Goose Island State Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Goose Island State Park
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location = Aransas County, Texas
nearest_city = Rockport
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area = 321.4 acres acres

established = 1931-1935
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governing_body = Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Goose Island State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Texas, located north of the city of Rockport on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The park covers 321.4 acres (130 ha). It is surrounded by both St. Charles and Aransas Bays.

The park was established on land acquired from private owners between the years 1931–35. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the earliest facilities.

The park is home to "The Big Tree", a Southern live oak ("Quercus virginiana"), thought to be over 1000 years old. It has a circumference of 35 feet (10.6 m), is 44 feet (13.3 m) in height and has a crown spread of 90 feet (27.3 m).

Although it is located on the seashore, there is no designated swimming area at the park, as the shoreline consists of concrete, oyster shell, mudflat, and marsh grass. Instead, the main park activities include camping, birding, fishing, and boating. The park averages more than 60,000 overnight campers each year and has about 200,000 visitors annually.

ee also

*Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
*Copano Bay Fishing Pier
*Mustang Island State Park
*George W. Fulton Mansion
*List of Texas state parks
*Texas Maritime Museum
*Texas State Aquarium

References

*cite web | url=http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/goose_island/ | title=Goose Island State Park | publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife | accessdate=2006-10-03