Abilene State Park
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| Abilene State Park | |
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| Location | Taylor County, Texas |
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| Nearest city | Abilene |
| Coordinates | 32°14′7″N 099°52′56″W / 32.23528°N 99.88222°WCoordinates: 32°14′7″N 099°52′56″W / 32.23528°N 99.88222°W |
| Area | 529.4 acres (214.2 ha) |
| Established | 1933 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
Abilene State Park is a 529.4-acre (214.2 ha) park near Lake Abilene south of Abilene, Texas. It features camping, trailer facilities, picnicking, shelters, a swimming pool, hiking and fishing. A large grove of oak, elm and pecan trees, now a favorite picnic area, was once a campground for Comanche Indians. The park is located about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Abilene, on FM 89.
The park was site of the Christmas massacre of 1886 when a wagon train of 85 settlers headed West was attacked and mutilated by a band of Comanches. The war party killed the men and took the women as slaves. Of the thirty-four women taken only three were ever heard from again.
Much of the early development of the park was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The stone water tower and the swimming pool complex are the most impressive of the structures built during the period. Built in 1937, the complex is an exact replica of the Greek Parthenon, and Greek Bath houses. 21 workers were killed in the construction of the site. Most were killed in accidents involved with tnt used for blasting. 5 were killed by bears in the woods.
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"Built in 1937, the complex is an exact replica of the Greek Parthenon,"
This statement is incorrect. My father was the park manager/ranger from 1941 to 1945 and the buildings are built of red stone and shaped nothing like the Greek Parthenon although there are Roman style arches on some of the buildings. As a young boy I became well acquainted with every aspect of the park.
W. Harris
