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Texas Parks and Wildlife declares Bonham State Park as 'Park of the Month'
By Texas Parks and Wildlife, 2nd story by Allen Rich
Sep 8, 2004

Bonham, Texas - Bucolic Bonham State Park, tucked away in the wooded Blackland Prairie in northeast Texas, owes its name and existence to two famous Texans from different generations.

The 261-acre state park, like the city of Bonham near which it is located, derives its moniker from Republic of Texian patriot James Butler Bonham, a South Carolinian who gave his life in 1836 at the Alamo fighting for Texas independence.

But the fact that Bonham State Park even exists is due in no small part to the political influence of Bonham's favorite son Sam Rayburn, one of the most powerful and respected Congressman of the 20th century. The Speaker of the U.S. House for a record 16 years, Rayburn was elected to represent the 4th District 24 times, serving during the all-important New Deal years of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

"Mister Sam," as Rayburn's friends like protege Lyndon B. Johnson called him, wielded great influence over New Deal legislation in the 1930s that included the creation of jobs programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) that led to the development of 56 Texas parks. Without Rayburn's clout, its quite likely the park would not have been built in Bonham.

The land just south of town that state park occupies today once belonged to the City of Bonham, which in 1933 turned the property over to the state for the C.C.C. to develop as a state park. The state acquired ownership, too, of an additional 254-acre tract east of the city but returned it to the city in the 1960s.

C.C.C. Company 894, composed of 167 Oklahoma men, developed the nonproductive farmland in the Bois d'arc Creek floodplain into a popular recreational park over three years, completing its task of road-clearing, tree-planting and building construction in November 1936. The young, unemployed men developed the park around a 65-acre lake that was impounded behind an earthen dam. Workers removed more than 95,000 square yards of earth to complete the lake.

Visitors to the park today can still enjoy a dip in lake waters adjacent to the Hackberry Hollow camping area, the state park's only campground. Just up the hill, C.C.C. workers built a handsome limestone-and-timber refectory that serves as park headquarters where visitors pay their $2 entry fee. Some of handiwork of "Roosevelt's Tree Army" - a boathouse built into the side of a hill, fishing pier, picnic tables, rock footbridge, entrance portal and remains of a defunct water tower - still remains.

Photo courtesy of Robert McCorkle,
Texas Parks &Wildlife Department

The Civilian Conservation Corps built this
unusual boathouse during the 1930s
at Bonham State Park in northeast Texas.

A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department report on the park's cultural resources cites Texas historian Jim Steely's characterization of Bonham State Park's design and construction as "some of the state's best examples of Rustic Architectural Style." Steely says that the park's design and development epitomize the C.C.C. strategy of claiming sub-marginal agricultural land for recreational use.

Most of the park's recreational opportunities still revolve around the lake. Swimming and fishing prove popular with locals and out-of-towners from U.S. Highway 75 suburban communities north of Dallas such as Allen, McKinney and Plano. Some of the park's approximately 60,000 annual visitors also hail from nearby Greenville and Sherman-Denison.

"It's a quaint, picturesque little lake," says Lee Ellis, who has managed the park for two years. "It's an intimate, laid-back type of park. On any given weekend, I get to know the campers because it's so small."

Ellis says it's the kind of park where his 9-year-old daughter "makes a new friend every weekend" at the campground. "At bigger parks I've worked in, you don't always know everything that's going on. But I rarely have a problem with a camper here."

It's hard to imagine Bonham State Park being the kind of place to attract troublemakers. Its only overnight camping area, Hackberry Hollow, has a total of only 21 campsites. Seven of those are geared to tent campers, with the usual accoutrements, but also feature electricity to keep fans whirring on warmer nights. The other 14 are water-electric sites designed for recreational vehicles, trailers and pop-up campers, offering a mix of 30-amp and 50-amp service. A dump station is located in the camping area.

For groups, the park offers a secluded day use-only picnic pavilion with barbecue grills that rents for $50, and a group barracks/dining hall ($954 a night) that sleeps almost 100 people in five cabins with bunk beds. The dining hall has a stove, commercial stove, folding chairs and tables to host large gatherings. The 1950s-era, air-conditioned and heated frame buildings occupy the site of the old rock quarry used by the C.C.C.

A terraced, grassy slope provides a nice, open area in contrast to surrounding woodlands dominated by oaks, cedar elms, Eastern red cedars, hackberries and other hardwoods. A pavilion next to a giant fire ring provides the perfect spot folks to gather to enjoy the fresh air and star-filled skies of northeast Texas. Park crews have even converted one of the old buildings into a game room, equipped with a homemade ping-pong table.

