Eisenhower State Park is a state park located in Grayson County

Grayson County, Texas

As of the census of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...

, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

, northwest of Denison, Texas

Denison, Texas

Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. The population was 22,773 at the 2000 census; it is estimated to have grown to 24,127 in 2009. Denison is one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...

 on the shores of Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th largest Corps of Engineers lake, and the largest in USACE Tulsa District....

. The park is 423.1 acres (171 ha).

History

The park was acquired in 1954 by a Department of Army lease, which extended it until 2004. The park was opened to the public in 1958.The park was named for the 34th U.S. president, Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...

, who was born in nearby Denison.

In the early 1830s, the area was important to Anglo

Anglo

Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...

 settlers, particularly as a route to Texas and the American southwest. It was also an area of cattle trails.

Recreation

The park offers nature programs throughout the year. The park has facilities for picnicking, nature study, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing, wildlife observation, ATV use, and camping. Facilities at the park are picnic sites, playground areas, campsites, screened shelters, recreation hall, a campground pavilion, boat dock, an amphitheater, a lighted fishing pier, an ATV/mini bike area of 10 acres (40,468.6 m²), and 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of hike and bike trails.

Also located within the park is the Eisenhower Yacht Club, a privately operated full-service marina.

Plant and animal life

Several varieties of wildflowers grow in the park. A wide variety of trees grow in the park including oak, ash, elm, cedar, dogwood, cottonwood, soapberry, locust, redbud, persimmon, and bois d'arc. Mammals at the park include armadillo, bat, beaver, coyote, deer, fox, mink, nutria, opossum, rabbit, raccoon, skunk, and squirrel. Wintering bald eagles, pelicans, loons, and other waterfowl may be observed in the area. Lake fishing offers a variety of bass, sunfish, and catfish.

See also

• List of Texas state parks
• Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site
  Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site
  Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site, located at 208 East Day Street in Denison, Texas, is the birthplace of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born in the house on October 14, 1890, the first United States President to be born in Texas....
  
  
• Eisenhower State Park (Kansas)
  Eisenhower State Park (Kansas)
  Eisenhower State Park is a state park in Osage County, Kansas, United States, located 30 miles northeast of Emporia and 35 miles south of Topeka....