BASTROP - YPAC
Get to know one of Bastrop's parks:
Over 2,000 acres for the park was donated to the state by the city of Bastrop in 1938. Companies 1805 and 1811 of the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the park facilities between 1933 and 1939 using native stone to blend with the landscape. The facilities were designed by architect Arthur Fehr. The State of Texas purchased an additional 1,450 acres (590 ha) in 1979 and another 1,000 acres (400 ha) in 2000 to expand the golf course from 9 holes to 18 holes. Subsequent land purchases by the state in 2001 brought the park to its current size of 5,926 acres (2,398 ha).
In September 2011, 96% of the park was burned by the Bastrop County Complex fire. Only around 100 acres were saved. ] Most CCC structures were saved, but were still threatened. The park was closed on September 4 due to the fire and did not reopen until December 2. In 2012, a campaign was begun to restore the forest within 30 years by replacing 4 million burned trees.
The park's trails include an 8.5-mile (13.7 km) loop through the park's undeveloped area. There is also an 18-hole golf course, open all year round, which winds through the forest. There is a large swimming pool open during the summer months.
Bastrop State Park is 4 miles (6.4 km) to the west of Buescher State Park, and the two are connected by Park Road 1.
The main feature of the park is the stands of Loblolly Pines (Pinus taeda). This pine woodland is isolated from the main body of East Texas pines by approximately 100 miles (160 km) of Post Oak (Quercus stellata) woodlands giving the Bastrop State Park Loblollies the nickname the "Lost Pines of Texas."
In the forested areas, numerous species of fungi may be found.
Bastrop State Park is home to the largest mating group of the endangered Houston toad on public land. Areas of the park are closed to the public during the toad's mating season in February, March and April. The park also has White-tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels, Virginia Opossums and Nine-banded Armadillos. Northern Cardinals are one of the species of birds found in the park.
Above photo; Lake Bastrop