Park visitors should bring their own volleyball, basketball and horseshoes to take full advantage of the playground on the lake's shoreline near a sandy swimming beach. A pavilion with several picnic tables makes this area the center of activity for most park-goers.

Mountain bikers and hikers can exercise and explore 11 miles of trails snaking through the park grounds. And, a lighted fishing pier and single-lane boat ramp caters to anglers looking to snag a stringer of crappie, bass or catfish. The small lake limits motorboat speeds to 5 m.p.h.

Bonham State Park is State Park is one of more than 120 state parks and historic sites that make up the Texas State Park System. The park is located in Fannin County about four miles southeast of the city of Bonham off of FM 271. The park is open daily year-round; headquarters hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit the Bonham State Park web site.

Photo courtesy of Robert McCorkle,
Texas Parks &Wildlife Department 

A kayaker finds the 65-acre lake
at Bonham State Park the
perfect place to paddle on a
sunny summer evening.

CAMP, BIKE, FISH OR JUST KICK BACK AT BONHAM STATE PARK

September 2004 State Park of the Month

************************************

A park for all seasons
By Allen Rich with North Texas e-News

Written:  Feb 11, 2004

On a recent weekday, Bonham State Park was an island of tranquility.  Squirrels played tag by the pavilion.  A solitary hiker slowly made his way up one of the trails that weave through the heavily-wooded area for 11 miles, pausing to photograph some of the trees that are just now showing a little color.  But before you think this beautiful corner of Fannin County is underappreciated, take a look at the numbers; last year just over 95,000 visitors enjoyed the 265-acre park’s facilities.

Bonham State Park, located just south of Bonham on FM 271, encompasses the peaceful shores of a picturesque 65-acre lake built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

 If you don’t believe the park is almost too pretty to ever leave, just ask the employees.  Laura Norris has worked at Bonham State Park for 26 years.  Glen Wehrmann’s employment began 24 years ago.  Ben Smith has worked there for well over a decade (13 years to be exact) and he is the new guy.  Park Manager Lee Ellis didn’t just take over a facility 15 months ago; this crew is like a family.

“This park is as picturesque as you will find anywhere and the staff is remarkable,” Mr. Ellis commented.  “The best part about this park is the family atmosphere.  It is a small, intimate park where parents can always keep their children in sight.  Plus, I love the history of the CCC workers and they did some of their best stonework here.” 

There is a 5 MPH speed limit on the lake which helps maintain the peaceful solitude of the park.  Bonham State Park is stocked regularly by Texas Parks and Wildlife and most of fishermen concentrate on healthy populations of channel catfish, crappie and bass in the lake. 

The staff says the park takes on a different look with every season and the campers start showing up in force around spring break.  During the heat of August, there are a few empty camping areas on weekends, but from May until the end of October the camping areas are usually full.  Bonham State Park has 14 camping areas designed to accommodate trailers and/or tents, while there are seven camping spots specifically for tents.  All of these camping areas have water and electricity. 

The park’s workers have a better chance to see more wildlife the occasional visitors and when they describe encounters with bobcats and flocks of American egrets passing through, there is no mistaking their respect for the natural beauty of this 70-year-old jewel in the Texas State Park system.

Bonham State Park also rents out group barracks that are located in a remote corner of the park.  These barracks are perfect for large family gatherings with accommodations for 94 people.  There are six separate buildings in the group barracks area, including a new restroom/shower facility and a spacious dining hall with an eight-burner stove and a commercial refrigerator. 

To make camping reservations at Bonham State Park, please call 512-389-8900 or visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Website at http://www.tpwd.st.tx.us/.   The park’s hours are daylight until 10:00 p.m. and you may call 903-583-5022 to learn more about Bonham State Park. 

Ivy covers the stonework of the CCC workers in the 1930s.

The crowds are gone now, but the swimming area is busy in the summer months.

This is a perfect place if you love solitude...

...or maybe want to teach your daughter a peaceful pasttime.

No park could have a staff more familiar with their surroundings. (l-r) Glen Wehrmann, Park Manager Lee Ellis, Laura Norris and Ben Smith

This shows the exterior of the dining hall at the group barracks. All of the buildings in the complex are air conditioned.

This shows the large interior of the dining hall. This building is equipped with an eight-burner stove to make cooking for a crowd easier.

The group barracks has large, modern restrooms and showers.

This is one of six buildings tucked into the woods at the Bonham State Park.

This exhibit at Bonham State Park was part of a very interesting 4-H project recently.