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A view of Lake
Bosque from the Bee Ledge Scenic Overlook.
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher |
Park Location
173 Park Road 7
Meridian,
TX 76665
31.889266, -97.702365 (latitude, longitude)
(254) 435-2536
Meridian State Park is located three miles southwest of Meridian
Texas on State Highway 22 in Bosque
County. The park is located along the 98th meridian in an area
of transition from prairies to hill country. |
Park History
Like so many Texas
state parks constructed in the 1930's, Meridian State Park was
built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Skilled World
War I veterans from CCC Company 1827 constructed Meridian State
Park between July 1933 and October 1934. A small group of men from
CCC Company 817 finished work on the park between October 1934 and
March 1935 with the park opening to the public in 1935. Meridian was
one of the first Texas CCC state parks finished and available to travelers
for the Texas Centennial
Celebration of 1936.
CCC Company 1827 accomplished a lot in its short time at Meridian.
They built a dam across Bee Creek to impound 72 acre Lake Bosque,
the most prominent landscape feature at the park, and they built a
refectory on a hillside above the lake. A refectory, by the way, is
a building that provides public space, restrooms, and a concession
area.
Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1827 also built the entrance portal,
five miles of scenic roads, culverts, and several bridges within the
park. There are two smaller bridges on the section of park road going
to the Shinnery Ridge Trail, and there’s a larger vehicle bridge on
the park road going to the Bee Ledge Scenic Overlook. |
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A view of the
concession building and pergola at Meridian State Park
Photo
courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher |
Recreation
72-acre Lake Bosque
is the recreational centerpiece of the park. Swimming and picnicking
are popular during the Summer months. Fishing and no-wake boating,
canoeing and kayaking are other recreational options.
The park lies in a region of gently rolling hills with varied flora.
Areas north and west of the lake tend to be on higher ground. Wildflower
displays can be nice in this area of the park during the Spring months.
Bird watching is another popular recreation in the Spring. The trails
within the entire park offer topographic and scenic variety.
Camping facilities are limited at this park so plan ahead during the
busy season. Meridian State Park has more than a dozen screen shelters
available and some of them are on the lake near the concession building.
You might consider them as an alternative to the camping area.
Meridian State Park is a great little park just far enough away from
Dallas, Fort
Worth, and Waco
to be convenient for day use. This is one of the earliest parks constructed
by The Civilian Conservation Corps in Texas.
The architecture and landscapes here are quite good. The combination
of rolling hills, green meadows, and 72-acre Lake Bosque make for
a wonderful experience. The wildflowers
at this park are a bonus in the Spring. |
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Wildflowers growing
in the field along the park road
Photo courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, March 2012 |
Near By
The town of Meridian
is just a few miles up State Highway 22. Meridian
is the county seat of Bosque
County, and It has a classic old county
courthouse that occupies the center of the town square. Clifton
and Glen
Rose are two other charming little towns that you may want to
visit while in the area. |
The concession
building at Meridian State Park
Photo
courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, March 2012 |
The entrance
portal at Meridian State Park
Photo
courtesy Sam
Fenstermacher, March 2012 |
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