Possum Kingdom State Park
Encyclopedia
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Palo Pinto County, 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...
, that was built in the 1940s by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
. It covers approximately 1530 acres (619.2 ha), and lies in the Palo Pinto Mountains
Palo Pinto Mountains
The term Palo Pinto Mountains properly refers to a specific cuesta-like range of hills in western Palo Pinto County, Texas. The name Palo Pinto roughly translates to "painted stick" in reference to the juniper trees of the area...
and Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
Valley of Texas. The park borders the large Possum Kingdom Lake
Possum Kingdom Lake
Possum Kingdom Lake , is a reservoir on the Brazos River located primarily in Palo Pinto County Texas. It was the first water supply reservoir constructed in the Brazos River basin. The lake has an area of approximately with of shoreline...
, a 20000 acres (8,093.7 ha) lake known for its clear blue waters. Possum Kingdom winds for 65 miles (104.6 km) down the Brazos River, and has more than 300 miles (482.8 km) of shoreline. A privately-owned store and marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
in the park cater to boater
Boater
Boater may refer to:*Boater, a type of hat*Boater, one of the first disposable diapers*Someone involved in boating...
s and camper
Camper
Camper can be one of several things:* a person who engages in camping.** in online games, a player who stays in one area of the game world, see camping ....
s.
The Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
have a summer camp "Constantin" on the shores of Possum Kingdom Lake as does the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
at camp "Grady Spruce".
Camp Grady Spruce is directly across from the most well known geological feature of the lake called "Hell's Gate", a channel which cuts between an island and a row of cliffs.
The title of the song "Possum Kingdom
Possum Kingdom
"Possum Kingdom" is a song by rock band Toadies released as the second single from their 1994 album, Rubberneck.The song's origins lie in folklore from the band's native state of Texas...
" by Toadies
Toadies
Toadies are an alternative rock band from Fort Worth, Texas, best known for the song "Possum Kingdom." The band's classic lineup consisted of Todd Lewis on vocals/guitar, Mark Reznicek on drums, Lisa Umbarger on bass, and Darrel Herbert on guitar. It formed in 1989 and disbanded in 2001 after...
is derived from Possum Kingdom State Park.
On April 15, 2011, the park was closed due to wildfires
2011 Texas wildfires
The 2011 Texas wildfires are an ongoing series of destructive wildfires in Texas, United States that have occurred in the 2011 fire season. Statistics on the fires have been recorded since the current fire season began November 15, 2010...
, and was reopened on May 25, 2011.
Due to Texas' severe drought, another breakout of wildfires that began on August 30, 2011 plagued the Possum Kingdom Lake area. The fires burned into September, and though the park was not damaged, 39 homes were destroyed.