Road Trip! Goliad | Flood-affected Parks | Elevate Your Camping | Time Capsule Tour | Wildlife at Caprock | and More!



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*Road Trip! Goliad Has It All*
Mission Espiritu Santo at twilight, Goliad SP, link to video [ [link removed] ]

Goliad State Park [ [link removed] ] has a multicultural history. Texas fought for independence in this area, and you'll find historic sites [ [link removed] ] nearby. Don't miss the beautiful Spanish Mission Espíritu Santo, located at the park. 

Goliad also offers outdoor fun on the San Antonio River. Bring your kayak because there's river access for paddling, and the Goliad Paddling Trail [ [link removed] ] runs through the park. Hike, camp [ [link removed] ] on the riverfront, and try the floating dock for fishing – you can borrow fishing gear [ [link removed] ] at Goliad's headquarters – just bring bait and a smile! 

Paddling Goliad video [ [link removed] ]




*Wildlife of the Wild West at Caprock Canyons *



Prairie dog and pup kiss at Caprock Canyons SP [ [link removed] ]

Caprock Canyons [ [link removed] ] is located in the Panhandle. Visit this unique park to see some unusual wildlife [ [link removed] ], including prairie dogs, a bat colony and wild bison.

Prairie dogs dig a lot of burrows, so you may also see burrowing owls [ [link removed] ] in the park's prairie dog town.

Prairie dog video [ [link removed] ]


Bison and calf at Caprock Canyons SP [ [link removed] ]

There are about 300 free-ranging wild bison in the park. Stay safe by keeping 75 feet between you and a bison.

This herd was started in the 1800s with rescued orphaned calves. Read their touching story in the magazine article Icons of the West [ [link removed] ].

Baby bison video [ [link removed] ]




*Camping Basics: Planning Tips*
Camp in yellow flowers [ [link removed] ]

Doing a little planning before an overnight camping trip means you'll enjoy your park visit a lot more. Here are a few tips:


* Check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothes and bedding.
* If you want a campfire, check if there's a burn ban using the park locations and alerts map [ [link removed] ]. Bring fire starters and plan to buy firewood at the park. 
* Bring supplies for quick, no-cook meals like peanut butter sandwiches.

For an in-depth look at planning, including an essentials pack list, basics for tent camping and much more, read the "Texas Parks and Wildlife" magazine story Let's Go Camping! [ [link removed] ] If you'd like help from the pros to kickstart your camping career, try one of our very popular Texas Outdoor Family [ [link removed] ] workshops in May or June [ [link removed] ].

ad for State Parks conservation license plate with tent image, link [ [link removed] ]


Centennial Time Capsule Starts Its Tour



Time capsule, showing plaques of park names, in the shop

A centennial time capsule containing objects from every Texas state park was created by our exhibit shop. We can't ruin the surprise and list what they all are, but here's a few: 


* T-rex tooth model from Dinosaur Valley [ [link removed] ]
* "Spidey Cents" from Lake Tawakoni [ [link removed] ]
* Message in a bottle from Mustang Island [ [link removed] ]


Dedication inscription on the time capsule

The capsule is sealed, but it won't be buried. Instead, it's going on a 50-year tour to each park, starting at Mother Neff – so you can visit it!

Get more details in our press release, Centennial Time Capsule Begins 50-Year Trek to Every Texas State Park [ [link removed] ]. 

The origin story of the time capsule will be part of the 2024-25 season of the Texas Parks & Wildlife PBS series [ [link removed] ], which begins in October.





Chill Out Video: See and Hear Goose Island
Goose Island spring flowers, video link [ [link removed] ]

Goose Island [ [link removed] ] is located on the coast near Rockport. It's famous for the Big Tree, and lately, the endangered whooping cranes that spend winters there. Spring brings wildflowers and more birds, and there's always the sound of waves. Take a couple of minutes to experience what its like with our video Spring by the Bay [ [link removed] ].

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Teach your child to swim this summer [ [link removed] ]
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Spring Flooding and Your Parks

Flooded area in Huntsville SP

Recent heavy rains in parts of the state have flooded and closed some parks.

Currently closed state parks include Huntsville (see photo), Lake Whitney and Brazos Bend. Once the floodwaters recede, areas of affected parks will remain closed until cleanup and repairs have finished and they're safe for you to use.

For a current list of affected parks, see the park locations and alerts map [ [link removed] ]. For assistance with current and future reservations, contact the State Parks Customer Service Center at 512-389-8900. For more information, see our press release Flood Impacts to TPWD [ [link removed] ]. Stay safe out there.



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"A message from our sponsor:"

Toyota Tundra 2024 ad for more torque, with link [ [link removed] ]

"Messages from Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine advertisers:"

Mineola Nature Center ad, link [ [link removed] ]
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Whole Earth ad, link [ [link removed] ]
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Museum of the Pacific War ad, link [ [link removed] ]



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"State Parks Getaways is made possible in part ""by the generous support of Toyota."

Toyota [ [link removed] ]

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