Stephen F. Austin State Park

Project leader: Tom Shaughnessy
County: Austin
Address: 2100 Park Rd 38, San Felipe, TX 77474
VMS opportunity: Stephen F. Austin State Park

Stephen F. Austin State Park is nestled in a cozy, scenic bend of the Brazos River in southern part of our chapter in Austin County. It is named for the Father of Texas, Stephen Fuller Austin, who in 1823 established San Felipe de Austin as the Colonial Capital of Texas.

The Park encompasses 473 acres of mixed bottomland forest and forested swamp. The park is on the southern edge of the heavily wooded central section of the county, just north of the coastal prairies. The Brazos River forms the north boundary of the park. Stephen F. Austin State Park offers an array of outdoor amenities for day use and overnight visitors and receives over 10,000 visitors annually.

There are many opportunities at SFA SP for TMN volunteers to get involved. The Gideon Lincecum Chapter designed, built and now maintains an interpretive native pollinator and prairie grass garden in front of the newly renovated park headquarters building. Historically the Gideon Lincecum Chapter has participated in restoration projects, school group field days, First Day Hikes and Eco-Camps. Texas Parks and WIldlife and the staff at Stephen F. Austin State Park hope to have additional high visibility educational volunteer project opportunities for our chapter.

Interpretive sign at the pollinator garden. Photo courtesy of Sheri Wilcox.
Site of the pollinator garden. Photograph courtesy of Sheri Wilcox.
Deer lying in wooded area
White tail deer. Photograph courtesy of Tom Shaughnessy.  

You can visit the park website at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/stephen-f-austin.

Volunteers planting native trees. Photograph courtesy of Tom Shaughnessy.