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| State Park Overview: |
 | Lake Corpus Christi State Park, a 14,111.78-acre park, located in San Patricio, Jim Wells and Live Oak Counties, southwest of Mathis, was leased from the City of Corpus Christi in 1934 (until 2032) and was opened in 1934. Many of the park's facilities were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. This 21,000-acre lake was formed by damming the Nueces River.
In January 1929, a reservoir called Lake Lovenskiold was created in this valley with the construction of La Fruita Dam across the Nueces River, which washed out in November that same year. The dam was rebuilt in 1935, with federal funds provided by President Roosevelt?s New Deal, and the name changed to Lake Corpus Christi.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 886 developed the 365-acre Lake Corpus Christi State Park between 1934 and 1935 on a cove where San Patricio, Jim Wells, and Live Oak counties converge. CCC buildings included a bathhouse, park residence, and a refectory, but only the refectory remains. This Mediterranean-style building was built of cast blocks of local caliche. The blocks were cast in various sizes and laid in a random-ashlar pattern, closely resembling cut limestone.
By the 1940s, as the new reservoir lost storage capacity from silting, it became evident that a new and larger dam and reservoir would be necessary. Opposition to the new dam by landowners in the proposed flood pool resulted in litigation that delayed construction for many years. The local water supply district finally won a favorable court decision, and the present dam was completed in 1958. Named in honor of Wesley E. Seale, chairman of the Lower Nueces River Water Supply District, the new dam made Lake Corpus Christi one of the largest artificial bodies of water in Texas. It covers 21,000 acres, with a capacity of 300,000-acre-feet at the spillway elevation of 94 feet above sea level. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| The mixture of brushland, the sometimes marshy margins, and open waters of Lake Corpus Christi and the riparian woodlands along the Nueces River provide a diverse ecological area. The park represents one of the few remaining stands of brushland in the area and, as a result, provides habitat to a wide variety of animals. The park and nearby natural areas provide an important landfall for neotropical migrants and play an even greater role in conserving plants and animals native to the mesquite grassland. Common bird within the park include black-bellied whistling-duck, purple gallinule, white-winged dove, pauraque, long-billed thrasher, white-eyed vireo, pyrrhuloxia, and black-throated sparrow. Common mammals include javelina and white-tailed deer. Popular fish include big blue, channel and yellow catfish, sunfish, bass, and crappie. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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Grew up on this lake
Really like the State Park shelters. My parents started bringing our family to this park as far back as I can remember. A brother of mine and I still frequent the park and catch a lot of catfish, a few gaspergoo and crappie. Always enjoy it.
Written by Roy
4-May-2008
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| History of the Area: |
| The present site of Lake Corpus Christi State Park overlooks an impoundment of the Nueces River, which was a the disputed boundary between Texas and Mexico after the Texas Revolution. The Rio Grande became the boundary at the end of the war between the two nations, officially making this area a part of Texas. Once inhabited by Karankawa and Lipan Apache Indians, this area became the site of several settlement attempts in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1858, Lagarto, now a ghost town a few miles northwest of the park, evolved from a Mexican settlement of grass-thatched huts. Today, there are a few remains of this town, which began a steady decline when its leaders rejected the building of a railroad through the community in 1887. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Related Links: |
| Lake Corpus Christi State Park in Texas - information on Lake Corpus Christi State Park in Texas ... Lake Corpus Christi State Park Box 1167 Mathis TX 78368 361/547-2635 Lake Corpus Christi Lake Corpus Christi site links. Skip links ... | | Lake Corpus Christi State Park Use Fees - Lake Corpus Christi State Park Use Fees ... Lake Corpus Christi State Park Entrance and Use Fees Information and prices are subject to change at any time. Please call the park or park information ... | | Lake Corpus Christi State Park - Corpus Christi, Texas - Find information on hiking, camping, biking, balloning, canoeing, parks, golfing, boating, hotels, scenic drives, or anything else you can do outside in Austin, Texas. | | Lake Corpus Christi State Park - Lake Corpus Christi State Park. Friday, September 13, 2002. through. Sunday, September 15, 2002. Lake Corpus Christi State Park is outside of Mathis, TX. It is a large park on Lake Corpus... | | Rocki Roads lake corpus christi state park - devinn jpg lane | | George West Chamber Of Commerce - ... new home. We are located midway between Choke Canyon Reservoir and State Park and Lake Corpus Christi State Park, where hunting and fishing abound. In order to make your visit complete, please ... | | Houston Baytown Pasadena RV Rentals Campers Vacation Texas Travel Trailers - RV Rentals Houston Baytown Pasadena La Porte Deer Park Clear Lake Campers Pop Ups Vacation Travel ... Park Lake Brownwood State Park Lake Corpus Christi State Park To find any state park or historical ... | | Aransas Pass Area Attractions - Aransas Pass offers area attractions including sport fishing from the bays and it's many beaches and ... Track The Fulton Mansion Lake Corpus Christi State Park Port Aransas Mustang Island South ... | | Texas Travel: Gulf Coast and South Texas - texas gulf, texas coast, travel texas coast, travel texas gulf, south texas travel, south texas, texas coast, texas gulf, texas gulf, texas gulf, travel texas gulf, travel texas coast, tourism texas ... | | Explore Corpus Christi - Links for real estate in Corpus Christi. Tour the city and more. Click here now. ... and History Surfing in Corpus Christi Lake Corpus Christi State Park Marine Mammal Stranding Network Janna L. Schury ... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Nearby attractions include the Choke Canyon State Park, Goose Island State Park, and Mustang Island State Park; Fulton Mansion State Historic Site, and Goliad State Park & Mission Esp?tu Santo State Historic Site; Padre Island National Seashore; Aransas Wildlife Refuge; and the many attractions of the City of Corpus Christi. |
| Directions: |
| The park is on Park Road 25, 4 miles southwest of Mathis, off State Highway 359, and 35 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. |
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