Purtis Creek State Park

State park in Texas, United States

32°21′44″N 96°0′6″W / 32.36222°N 96.00167°W / 32.36222; -96.00167Area1,582.4 acres (6.404 km2)Established1988Visitors82,349 (in 2022)[1]Governing bodyTexas Parks and Wildlife Department

Purtis Creek State Park is a 1,582.4-acre state park in Henderson and Van Zandt counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The park opened in 1988 under the authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.[2]

History

Native Americans from the Wichita and Caddo tribes once hunted in the area. The abundance of game also drew settlers here in the early to mid-1800s. The state of Texas purchased the park property in 1977 from private owners for $1.4 million.[3] In 1980, a dam was built on Purtis Creek to control floods and Purtis Creek State Park Lake was created.[4]

Nature

Animals

The park surrounds the 355-acre Purtis Creek State Park Lake, which was designed for fishing. Fish species in the lake include black bass, white bass, crappie and blue, channel and flathead catfish.[5]

Fauna

The park lies in the Oak Woodlands Natural Subregion of northeastern Texas. Some tree species documented in the park include post oak, black hickory, blackjack oak, winged elm, and eastern redcedar.[6]

Activities

Available activities at the park include boating, fishing, hiking, cycling, picnicing, geocaching, and camping.[7]

See also

  • flagTexas portal

References

  1. ^ Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown". KXAN.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Purtis Creek State Park: History". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Nailling, Kathi (February 28, 2016). "Purtis Creek State Park offers a little bit of everything". Athens Daily Review. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "Purtis Creek State Park". www.rvweekends.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  5. ^ "Putis Creek State Park: Park map" (PDF). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  6. ^ Stambaugh, Michael C., et al. (2011). "Fire History of a Relict Oak Woodland in Northeast Texas" (PDF). University of Arizona. Retrieved June 8, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Purtis Creek State Park: Overview". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Purtis Creek State Park.
  • Purtis Creek State Park