Thirty five miles from downtown Austin is a lost civilization of trees, toads, and ageless structures.  These have been protected for all to enjoy as Bastrop State Park (5,926 acres) and Buescher State Park (1016.7 acres) between Bastrop and Smithville.  These bookend parks, connected by a scenic 12 mile park road, transport your thoughts to a place of serenity and natural wonderment.

In the parks, you will find remnants of old trade routes between early Texas towns and the handiwork of President Roosevelt’s extremely talented Civil Conservation Corps (CCC).  A beautiful 18 hole golf course, swimming pool, fishing lake, cabins, campsites, miles of hiking trails and scenic roads for driving or biking through the forest are some of the highlight of the parks.

The Trees

The best known of the parks’ offerings are the trees.  A stand of loblolly pines, covering approximately 70 square miles, gives the area the nickname “The Lost Pines of Texas.”  This dense pine woodland is the western most loblolly pine forest in the state and is almost 100 miles from the nearest pine woodlands in East Texas.

Used for building materials during the building of the Republic of Texas, the forest suffered substantial deforestation.  In an effort to preserve the forest, Bastrop and Buescher parks were created in the mid 1930’s from lands donated by the Buescher family and purchased by the state from the cities of Bastrop and Smithville.

Driving from the west, the transition from scrubby oaks and junipers struggling to root in the limestone hills of the Austin area to these majestic pines is remarkable.  On a walk through the parks, you will discover growing out of the red, sandy carrizo soils a beautiful dense pine forest mixed with the post oaks and farkelbury shrubs providing cover for a diverse wildlife.

The Toads

On hot and cold days, the Houston Toad  (Bufo houstonensis) will be found burying himself in the moist sands of the parks for protection.  The largest remaining population of this endangered species makes the parks home.  Originally listed on the endangered list in 1970, these toads have suffered from a loss of habitat due primarily to urbanization of its historic range and the fire ant invasion.

The toads live primarily on land, but require ponds of seasonal water for reproduction and tadpole growth.  They are typically 2 to 3 inches long and can range from light brown to a grayish color and sometimes have green spots.

The Structures

Bastrop and Buescher State Parks have some the best examples of CCC structures in the state.  In 1933 two companies of these talented young men descended on the parks to help with reforestation and build infrastructure for the budding new parks.

 

There are a great variety of CCC structures in the park.  This infrastructure stands as a monument to our countries tenacity in the face of adversity as these young men fought to support their families during the Great Depression and our country banded together to save two of our greatest resources, our people and our environment.

Sitting for five minutes in the old rain shelter in the Copperas Creek campground with eyes closed, one can begin to hear the cracking of the fires in the fireplaces and the chatter of young men telling tales of their homes.  The front of the structure is covered and features a fireplace to protect the group on rainy evenings, while in back, stair-stepped seating is built around a second mantel for enjoying the clear crisp nights. 

Throughout the parks, there are cabins, dams, culverts and shelters that demonstrate the CCC workmanship and effort to blend the structures with the natural surroundings.    In 1997, Bastrop State Park was one of only 5 parks in the nation awarded National Historic Landmark status because of the quantity of CCC work, the level of craftsmanship, and the quality of its preservation.

The refectory near the park’s entrance is a showplace of the corps workmanship.  Built entirely of local materials, its hand carved stone mantles, handmade furniture and beautiful wooden beams echo the group’s pride and commitment to their task.

Worth the Visit

Bastrop and Buescher State Parks offer some of the greatest variety of activities and natural beauty in the Texas State Park system.  They are easily accessible to a large portion of the state’s population.  Yet on a visit this past Columbus Day weekend, the campsites were only half filled and we only encountered one other wandering soul on the Lost Pines Trail at the eastern end of the park.

The drive through the parks is beautiful.  There is a nice variety of hikes ranging from a short 30 minute discovery trail to an all day adventure with a 165 ft elevation change.  Exploring the parks history and nature will be a worthwhile endeavor whether you are day tripping, passing through the area, or looking for a peaceful camping experience.

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