Lone Star Travelers Blog » East Texas

Mission Tejas State Park, Weches Texas

joanie7 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:28:55 +0000

Visit our Mission Tejas State Park Photo Gallery

Mission Tejas State Park, a small unique park tucked into the Pineywoods of East Texas is worth a stop for a day or two. Located in Houston County near the North end of the Davy Crockett National Forest it is home to two historic structures.First the mission, a commemorative representation of the original Mission San Francisco de los Tejas. This was the 1st Spanish Mission in the then province of Texas established in 1690. It was built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in 1934. It’s location near the campground gives you a good chance to take plenty of pictures and perhaps just sit and reflect on what life was like for the priests (Frays) who lived and worked here attempting to teach Christianity to the Indians. The other notable building is the Rice Family Log Home built in 1828. After it was given to the park by a Rice family member in was restored and moved to it’s current location in the park in 1974. It has been modified many times over it’s 160 years history but the log form remains original and it stands as an example of pioneer housing. Mr. Rice opened his home many times to adventurers and travelers as they crossed Texas on The Old San Antiono Road. Camping at this park is tranquil and serene. There are only 5 full hook-up sites. (7-11) We stayed in site #8. #5 assigned to us when we arrived was too small for our 30′ travel trailer. There are 7 water and electric sites, an additional three water and electric for tents only as well as two water only tent areas. A small pond for fishing, short hikes and nature walks are delightful in this rustic setting. The park says dogwood is a spectacular show the last week of March usually peaking about the 25th of the month. Attn. Geocachers!!! Mission Tejas State Park has 5 caches!! For more info go to www.geocaching.com

Visit our Mission Tejas State Park Photo Gallery

Daingerfield State Park, Daingerfield Texas

joanie7 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:04:55 +0000

Visit our Daingerfield State Park Photo Gallery

Daingerfield State Park located 35 miles East of Lake Bob Sandlin State Park is in Morris County just Southwest of Texarkana. This small park (506 acres) hugs the shores of the small (80 acre) picturesque Lake Daingerfield. The loblolly pines at a height of 100 feet plus dominate the landscape. Spring brings blankets of wildflowers to the rolling hills while fall bursts with the reds and golds of the sweetgum, oak and maple trees showcased against the dark contrast of evergreens. Photographers delight in this quiet scenic park. In season visitors rent canoes or paddleboats from the concessionaire and quietly float the cool clear waters of this tranquil, no wake (5mph) lake. The day use area is impressive with it’s stately bathhouse dated to the park’s opening in 1938, a swimming beach beckons, a swim platform sits right off shore and a playground with slides and swings is here to be enjoyed. The Civilian Conservation Corp built cabins and a group lodge in the 1930′s. These have been recently renovated and should be reserved well in advance. 30 campsites offer water and electricity with an additional 10 large pull-thru lakeside sites with full hookups. Sites #6-10 offer direct access to the shore in a pleasant private setting. We stayed in site #8 and enjoyed views of the water through the pines. There is primitive tent camping at the Cedar Ridge Loop and water only sites at the Mountain View area. A trailhead is located in this hilly heavily wooded area. The entire 2.5 miles connects to the hike around the lake. The facilites here are older but kept clean and maintained. We loved this park for it’s peaceful serene setting and natural beauty.

Visit our Daingerfield State Park Photo Gallery

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park, Pittsburg Texas

joanie7 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:04:05 +0000

Lake Bob Sandlin State Park located in Titus County is near the small East Texas towns of Pittsburg and Mount Pleasant. With close proximity to both I-20 and I-30 this is a popular park with folks from the Dallas/Ft Worth metroplex approximately 140 miles distant. Reservations are recommended and should be made well in advance for weekends and school breaks. Although small (639.8 acres) the park feels spacious with 4 distinct camping loops. Located on the North side of the large (9,400 acre) Lake Bob Sandlin, a popular bass fisherie, you may cast your line from a lighted fishing pier, the shoreline or take advantage of the boat ramp to get right out on the water and snag one of those rainbow trout the lake is stocked with. There is also fishing in the trout pond located at one of two remote hike-in primitive camping areas. 66 back in campsites, nestled in the pineywoods offer electric and water. 9 of these are premium lakeside sites. We noticed that most of these sites were not very long so call ahead if you have a trailer or RV to make sure you can be acomodated. When not fishing there are almost 5 miles of nature trails that you may hike or mountain bike on beginner to intermediate trails 5 miles through the forest passing two ponds with crossings on 8 footbridges. You may spot bald eagles in winter as well as white tailed deer at any time of the year. Bobcats, although rarely seen live here and share their territory with at least one black panther who roams this part of Texas. A small cemetery in the day use area dates back to the days of Fort Sherman, a wooden stockade fort that would have been located in or near the park, built in the 1840′s to protect settlers from Indian attacks. The facilities here are older, the park was opened in 1987, but very clean. If you visit this park in the fall you will be rewarded with the spectacular red and gold colors of oak, hickory, redbud and maple trees. The staff at this park is outstanding. We were picnicking in the day use area when our puppy was startled and bolted off into the woods. When we reported this the rangers immediately went into action hiking the trails and helping us search. By the following morning this dog of ours was still on the loose. He was spotted by the ranger on duty who called us on our cell phone to advise where he had seen him. Happy ending we reunited shortly thereafter.

Tyler State Park, Tyler Texas

joanie7 — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:17:13 +0000

Visit our Tyler State Park Photo Gallery Approximately 100 miles East of Dallas Texas in Smith County you will find the popular Tyler State Park. The cities of Canton, Marshall, Longview and of course Tyler itself are close by carrying over a very urban feel to the park. When we visited in March 2007 parents of camping families were actually driving their kids back and forth to school at the nearby cities. At 985 acres this is a fairly small park with a pretty but also small (64 acre) spring fed lake. Lots of people fish from the shore (although we didn’t see anyone catch anything.) Canoes and paddle boats are available for rent in season. (5 mph limit on the lake.) There are 37 tent campsites with water, 20 sites with electric and water and 57 full hook up trailer or RV sites both pull thru and back in. We stayed at Site 36 which backed us right in to a great lake view however none of the sites offer privacy from your neighbors. 13 miles of mountain bike trails for all skill levels are well used as well as a 2.5 mile hiking trail and a .75 mile nature trail. The worst thing about this park was the restroom. It was cleaned every morning however with just this one rest room under heavy use serving two camping loops by midday the condition was poor. This park was opened by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1939 when bath facilities would have been adequate. Tip: Take a 15 minute walk to the bath house at the swimming area and use the toilets and showers. (no crowds, clean, no wait.) This is a pleasant park however it is busy with lots of kids and campers constantly coming and going. If you are looking for peace and quiet and communing with nature this is not the park for you. If you are an active family looking for your kids to be constantly busy (swimming, boating, hiking, biking) and probably meeting other kids this park is great. The Tyler Municipal Rose Garden is located in the nearby city of Tyler, known as the Rose Capital of the World.Visit our Tyler State Park Photo Gallery Note: Texas Parks & Wildlife announced on March 19, 2008 “Tyler State Park produces Budweiser ShareLunker.” At 14.5 pounds the largemouth bass is a new lake record.