| Abilene State Park | |
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Buffalo Wallow in Abilene State Park
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| Location | Taylor County, Texas, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Abilene |
| Coordinates | 32°14′7″N 99°52′48″W / 32.23528°N 99.88000°W / 32.23528; -99.88000[1] |
| Area | 529.4 acres (214.2 ha) |
| Established | 1933 |
| Visitors | 73,587 (in 2022)[2] |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
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Abilene State Park is a 529.4-acre (214.2 ha) state park next to Lake Abilene about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Abilene, TexasonFM 89. The park opened on May 10, 1934 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The presence of humans in Abilene State Park dates back at least 6,000 years. The Tonkawa and Comanche passed through the park while hunting bison and also camped there.[3] Settlers who had come to the region in the late 1870s occupied the land next. They farmed the bottomlands and raised sheep and cattle on the uplands. Many of the settlers were displaced when the City of Abilene built a dam in 1918 that created Lake Abilene to ensure a reliable water supply for the growing town. The lake is now used purely for recreation.
The state acquired the property from the city of Abilene in 1933. Early development of the park was done by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) companies 1823(V) and 1823(CV) between 1933 and 1935. They cleared land and built roads. The CCC constructed a concession building, swimming pool, pool shelters, pergolas, stone water tower, stone pump house, water fountains, stone seats, picnic tables and fireplaces.[4]
Abilene State Park is located in an area where the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau ecoregions of Texas meet. The landscape is short prairie grass, brushland and wooded stream valleys in a range of hills called the Callahan Divide.
White-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, squirrels, skunks and cottontail rabbits are seen in the park.
Birds that live in or visit the park, include the Mississippi kite, greater roadrunner, northern cardinal, hummingbird, Carolina chickadee and northern mockingbird. Bass, crappie, catfish and perch are caught in Buffalo Wallow, a pond in the park.
Live oak, Texas red oak, cedar, ashe juniper, honey mesquite and hackberry trees grow in the park.
Abilene State Park features camping sites for recreational vehicles and tents, picnic shelters, a swimming pool, a bird blind, playground and hiking trails. There is a volleyball court and fields for soccer and baseball. The park is on Lake Abilene which offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and boating.
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