CCC in the Texas State Parks

                                        

Thanksgiving 2024 - Bastrop State Park

In 2011, there was a devastating wildfire in  Bastrop State Park.  Heroic efforts by firefighters

saved the cluster of cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935.  This was the first

time that these cabins caught my attention and ever since then, I wanted to stay in one.   Well, the 

 time finally arrived.  We reserved one cabin that sleeps 5 and immediately learned that our son, Mark, 

and his whole family would be there.  Luckily, we were able to reserve the one next door and 

all four of our children and the three grandkids were set to spend three days together.   No TV

or other distractions, just endless board games, big breakfasts together, outdoor hikes.   So much

to be thankful for with our whole family.

  

Most of the gang - Phillip became ill after a few hours and had to return to Houston

Playing Uno

A lasting legacy

Oldest and youngest Kissells

Scenic Lookout built by the CCC

Our eldest and youngest offspring

Walnut mantel carved by CCC workers

Unfortunately, a burn ban was in effect so the fireplace could not be used.

These three are clever AND the best!

farkleberries growing along the Farkleberry Trail

Snag left after the 2011 fire

There has been quite a bit of regrowth in the park over the past 13 years.

Over the years in our travels and camping trips, we have encountered numerous CCC

structures around the country.  We have recently read a few books about the work of the CCC

and will be paying more attention to their legacy in the future.  The structures were so well built

using local materials that they are still in use.  Most were built using plans drafted by National

Park Service architects.

Suggested Reading:

       

            Brandimarte, Cynthia. Texas State Parks and the CCC: The Legacy of the Civilian Conservation 

                            Corps.  Texas A & M University Press, 2013

            Pearson, P. O'Connell.  Fighting for the Forest: How FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps Helped

                            Save America.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 2019

We spent the last few days of December camping at two state parks in northeast Texas - Eisenhower State Park on the south shore of Lake Texhoma and Bonham State Park.  With weather turning colder, we returned to Houston on New Year's Eve.

Denison, TX

Another Denison native son, Capt. Sully Sullenberger

                                    A beautiful sunny day at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge 

snow geese

Entrance built by the CCC

Remnants of water tower built by CCC, just 400 feet up the hill from our campsite.

Fannin County Courthouse in Bonham in early morning light, flags are at half-staff

for President Jimmy Carter

Rayburn served 24 terms in Congress and was Speaker of the House for 17 years.

While not born in Texas, his home is near Bonham.  

Now a trip down memory lane . . .

Observation Tower built by CCC

Three-tier spillway built by CCC in Cleburne State Park, TX

Grandsons Caleb and Logan at the spillway on a camping trip a few years ago.

The travel itch is getting strong so we are eagerly looking forward to more camping trips to Texas State Parks and seeking out more CCC structures.  More to come in 2025!

Our Fall Adventure

 October 2024

We just returned from a 10-day road trip to Alabama and Georgia.  We had planned for a few days in Nantahala National Forest in western North Carolina, but Hurricane Helene made that impossible.  It is heartbreaking to hear about the destruction and loss of life in that beautiful part of the country.  We happened upon a donation truck in northern Alabama and gladly contributed bottled water.  

We combined attendance at a large geocaching event in Rome, Georgia with other areas of interest to us - national historic sites, tours of state capitols, presidential libraries, and scenic points of interest.  Some of the stops were planned, others just unfolded as opportunities - just the way we like it.

A few quirky sights to start with...

Rayne, Louisiana - Frog Capital of the World

A business in town supplied frogs for dissection to schools.

Quite a handsome fellow

Alabama rest stop

Civil Rights historical sites along our route 

 Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail,

 tour of the capitol building in Montgomery,

 and a visit to the Civil Rights Memorial Center nearby.

Selma, Alabama

 

crosswalk in front of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church 

pointing to the Capitol in Montgomery

(We will see this quote again near MLK's gravesite in Atlanta.)

Because our camping reservation in North Carolina was canceled, we settled into Talladega National Forest and explored northeastern Alabama, including the high point of the state in Cheaha State Park.

Along the trail to the Bald Rock lookout on Mount Cheaha, we encountered a U.S, flag retirement vault.

A beautiful view of Alabama from 2400 feet elevation

Anniston, Alabama where the Freedom Riders bus was set on fire in 1961

Then it was on to Georgia . . .

The Carter Center and Presidential Library in Atlanta

First thing, signing the 100th birthday book for President Carter.

"Sightless Among Miracles" on the grounds of the Carter Center -

tribute to the contributions made by the Carters to help eradicate preventable 

diseases around the world

While in downtown Atlanta . . .

sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi in front of MLK Historial Park Visitor Center

Gravesite

Civil Rights Walk of Fame

Congressman John Lewis

Back to Alabama . . .

Our route took us through Birmingham so we stopped at Vulcan Park overlooking the city to see the largest cast iron statue in the world  -- Vulcan, the god of fire and forge. It was created for the 1904 World's Fair.

My foot compared to a model of Vulcan's big toe

As we stepped off the elevator on the observation deck, we got a good view of Vulcan's bum.

As we drove across Mississippi through Jackson, we decided to tour another state capitol building.  Now we have visited 10 capitols so far.

When we were approaching our last campground on this trip, we detoured for a visit to Poverty Point World Heritage Site (also a national monument) to learn about the 3,500 year-old prehistoric mounds and earthworks.  We climbed the steps to the top of the tallest one on the site (second tallest in North America).

How small our white van looks from the top!

After arriving home after 2,200 miles in 10 days, we made short work of a session of Physical Therapy and a doctor appointment, washed clothes, then headed to our favorite campground - Double Lake in Sam Houston National Forest.  We were joined by my sister, brother-in-law, and daughter Kim.  Too bad a burn ban went into effect just as we arrived.  Our visit brought back wonderful memories of our previous visits!