This year marks 100 years of Texas State Parks, and we want to celebrate.
Our state is full of natural beauty, and in our entirely unbiased opinion, South Texas may be the most beautiful region of all.
As nature lovers, we want to commemorate the centennial of the agency that maintains these natural resources for our enjoyment. That’s why, over the course of 2023, we’ll be visiting and writing about all nine state parks in Bexar and surrounding counties. That includes:
- San Antonio’s Government Canyon State Natural Area
- Bandera County’s Hill Country State Natural Area and Lost Maples State Natural Area
- Comal County’s Guadalupe River State Park and Honey Creek State Natural Area
- Goliad County’s Goliad State Park & Historic Site
- Gonzales County’s Palmetto State Park
- Kendall County’s Old Tunnel State Park
- Uvalde County’s Garner State Park
Before we hit the trails, let’s learn a bit more about what we’re celebrating.
- Texas’ State Parks program was created in 1923, but it was initially conceptualized as a collection of roadside attractions for travelers. It wasn’t until Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal that the program expanded, resulting in more than 50 parks.
- Today, Texas State Parks encompass more than 630,000 acres across 89 parks.
- The state acknowledges that much of its parkland is located on the lands of indigenous peoples. Learn more about Native American history in Texas.
- The only state park in Bexar County is Government Canyon State Natural Area, where you can see the only known dinosaur footprints on public land in the area.
Join in on the fun locally with San Antonio-area events throughout the year, or check out how you can prepare for your next road trip.
Or, join us on our journey. Share your state park experiences with us at hello@satxtoday.com or by tagging us on Instagram @satxtoday.
