PO Box 75
Smithville TX 78957-0075
512/237-2241
History: Buescher State Park, a
scenic area, is 1016.7 acres just north of Smithville in Bastrop County. Between
the years 1933 and 1936, Mr. Emil and Mrs. Elizabeth Buescher originally deeded
318 acres of land to the state. After Emil Buescher's death, his heirs donated
318 more acres. The rest of the parkland was acquired from the city of
Smithville. The original park totaled 1738 acres and opened in 1940.
Approximately 700 of the acres were later deeded to MD Anderson and UT Cancer
Center.
El Camino Real (King's/Royal Highway) once ran near the park, connecting San
Antonio de Bexar with Spanish missions in East Texas and generally followed
present-day Texas State Highway 21 and Old San Antonio Road. This park land was
part of Austin's colonial grant, and the original park improvements were made by
the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). A scenic park road connects Buescher
State Park with Bastrop State Park and travels through a part of the lovely lost
pines, a remnant of what is thought to have once been an extensive pine-oak
forest covering much of Central Texas, during the time Ice Age glaciers reigned
to the north.
Activities: Activities are
non-motorized boating permitted (no ramp/small lake); fishing in a stocked lake;
nature study; hiking; interpretive tours (call park or check Calendar of Events)
and biking (The scenic, 12-mile-long, winding, and hilly, paved road between
Buescher and Bastrop State Parks is ideal for biking, but should be used only by
experienced cyclists.) Approximately 6 miles between the parks is private land;
no camping between parks or trespassing on private land.
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