Purtis Creek State Park

Purtis Creek State Park
Location in Texas Show map of Texas Location in United States Show map of the United States
Location	Henderson and Van Zandt counties, Texas
Nearest city	Eustace, Texas
Coordinates	32°21′44″N96°0′6″W / 32.36222°N 96.00167°W / 32.36222; -96.00167
Area	1,582.4 acres (6.404 km2)
Established	1988
Visitors	82,349(in 2022) [1]
Governing body	Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Purtis Creek State Park is a 1,582.4-acre state park in Henderson and Van Zandt counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The park opened in 1988 under the authority of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). ^[2]

History

Purtis Creek State Park Lake.

Native Americans from the Wichita and Caddo tribes once hunted in the area. The abundance of game also drew settlers here in the early to mid-1800s. The TPWD purchased the park property in 1977 from private owners for $1.4 million. ^[3] In 1980, The United States Soil Conservation Service built a dam on Purtis Creek to control floods and Purtis Creek State Park Lake was created. ^[4] In 2009, the TPWD purchased approximately 2.5 acres with an existing gravel road across it to provide access to a remote area of the park not readily accessible from the existing park road system. ^[5]

Nature

Animals

The park surrounds the 355-acre Purtis Creek State Park Lake, which was designed for fishing. Fish species stocked in the lake include black bass, white bass, crappie and blue, channel and flathead catfish. ^[6] At some point, invasive grass carp were improperly released into the lake. Animals in the park include white-tailed deer, coyote and raccoon along with birds such as northern cardinal, American crow, bald eagle, American white pelican and red-winged blackbird. ^{[7] [8]}

Fauna

The park lies in the Oak Woodlands Natural Subregion of northeastern Texas. Some tree species documented in the park include post oak, black hickory, blackjack oak, winged elm, and eastern redcedar. ^[9] Plants documented include mayapple, southern cattail and little bluestem. ^{[7] [8]}

Activities

A hiker at the Beaver Slide Nature Path trailhead

Available activities at the park include boating, fishing, hiking, cycling, picnicing, geocaching, swimming and camping. ^[10] There are tent sites with water and electricity and also primitive sites. The picnic area has tables, a covered pavilion and a playground. There is a boat ramp and dock as well as lighted fishing piers. A no-wake rule for motorized boats is enforced across the lake. There are almost six miles of trails with most designated for hiking and cycling. Swimming is only permitted in a designated swimming area.

See also

• Texas portal

• List of Texas state parks

References

1. Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown". KXAN.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
2. "Purtis Creek State Park: History". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
3. Nailling, Kathi (February 28, 2016). "Purtis Creek State Park offers a little bit of everything". Athens Daily Review. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
4. "Purtis Creek State Park". www.rvweekends.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
5. "January 23-24, 2019, Commission Meeting Agenda". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
6. "Putis Creek State Park: Park map" (PDF). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
7. Ross, Robyn. "Nature and Tranquility Await at Three Parks on the Edge of East Texas". Texas Highways. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
8. "Purtis Creek State Park Trails Map" (PDF). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
9. Stambaugh, Michael C., et al. (2011). "Fire History of a Relict Oak Woodland in Northeast Texas" (PDF). University of Arizona. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
10. "Purtis Creek State Park: Overview". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

External links

• Purtis Creek State Park