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Palmetto State Park |
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78 Park Road 11 South
Gonzales, TX 78629-5180
830/672-3266
palmetto.park@tpwd.state.tx.us
History: Palmetto State Park, 270.3 acres, named for the tropical Dwarf Palmetto
plant found there, is located in Gonzales County, northwest of Gonzales and
southeast of Luling. The park abuts the San Marcos River and also has a 4-acre
oxbow lake. The land was acquired by deeds from private owners and the City of
Gonzales in 1934 - 1936 and was opened in 1936. The beautiful stone buildings in
the park were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the
1930s.
Local Area History: Gonzales was established in 1825. It was the capital of
Impresario Green DeWitt's Colony and was the farthest west Anglo settlement
until the close of the Texas Revolution. In 1831, the Mexican government sent a
six-pound cannon to Gonzales as protection against the Indians. This cannon was
used in the "Come and Take It" Battle on October 2, 1835, when the first shot of
the Texas Revolution was fired. General Sam Houston, while in Gonzales, learned
of the defeat of the Alamo from Mrs. Almeron (Susannah) Dickinson. Mrs.
Dickinson, her baby, and two servants were the only survivors of the siege.
After learning of this event, General Houston gathered troops and ordered
Gonzales to be burned. He then began the famous "runaway Scrape," gaining time
and mustering troops to eventually take a stand at San Jacinto. There, Santa
Anna was defeated and Texas gained its freedom from Mexico. Today, Gonzales has
a population of 7,500. It offers an unusually large selection of antique
shopping, dining, lodging (bed and breakfasts and motels), recreation (city park
with nine-hole golf course, boating, fishing, swimming pool, picnicking,
camping, bird watching, and nature study), historic home tours (restored homes
dating from the 1880s to the 1920s), and the Gonzales Memorial Museum.
Luling was established in 1874 and served as a gathering point and supply center
for cattle drivers along the Chisholm Trail. Cotton ruled the economy until oil
was discovered in 1922. By 1924, the oil field was producing 16 million barrels
of oil per year. Today, Luling has a population of 5,500. It offers a year-round
Farmers' market, antique and collectible shopping, dining (including world
famous barbecue), lodging (motels), recreation (city park with nine-hole golf
course, swimming pool, and picnicking), the Central Texas Oil Patch Museum, and
almost 200 colorfully-decorated pump jacks within the city limits.
Activities: Activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, birding,
nature study, pedal boat and canoe rentals, swimming, tubing, and canoeing.
Education/Interpretive Programs: Palmetto's Wild Outdoor Adventure and Ecology
Program: For 8 to 12-year-old children is offered the first two weeks of June.
Children participate in "hands on" activities throughout the park with an
experienced and certified science teacher. Activities that promote awareness and
appreciation of the environment and explore options for responsible human
actions are featured. This exciting day program provides children with rewarding
summer experiences that are educational and fun! The program affords families an
excellent opportunity to camp together for a week, while allowing parents to
have time to themselves during the day while their children are engaged in the
program's activities. Enrollment, available for one or two weeks (Monday through
Thursday), is limited. Call the park for information and special package rates
that include camping and program enrollment. |
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