S-Parks, October 1959 Page: 2
12 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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FALL AND WINTER USE OF PARKS GROWING FAST
COVER PICTURE
One of the giant stalactites in Longhorn Cavern, photographed by Dewey G.
Mears of Austin, is shown on the cover of S-PARKS. It is an example of the
formations to be seen in the world's third largest cave.
* * * *
More and more the Texas State Parks are becoming a winter as well as a
summer attraction. Labor Day, followed by the opening of the schools, used to
close the active season for most state parks. In recent years attendance has con-
tinued heavy through the fall and winter.
Better roads, the automobile, modern light camping equipment, and the forty-
hour work week seem to have been the principal factors in making the parks popular
around the calendar. The family can take the car or trailer and drive quickly to
a park, enjoy the week-end outdoors and be home in time for the children to be
in their school classes Monday morning. Increase in winter tourist travel also has
had a part in boosting non-summer use of the parks, particularly along the Gulf
Coast and the Mexico border.
Many of these late park visitors say fall and winter is the best time for an
outing. The weather is cooler, the country-side is prettier, autum leaves add to the
beauty and facilities are not so crowded. Most of the sportsmen say fishing is better.
Russell Tinsley and Dave Hawk, outdoors authorities for the Austin American-
Statesman, write that October and November are the best two months for bass
fishing. Hawk says that probably the fisherman can expect to catch bigger bass in
March and April but that he will get more bass during October and November.
The fact that there is fishing in 26 of the Texas State Parks may have something
to do with the year-around popularity.
Longhorn Cavern with an even 64 degree temperature regardless of how cold
or how hot it may be outside is an example of park attractions that can be enjoyed
in winter as well as in summer. The giant stalactite pictured on the cover is but
one of the many beautiful formations to be seen in this, the third largest cave so
far discovered in the world.
Attractive Indian Lodge in the scenic Davis Mountains State Park is open
for guests all through the year. Its limited number of rooms makes it more difficult
to get reservations in summer than in other seasons. Its famous dining room is open
for all meals during the antelope and deer hunting seasons. At other times during
the fall and winter a special meal schedule is in effect. Dinner only is served on
Fridays. On Sundays breakfast and lunch are served. On other days there are
three meals.
At nearby Balmorhea State Park the water of San Solomon Spring remains at
constant even temperature. At times it will be chillier out of the water.
Parks along the arc of the Texas Gulf Coast are popular in winter as well as
in summer. Goose Island, near Rockport, with its beach shelters and big trees is a
great place for winter picnicking and camping. Port Isabel at the tip of Texas
had its greatest attendance in February and March this year. The fall and early
winter last year saw its visitation doubled in November over October, and December
then doubled the November total.
Even Palo Duro Canyon, farthest north of the Texas State Parks, has enjoyable
outdoor winter days, protected from the northers and other cold winds in the deep
ravines of the park.
(Continued on Page 10)
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Texas. State Park Board. S-Parks, October 1959, periodical, October 1959; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1524889/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.