|
Home >
Travel >
State Parks >
Texas >
Lake Mineral Wells
State Park |
Lake Mineral Wells State Park
|
|
100 Park Road 71
Mineral Wells TX 76067
940/328-1171
History: Lake Mineral Wells State Park, located east of Mineral Wells in Parker
County,consists of 3282.5 acres, encompassing Lake Mineral Wells. The City of
Mineral Wells donated 1095 land acres and the 646-acre lake to Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department in 1975. The U.S. Government transferred some of the
remaining acreage from Fort Wolters Army Post to the State of Texas for use as
parkland. The park was opened in July 1981.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is located along Rock Creek, a large tributary of
the Brazos River. This area was an early home to several Native American tribes
including the Comanche.
White settlers began arriving in the early 1850s, and intermittent warfare
occurred until the late 1870s. Rugged terrain and lush native grasses attracted
many early-day ranchers to this area, including Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving
and C. C. Slaughter, who ran large herds of Longhorn cattle. Ranching continues
to be an economic mainstay of this area.
In 1877, James Alvis Lynch settled this area on the spot of land that is now
Mineral Wells. In 1880, a well was drilled on the land. Mrs. Lynch suffered from
rheumatism, but after drinking the water from the well, she was not bothered
with rheumatism any more. The well water seemed to have "curative powers". This
began Mineral Wells' tumultuous affair with water and quickly became a world
renowned health resort. The purported curative effects of the local well water
brought people from all walks of life to bath and take "the cure."
The city of Mineral Wells became too large for Lake Pinto, the town water
supply, so in the late 1910's plans were laid for another lake East of town. In
1922 Lake Mineral Wells was completed.
World War II demanded an increase in activities at Fort Wolters, a military base
located adjacent to the lake. This, coupled with the growth of the city of
Mineral Wells, required the city to raise the height of the dam and thereby,
increasing the water supply in the lake.
In 1963 the city of Mineral Wells found a better water supply and ceased using
Lake Mineral Wells as the main city water supply.
In 1975, after the closer of Fort Wolters, the city of Mineral Wells and Fort
Wolters donated the lake and acreage around the lake to the Texas Parks and
Wildlife. On July 1, 1981 Lake Mineral Wells was opened as Lake Mineral Wells
State Park.
Activities: Activities include camping; lake swimming (unsupervised); fishing;
boating (boat, canoe, paddleboat rental - no skiing, jet skis, or tubing
permitted); rock climbing (climbers and rappelers must check in at
headquarters); mountain biking; equestrian camping, horseback riding (visitors
must provide their own horses); and hiking. Note: Trails may be closed during
wet weather. Climbing is prohibited when the rock formations are wet (Call the
park to verify climbing area is open, if it has rained in the last 48 hours of
your planed arrival.) |
|
|
|
