Palmetto State Park

About Palmetto State Park

Palmetto State Park, named after the tropical dwarf palm tree that was planted there, is located in San Marcos County, Florida, USA. The park also has a 4 hectare oxbow lake and is bounded on all sides by the San Marcos River, covering a total area of 2,500 hectares.

The land was bought between 1934 and 1936 by private owners and the city of Gonzales and opened in 1936. In 1930, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) erected beautiful stone buildings in the park.

This is an unusual botanical area that resembles the tropics of central Texas. The distribution of the area between eastern and western species has merged, resulting in an astonishing diversity of plant and animal species.

It is particularly noteworthy that in the park's short-lived swamps there are a large number of palm trees from which it takes its name. Palm trees are found throughout the state, with only the west and north of the parks having individual species and small groups. The animals frequently seen in and around the park include a variety of birds, reptiles, amphibians, birds of prey and mammals, as well as birds and reptiles.

The Mexican government sent Gonzales a six pound cannon in 1831 to protect him from the Indians, and on October 2, 1835, when the first shots of the Texas Revolution were fired, the cannon was used in the Battle of come-and-take. At the end of the Texas Revolution, most Anglo-American settlements in the West were in Texas, with the exception of San Antonio, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Marcos. The capital colony Green DeWitt's Colony was the largest settlement of its kind in North America at the time.

After General Houston learned of the incident, he gathered troops and ordered Gonzales to be burned, and they were deployed to take up positions in San Jacinto. There Santa Anna was defeated and Texas gained its freedom from Mexico, but then the famous outlier began his journey back to San Antonio. He was the only survivor of the siege and then gained time to make his way to the capital, San Marcos.

Today, 7,500 people live here, and the house, renovated from the 1880s to the 1920s, offers a unique view of the city's history, as well as San Antonio and Texas.

Luling was founded in 1874 and has a population of 5,500 today. It is home to the Cotton Company, one of the first oil companies in Texas. Cotton dominated the economy until oil was discovered in 1922, but by 1924 the field was producing 16 million barrels of oil a year.

Within the city limits, it offers a variety of restaurants, including world-famous grilled dishes, as well as a gas station with a colorfully decorated pump. The San Marcos River flows through the park, and boaters can drive 14 miles to Palmetto by passing the causeway along the way. You can dock at Luling City Park and get off at the city parking lot south of State Park. On the south side of Lules City Road at the Slayden Bridge there is a boat ramp where you can stay overnight on the way to or from Palmatto State Park.

It is highly recommended that boaters who wish to call the Central Reservation Centre overnight to contact them for the night. The San Marcos River, the main river in Palmatto State Park, is a fast, almost always steady current and is limited to take-off points. These points are mostly limited by private land, but there are a few small boat ramps on the south side of Lules City Road and Slayden Bridge, as well as a boat ramp in Luling City Park.

Bring your own canoe, organize a shuttle, check the river conditions in the park or check the condition of the river in and around the park at the Central Reservation Center.

Children take part in the activities in the park - with experienced and certified budding scientists.

The first two weeks of June are for children aged 8 to 12, the first week of July for adults. We will present activities that promote awareness and appreciation of the environment and explore opportunities for responsible human action.

This exciting all-day programme offers children a rewarding summer experience that is both educational and entertaining. The program offers families the opportunity to take time off while their children participate in the program's activities.

Participation is possible for one to two weeks, Monday to Thursday, and throughout the summer.

Call the park for a special package price that includes camping and registration for this program.

To reach this park, drive 6 miles east on Park Road 10 to Lule Lake Road and then 10 miles west on Lules Lake Drive to the parking lot. Southwest 2 miles to 11 Park Road, then continue south on the road until you reach the parks.