Enchanted Rock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Enchanted Rock District |
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Enchanted Rock, as seen from the trail leading to its summit on a busy hiking day.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,825 ft (556 m) |
| Geography | |
 Enchanted Rock
Location in Texas
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| Location | near Fredericksburg, Texas, US |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | granite dome |
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Enchanted Rock Archeological District
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| Area | 1,643 acres (665 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001740 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1984 |
| Designated NNL | 1971 |
Enchanted Rock is a huge pink granite dome in Texas, United States. It is located about 17 miles (27 km) north of Fredericksburg, Texas. It is also about 24 miles (39 km) south of Llano, Texas.
The Enchanted Rock State Natural Area includes the rock and the land around it. This area crosses the border between Gillespie County and Llano County. It is south of the Llano River.
Enchanted Rock covers about 640 acres (259 hectares) of land. It rises about 425 feet (130 meters) above the land around it. Its highest point is 1,825 feet (556 meters) above sea level. It is the largest pink granite monadnock in the United States.
The entire Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is 1,644 acres (665 hectares). It is part of the Texas state park system. In 1936, it became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Later, in 1971, the National Park Service named Enchanted Rock a National Natural Landmark.
In 2017, msn.com said Enchanted Rock was the best campsite in Texas. This was based on a survey of all 50 states.
Contents
What is Enchanted Rock Made Of?
This large granite dome can be seen from far away. It stands out in the flat area called the Llano Uplift. Geologists call such a weathered dome a monadnock.
The rock is actually the top part of a huge underground rock mass. This mass is called a batholith. It is made of igneous granite, which formed about 1,082 million years ago. This granite pushed into older metamorphic rock called Packsaddle Schist.
Over a very long time, the softer rock around the granite wore away. This process, called erosion, exposed the hard granite dome we see today.
How Did Enchanted Rock Become a Park?
People have visited Enchanted Rock for at least 11,000 years. Archaeologists have found tools and arrowheads from ancient times. These findings show that early Texans lived and hunted around the rock.
Here is a timeline of important events for Enchanted Rock:
- 1838: Anavato and Maria Martinez were given ownership of the land.
- 1841: James Robinson, a Texas politician, bought the property.
- 1844: James W. Robinson sold the land to Samuel Maverick. Samuel Maverick was a lawyer and politician. He had the land checked for minerals.
- 1880–1881: Samuel Maverick's wife sold the land to N. P. P. Browne.
- 1886: N. P. P. Browne sold it to John R. Moss. John R. Moss then sold it to J. D. Slator.
- 1895: J.D. Slator sold it to two ranching brothers, C. T. and A. F. Moss.
- 1927: C.T. Moss's son, Tate Moss, inherited the land. He opened it for people to visit.
- 1946: Tate Moss sold it to Albert Faltin. Albert Faltin later sold half of it to Charles H. Moss, C. T.'s grandson.
- 1970: Enchanted Rock was named a National Natural Landmark.
- 1978: Charles H. and Ruth Moss, who owned all the rights, decided to sell the rock. They first offered it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife department. However, the state could not afford the price.
- March 1: The Nature Conservancy, a private group, bought the property for $1.3 million. They did this at the request of Lady Bird Johnson. They agreed to own it temporarily until the State of Texas could buy it. This made sure the area would not be built on.
- March 7: The Nature Conservancy gave the land to the State of Texas. They agreed that the Moss family would continue to manage it until June 1 of that year.
- 1984: The State of Texas opened Enchanted Rock as a State Natural Area. They added new facilities for visitors. Enchanted Rock was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Protecting Enchanted Rock from Damage
Sometimes, people have damaged Enchanted Rock by writing on it. In 2016, some people were caught for writing on the rock's summit. This kind of damage is against the law in Texas. It can lead to serious penalties. The summit was damaged again in 2018, but no one was caught for that.
What Are the Legends of Enchanted Rock?
Local Folklore from the Tonkawa, Apache, and Comanche tribes says the rock has magical powers. This is why it is called Enchanted Rock. Native people would hide on the upper parts of the rock. From there, they could not be seen from the ground.
The first European to visit the area was likely Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1536. The Tonkawa people, who lived there in the 1500s, believed they saw ghost fires on the dome. They also heard strange creaking and groaning sounds. Geologists say these sounds happen when the rock cools down at night after being heated by the sun all day.
The name "Enchanted Rock" comes from these old stories. Some people also called it "Crying Rock."
A plaque that used to be on the rock, but is now in a kiosk, tells a story:
From its summit in 1841, Captain John C. Hays, while surrounded by Comanche Indians who cut him off from his ranging company repulsed the whole band and inflicted upon them such heavy losses that they fled.
—Marked by the State of Texas 1936
Other legends about Enchanted Rock include:
- It was called "Spirit Song Rock" by native tribes.
- Native tribes believed it was a holy doorway to other worlds.
- Some say anyone who spends the night on the rock becomes invisible.
- A Spanish priest supposedly disappeared into a cavern in the rock. He returned two days later with a mystic tale of spirits.
- It is said to be haunted by warriors of an old Native American tribe. They were killed at the rock by a rival tribe.
- Another legend says a Native American princess jumped off the rock. She did this after seeing her people killed.
- Some stories mention sacrifices made at the rock by Comanche and Tonkawa tribes.
- People believed it hid a lost silver mine or the gold city of El Dorado.
- Bad luck and death will come to anyone who climbs the rock with bad intentions.
- There are stories of a Native American chief's footprints on the rock. He supposedly sacrificed his daughter and is now cursed to walk the rock forever.
- Screams heard at night are said to be from a white woman. She escaped from Native American kidnappers and hid on Enchanted Rock.
- A Spanish soldier, Don Jesús Navarro, supposedly rescued a native maiden named Rosa. She was the daughter of Chief Tehuan. Comanches had kidnapped her to sacrifice her on the rock.
What Animals and Plants Live at Enchanted Rock?
More than 500 types of plants grow at Enchanted Rock. They belong to four main plant communities. These include open oak woodlands, mesquite grasslands, floodplain areas, and granite rock communities.
Special vernal pools are found on the rock. These are temporary pools of water that support unique plants and tiny animals like fairy shrimp. Other wildlife includes bats, ringtails, squirrels, and foxes. Many types of lizards, like the Texas horned lizard, also live here.
Enchanted Rock is a great place for bird watching. You might see wild turkey, greater roadrunner, and golden-fronted woodpecker. Other birds include Woodhouse's scrub jay, canyon towhee, and rufous-crowned sparrow. Look for black-throated sparrow, lesser goldfinch, and common poorwill. You might also spot chuck-will's-widow, black-chinned hummingbird, and vermilion flycatcher. Many other birds, like scissor-tailed flycatcher and painted bunting, visit the area.
Visiting Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
At the park, you can enjoy many activities. These include caving, hiking, and backpack camping. You can also go rock climbing and have a picnic. The Summit Trail is the most popular path for hiking to the top.
The Granite Gripper is a yearly rock climbing competition. It helps raise money to protect the park. Safety and protecting nature are very important. Visitors are asked not to disturb plants, animals, or old artifacts. There are laws to protect these historical sites. Park rangers can inspect the area to make sure resources are preserved. Since March 1, 2016, dogs are not allowed on the summit trail.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department works with the Friends of Enchanted Rock. This volunteer group helps improve and preserve the park. Guided tours of the Summit Trail are offered on the third Saturday of certain months. These months are April, May, September, October, November, and December. Private tours can also be arranged for groups.
Images for kids
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Enchanted Rock panorama
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Full-width Enchanted Rock panorama
See also
In Spanish: Roca Encantada para niños
