TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Get Out and Get Into Texas History Combine Outdoor Recreation and Heritage Tourism at State Historic Sites by Rob Hodges
W
anna get away? Of course you do—at this point in the pandemic, we’re all a bit stir crazy! The question is how to travel safely. Many Texas Historical Commission (THC) state historic sites have expansive grounds that offer both heritage tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities. If a night sleeping under the stars sounds perfect, two THC sites have campgrounds. Set amongst the Pineywoods of East Texas, Mission Dolores in San Augustine has 32 campsites with full hook-ups, as well as restrooms with shower facilities and two picnic pavilions. The campground 68
AUTHENTIC TEXAS
at Fort Griffin in Albany features seven sites with full hook-ups, 19 with water and electric hook-ups, and seven tent sites with water only. Outdoor activities at the approximately 500-acre Fort Griffin include fishing the stock pond or Clear Fork of the Brazos River, hiking Mill Creek, Mountain, and Wohaw nature trails, observing the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd, and walking through the ruins of the frontier fort. The campground also includes restrooms with shower facilities, a playground, sand volleyball court, horseshoe pit, basketball court, and river access for boating. Two flat-bottom jon boats are available for rent.
