Garner State Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Garner State Park
iucn_category =

---

caption =
locator_x = 145
locator_y = 151
location = Uvalde County, Texas
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 29
lat_minutes = 35
lat_seconds = 00
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 099
long_minutes = 44
long_seconds = 20
long_direction = W
area = 1,420 acres
(5.7 km²)
established = 1941
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Garner State Park is a state park in Uvalde County, Texas in the United States. Garner State Park is the most popular state park in Texas for overnight camping. It is also popular with campers and local residents alike for the dances that occur nightly during the summer and spring break.

Location

Garner State Park is located at 29.591 North, 99.744 West; this is 30 miles (48 km) north of Uvalde, Texas and 76 miles (122 km) west of San Antonio. The park is alongside the Frio River.

History

The land for Garner State Park was acquired in 1934 through 1936. In 1934, the Texas State Parks Board approved the location for a future state park, and the Texas Legislature provided funding for state parks. The Civilian Conservation Corps made the park’s original improvements, which included a large pavilion and a concessions building. The property was conveyed to the State Parks Board in 1936, and it opened as Garner State Park in 1941. The park was named for John Nance Garner, former Vice-President of the United States who lived and practiced law in the Uvalde area. The park's size more than doubled when 790 acres were added in 1976.

Recreation

Garner State Park is the most popular state park in Texas for overnight camping [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20060123a] , with more than 200,000 campers per year [http://www.statesman.com/travel/content/travel/042003/0420frio.html] . Some cabins are available, and reservations are recommended during summer weekends and spring break.

Generations of Texans know the park for the jukebox dances that occur nightly during the summer and spring break at the pavilion. Many people who come to Garner State Park also enjoy swimming in or tubing on the cool waters of the Frio River.

Other activities at the park include hiking, nature study, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, miniature golf (seasonal), paddle boat and kayak rentals (spring and summer), and bicycle riding.

References

* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20060123a January 23, 2006 news release from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]
* [http://www.statesman.com/travel/content/travel/042003/0420frio.html "Austin American-Statesman", April 19, 2003]

External links

* [http://www.funrivers.com funrivers.com website with photos of the Frio and info and links to the Garner and Frio River area]
* [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/garner/ Texas Parks and Wildlife - Garner State Park]
* [http://www.garnerstatepark.com/index.html Park concession and facility information]
* [http://www.garnerstatepark.info Other Garner State Park Information & Community]
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