Meridian State Park to Host 80th Anniversary Celebration

Media Contact: Rob McCorkle, TPWD, (830) 866-3533 icle__media__contact">Media Contact: Rob McCorkle, TPWD, (830) 866-3533 or robert.mccorkle@tpwd.texas.gov
Adrian Smith, Texas State Parks (254) 435-2536 or andrian.smith@tpwd.texas.gov

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MERIDIAN – The public is invited to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Meridian State Park on Saturday, Oct. 4, and find out what’s new at the park, visit exhibitors, take a hay ride, enjoy live music and stick around for a star party.

Gates open at 8 a.m. and entry fees are being waived for the celebration that officially kicks off at 10 a.m. with a welcome in the stone refectory built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Overnight camping fees will apply. Visitors who work up an appetite can enjoy a barbecue lunch at 11 a.m., with all proceeds benefiting the Meridian Volunteer Fire Department.

First-timers and those who haven’t visited the 500-acre state park in a while will find a number of recent improvements, including a new ADA fishing pier on the 72-acre lake, a new group primitive campsite in Cottonwood Cove, five new primitive campsites, parkwide Wi-Fi, repaired trails and 50-amp service in the Crosstimbers camping area.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel will be on hand to explain the Kidfish program and share other educational and historical Texas State Parks program information. The Operation Game Thief trailer will be on hand, as well.

Visitors can sign up for a hay ride at the refectory upper parking lot. The last ride departs at 4 p.m. Live music will take place throughout the day at the refectory, starting about noon.

The celebration closes with a Star Party at 8 p.m. Meridian State Park is among the majority of state parks that have had their lighting assessed as part of a Dark Skies program being implemented throughout the state park system. Two state parks – Enchanted Rock and Copper Breaks — have already received certification from the International Dark Skies Association for achieving a top-tier rating for their excellent night skies.

Meridian State Park, near Meridian in Bosque County, is a 505.4-acre park. A rock and earthen dam was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps on Bee Creek to form the park’s 72-acre lake. The land was acquired from private owners in 1933 — 1935 and was opened to the public in 1935. For park information, call (254) 435-2536.