Big Spring State Park (Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Spring State Park |
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Pavilion built by the Civilian Conservation Corps
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 Big Spring State Park
Location in Texas
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| Location | Howard County, Texas, USA |
| Nearest city | Big Spring |
| Established | 1936 |
| Visitors | 35,663 (in 2012) |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
Big Spring State Park is a cool place to visit in Big Spring, Texas, USA. It's located in Howard County. The park first opened in 1936. The city of Big Spring gave the land for the park to the state in 1934 and 1935. The park is named after a natural spring that was once found there. Now, there is a man-made spring in its place.
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History of Big Spring State Park
The first time someone wrote about the spring was on October 3, 1849. This record was made by Captain R.B. Marcy of the U.S. Cavalry. He wrote about it in his journal while traveling back to Fort Smith, Arkansas, from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Early Visitors to the Spring
People from Spain might have visited this area as early as 1768. Before that, Comanches and other Native American groups probably came here often. They were likely drawn to the spring because it was a reliable source of water. Carvings found in the park, dated around 1917, show that other visitors also came to the area. These included cattle drivers and people moving to new places.
Building the Park with the CCC
After the state of Texas got the land in 1934, a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) started building the park. The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men. They used limestone from the park itself to build many structures.
- They built the park headquarters.
- They constructed a large pavilion.
- They made lodging buildings.
- They built a pump house and restrooms.
The limestone was also used to build strong walls along a three-mile (5 km) road. This road loops around Scenic Mountain. The walls were built using a special method called mortarless masonry. This means they used large blocks of limestone without mortar to hold them together. Some of these blocks weighed as much as two tons!
Things to Do at Big Spring State Park
Big Spring State Park has many fun things for visitors to do.
Park Facilities
The park has several useful facilities for visitors:
- There's a lighted group pavilion that can hold up to 50 people.
- Restrooms are available (but they do not have showers).
- You can visit a Texas State Park store.
- There's also a seasonal interpretive center. This center displays artifacts (old tools or objects) and fossils found in the area. It helps you learn more about the park's history and nature.
Activities and Fun
You can enjoy many outdoor activities at the park:
- Hiking: Explore the trails and enjoy the scenery.
- Mountain biking: Ride your bike on the park's paths.
- Nature study: Learn about the plants and animals that live here.
- Jogging: Get some exercise on the park's routes.
- Star gazing: The park is a great spot to look at the stars at night.
Since 2008, the Big Spring Film Society has been showing movies on top of the mountain every summer. They've screened many popular films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET The Extra Terrestrial, Star Trek, and The Dark Crystal.
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Scenic Drive
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Shaded picnic table with a view
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View from the summit of Scenic Mountain
