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 Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway - Mineral Wells, Texas Posted by:  txoilgas
N 32° 48.758 W 098° 02.601
14S E 589556 N 3630920
Lake Mineral Wells State Park, located east of Mineral Wells in Parker County,consists of 3282.5 acres, encompassing Lake Mineral Wells.
Waymark Code: WM78BV
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 09/18/2009
Views: 11
The City of Mineral Wells donated 1095 land acres and the 646-acre lake to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1975. The U.S. Government transferred some of the remaining acreage from Fort Wolters Army Post to the State of Texas for use as parkland. The park was opened in July 1981.
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is located along Rock Creek, a large tributary of the Brazos River. This area was an early home to several Native American tribes including the Comanche.
White settlers began arriving in the early 1850s, and intermittent warfare occurred until the late 1870s. Rugged terrain and lush native grasses attracted many early-day ranchers to this area, including Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving and C. C. Slaughter, who ran large herds of Longhorn cattle. Ranching continues to be an economic mainstay of this area.
In 1877, James Alvis Lynch settled this area on the spot of land that is now Mineral Wells. In 1880, a well was drilled on the land. Mrs. Lynch suffered from rheumatism, but after drinking the water from the well, she was not bothered with rheumatism any more. The well water seemed to have "curative powers". This began Mineral Wells' tumultuous affair with water and quickly became a world renowned health resort. The purported curative effects of the local well water brought people from all walks of life to bath and take "the cure."
The city of Mineral Wells became too large for Lake Pinto, the town water supply, so in the late 1910's plans were laid for another lake East of town. In 1922 Lake Mineral Wells was completed.
Park Type: Day and overnight
Activities:
Activities include camping; lake swimming (unsupervised); fishing; boating (no skiing/tubing, or jet skis permitted); rock climbing (climbers and rappelers must check in at headquarters); mountain biking; equestrian camping, horseback riding (visitors must provide their own horses); and hiking. Note: Trails may be closed during wet weather. Climbing is prohibited when the rock formations are wet
Background:
Lake Mineral Wells State Park is located in the Western Cross - Timbers of Texas, which supports such plant life as: Post Oak, Live Oak, Blackjack Oak, Box Elder, Sumac, Ash Juniper, Mesquite, Pecan, Walnut, Mulberry, Texas Ash, Wild Plum, Willow, Cedar Elm, American Elm, Hackberry, Milkweed, Engelmann Daisy, Sunflower, Coreopsis, Indian Blanket, Mexican Hat, Golden Rod, Spiderwort, Morning-glory, Bluebonnet, Wild Onion, Yucca, Prickly Poppy, Standing Cypress, Indian Paintbrush, Prickly Pear, Horsecrippler cactus, Lace Cactus, Maiden Hair Fern.
Wildlife observation includes white-tailed deer, turkey, raccoons, waterfowl, squirrels, and a variety of songbirds. Popular fish include bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill and sunfish.
Date Established?: 1922
Link to Park: [Web Link]
Park Fees: Not listed
Additional Entrance Points: Not Listed
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