas developed forty more state parks in the 1930s alone.
Big Bend Ranch State Park, located on River Road just west of Presidio in western Texas, is a prime example of a typical Texas campground. Big Bend combines stunning natural beauty with historical emphasis and an abundance of recreational activities. The park has over 500 prehistoric Native American sites dating back more than 11,000 years with many shelters, ritual sites and pictographs. Rafting, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding and hiking are popular activities with campers. Texas parks and public campgrounds were built in keeping with a naturalistic theme that park planners called a "pioneer encounter." Most parks share the same untouched, pristine beauty enhanced with trees, unusual rock outcroppings, scenic hiking opportunities and water recreation.
State park and campground seasons vary by region. There are seven state park regions in Texas. Hours vary by campground and park. Camping reservations are required and can be made by calling (512) 389-8900. If making reservations less than 48 hours in advance, they must be made with the park itself.
Although state park campgrounds make up the majority of Texas riverside camping, some public wildlife conservation areas allow camping, and there are several public campgrounds like Llano River Camping, on County Road 314 just west of Junction and 135 miles west of Austin. Enjoy swimming, fishing, kayaking, tubing and snorkeling on the Llano River, or relax on shore and watch the birds, snap photos of the spectacular scenery or just observe the wildlife.
