Home > Travel > State Parks > Texas > Sabine Pass Battleground State Park

This park was affected by Hurricane Rita. The Boat ramp will be open for use starting May 27, 2006. Some of the park, including the campsites, will be closed to the public until further notice.

In 1863 the United States Navy attempted to invade Confederate Texas via the Sabine Pass in order to gain access to Houston, the rail center of Texas. Guarding the Pass was Fort Griffin, where on September 8, 1863, Lt. Dick Dowling and 46 of his men used six cannons to defeat four gunboats and halt the invasion. In honor of the Texas defenders a bronze statue of Dowling overlooks the 57.5 acre park. An interpretive pavilion illustrates the story of the battle while a walking trail features historical markers. Four WWII ammunition bunkers stand witness to the site’s use by the U.S. Army Coastal Artillery Division. A four-lane, wheelchair accessible, boat ramp provides easy access to the Sabine Pass Jetties, Sabine Lake, or the Gulf of Mexico. ADA-accessible sidewalks with handrails line the bulkheads, allowing visitors the opportunity to fish the bountiful waters of the Pass or gaze across to Louisiana and the Sabine Pass Lighthouse. Today, the Sabine Pass Battleground is a great place to camp, fish or picnic while exploring the rich history of the uppermost point of the Texas coast, Sabine Pass.