| 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″N99°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 ofAbilene, Texas onFM 89. The park opened on May 10, 1934 and is managed by theTexas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The presence of humans in Abilene State Park dates back at least 6,000 years. TheTonkawa andComanche passed through the park while huntingbison and also camped there.[3] Settlers who had come to the region in the late 1870s occupied the land next. They farmed thebottomlands and raisedsheep andcattle on theuplands. Many of the settlers were displaced when the City of Abilene built a dam on Elm Creek in 1918 that created Lake Abilene. The lake's purpose was to ensure a reliable water supply for the growing town, but the lake proved ineffective, even going dry in 1927. The City of Abilene found another water source in the late 1920s.[4] 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 byCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC) companies 1823(V) and 1823(CV) between 1933 and 1935. They cleared land and built roads. The CCC constructed aswimming pool, pool shelters,pergolas, stone water tower, stonepump house, water fountains, stone seats, picnic tables and fireplaces. They also built the park concession stand using locallimestone and red Permiansandstone.[5]
Abilene State Park is located in an area where the Rolling Plains andEdwards Plateauecoregions 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 andcottontail rabbits are seen in the park.
Birds that live in or visit the park, include theMississippi kite,greater roadrunner,northern cardinal,hummingbird,Carolina chickadee andnorthern mockingbird.Bass,crappie,catfish andperch are caught in Buffalo Wallow, apond in the park.
Live oak,Texas red oak,cedar,ashe juniper,honey mesquite,pecan andhackberry trees grow in the park.
Abilene State Park featurescamping sites forrecreational vehicles and tents,picnic shelters, aswimming pool, abird blind,playground andhiking trails. There is avolleyball court and fields forsoccer andbaseball. The park is on Lake Abilene which offers opportunities forfishing,kayaking,canoeing andboating.
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