Davis Mountains State Park

About Davis Mountains State Park

Davis Mountain State Park is located north of Austin, Texas, on the border between Texas and Oklahoma, about 1.5 miles south of Dallas. The original parts of the park were donated by a local family to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and have been open to the public since the late 1930s. The original improvements were made by the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1933, and official campgrounds and facilities were added in 1967.

The high altitudes are covered with scattered populations of Ponderosa (more common pines) mixed with oak and juniper. At extreme altitudes, they produce an average of 1 per mile, and quails, which normally live farther west, are regularly observed in the park.

Emory, gray oak and lonely juniper are the most common trees in the park, but Emory Oak is predominant along Keesey Creek. In humid years it is rich in wild flowers, with a variety of wild flowers such as blueberries, peaches, cherries, pears, apricots, rhododendrons, orchids and many other species.

The interpretation centre overlooks the whitewater station, where white-winged pigeons and harvesters with their curved beaks are among the most common wildlife to be seen. This showy shrub, which blooms abundantly, is a popular destination for birdwatchers, but also for hikers and bird lovers.

The mountains were named after the US President John F. Davis Jr., who ordered the construction of Fort Davis. As settlements grew in west Texas, it became a way of life for the Apaches, Kiowas and Comanes. Most Indian bands crossed the Davis Mountains on foot, while the Mescalero Apache set up their seasonal camps. They were formed during the geological Tertiary period, which began about 65 million years ago.

After the war with Mexico, a wave of gold miners, settlers and traders came to the area and needed a base for their mining activities. Fort Davis was still active, but until 1846 few Americans had seen the Davis Mountains.

Indian Lodge is located in the Davis Mountains, built by the CCC in the early 1930s and features a number of historic buildings, including Fort Davis Lodge and Indian House. In 1961, the park was declared a National Historic Site and an extensive restoration and conservation program was initiated by the National Park Service in partnership with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USAAF).

You can reach the park by traveling east on Interstate 35, west on State Highway, and south on I-35 to Davis Mountain Road. Nearby attractions include Big Bend National Park and Davis Mountains State Park. Marfa Mystery Lights is just a short drive away and nearby is the Alpine, where the Big Bend Museum is located.