Abilene State Park

History

The presence of humans in Abilene State Park dates back at least 6,000 years. The Tonkawa and Comanche passed through the park while hunting bison and also camped there. Settlers who had come to the region in the late 1870s occupied the land next. They farmed the bottomlands and raised sheep and cattle on the uplands. Many of the settlers were displaced when the City of Abilene built a dam on Elm Creek in 1918 that created Lake Abilene. The lake's purpose was to ensure a reliable water supply for the growing town, but the lake proved ineffective, even going dry in 1927. The City of Abilene found another water source in the late 1920s. The lake is now used purely for recreation.

The state acquired the property from the city of Abilene in 1933. Early development of the park was done by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) companies 1823(V) and 1823(CV) between 1933 and 1935. They cleared land and built roads. The CCC constructed a swimming pool, pool shelters, pergolas, stone water tower, stone pump house, water fountains, stone seats, picnic tables and fireplaces. They also built the park concession stand using local limestone and red Permian sandstone.

Nature

Abilene State Park is located in an area where the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau ecoregions of Texas meet. The landscape is short prairie grass, brushland and wooded stream valleys in a range of hills called the Callahan Divide.

Animals

White-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, squirrels, skunks and cottontail rabbits are seen in the park.

Birds that live in or visit the park, include the Mississippi kite, greater roadrunner, northern cardinal, hummingbird, Carolina chickadee and northern mockingbird. Bass, crappie, catfish and perch are caught in Buffalo Wallow, a pond in the park.

Flora

Live oak, Texas red oak, cedar, ashe juniper, honey mesquite, pecan and hackberry trees grow in the park.

Facilities and activities

Abilene State Park features camping sites for recreational vehicles and tents, picnic shelters, a swimming pool, a bird blind, playground and hiking trails. There is a volleyball court and fields for soccer and baseball. The park is on Lake Abilene which offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and boating.

References

References

1. {{cite gnis. 1329177. Abilene State Park. January 6, 2013
2. "Take a walk through pre-history at Abilene State Park". www.reporternews.com.
3. "Interpretive Guide Abilene State Park". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
4. "The Look of Nature: Abilene". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.