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Balmorhea State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Nature of the Area
The Balmorhea State Park Cienega Project, which recreated a desert wetland in West Texas, has won a 1998 Texas Quality Initiative Award for "innovation" from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and its cooperative partners. Described as a "classic win-win situation by organizations ranging from the Texas Organization for Endangered Species to the Cotton Council, the Balmorhea Cienega Project conceived by the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) was awarded the TQI award for its unprecedented cooperative effort among the local farming community and
a host of state and federal agencies. The pacesetting project spearheaded by TPW fisheries biologist Dr. Gary Garrett brought together such diverse interests as the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Environmental Protection Agency with the Texas Department of Agriculture, TxDOT, Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Reeves County Water Improvement District #1. Special acknowledgment goes to TPW staff David Riskind, Delton Daugherty, Kelly Bryan, Michael Young and
Tom Johnson.
The cienega now serves not only as an attractive habitat for endangered fish and other aquatic life, birds and other animals, but also as a tourism draw for Balmorhea State Park.
Camping
History of the Area
San Solomon Springs has provided water for travelers for thousands of years. Artifacts indicate Indians used the spring extensively before white men came to the area. In 1849, the springs were called Mescalero Springs for the Mescalero Apache Indians who watered their horses along its banks. The present name was given by the first settlers, Mexican farmers who used the water for their crops and hand-dug the first irrigation canals.
Situated about four miles west of Balmorhea, Texas, the 45.9-acre Balmorhea State Park was constructed by Company 1856 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, between 1936 and 1941. The CCC was established as a New Deal program by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression as a way to employ people that would have otherwise been out of work. Many of the state parks in Texas were developed during this time.
The 77,053 square ft San Solomon Spring is the focal point of Balmorhea State Park. From 22 to 28 million gallons of water flow through the spring-fed swimming pool each day. Other CCC structures in the park include a limestone concession building, two wooden bathhouses - adobe superintendent residence and
San Solomon Courts - early expression of the modern-day motel, constructed of adobe bricks. All of the CCC buildings are constructed in a Spanish Colonial style with stucco exteriors and tile roofs.
Visitors to Balmorhea State Park can enjoy a swim in the CCC-constructed pool and, if staying overnight, may choose to relax in one of the historic rooms at San Solomon Courts. The lobby of the park office includes several photographs of the CCC at work in what is now Balmorhea State Park. When visiting the park, take time to see what the park property looked like in the late 1930s and what it looks like today. Balmorhea State Park is a substantial monument to the construction skills and hard work of the CCC crew and their supervisors.
More Info
information on Balmorhea State Park in Texas
Balmorhea State Park P O Box 15 Toyahvale TX 79786 432/375-2370 San Solomon Springs CourtsLink to more pictures of this facility Balmorhea
Balmorhea State Park in Texas. San Solomon Springs Courts Pictures
Balmorhea State Park Pictures of San Solomon Springs Courts Rear view of some of the rooms Double beds Canals run behind
Balmorhea State Park Scuba/Snorkeling in a Desert Spring &The drive to Balmorhea State Park gave no hint that we were approaching an underwater adventure. It was the middle of winter in the
Balmorhea State Park, Texas 980328 Balmorhea State Park Texas 01.jpg 65.22 Kb 640 x 439 980328 Balmorhea State Park Texas 02.jpg 67.55 Kb 640 x 428 980328 Balmorhea State Park Texas 03.jpg 65.02
Balmorhea State Park photo links below! P O Box 15 Toyahvale TX 79786 915/375-2370 Balmorhea State Park is located on 45.9 acres in the foothills of the Davis Mountains southwest of Balmorhea in
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Balmorhea State Park [photo properties] Gallery ScubaShots Gallery -- by AllenHost.com& Album Dees Photo Albums& Album Balmorhea State Park& 2 (of 119) Crawfish [add comment] 2 (of 119
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Area Attractions
Balmorhea State Park