American Locations 4 - Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Texas

After spending all day at the Fort Worth Stockyards, we didn’t want to drive far. So we headed west out of Ft. Worth on I-30 and stopped overnight at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. Most dams have roads across the tops of them. The dam at Lake Mineral Wells State Park in Texas has a road across the spillway. So you are driving below the water level when you cross the dam. It’s kind of strange, driving by the lake with the water at eye level. Must be what people in New Orleans feel like all the time, living below sea level. Yet another area of the park is set aside for rock climbing. From below the lake to the rocky heights.

The lake is located in north central Texas just west of Dallas. It is an unusual area. It is the only region in Texas with such high hills and a hardwood forest. This was such a rugged terrain that it was difficult to root out the Native Americans who lived here. Also, this area was a good place for outlaws to hide out. Most of Texas is wide open, but this little part of it is verdant and rocky.

The lake itself is the biggest attraction now. You can sit by the lakeside in the evening and listen to the birds call to one another in the high weeds as they settle down for the night, to be joined by a chorus of frogs. A very relaxing way to spend a quiet evening. Soothing, actually, after driving through Dallas.

My wife and I hiked around the lake the next morning.We vacated the campsite early the next morning. When we arrived the night before we’d found the picnic table festooned with a festive tablecloth and balloons. We double-checked to make sure we had the correct site. We did. Someone was having a party here the next day and had decorated early. So we left early and went on our hike, so we wouldn’t interfere with their party.

NEXT LOCATION IS SAN ANGELO, TEXAS