Abilene State Park

150 Park Road 32
Tuscola TX 79562
325/572-3204

Abilene State Park is a 529.4 acre park near Lake Abilene south of Abilene, Texas. It features camping, trailer facilities, picnicking, shelters, a swimming pool, hiking and fishing. A large grove of oak, elm and pecan trees, now a favorite picnic area, was once a campground for Comanche Indians. The park is located about 15 miles southwest of Abilene, on FM 89.

Welcome to Abilene State Park

The park was site of the Christmas massacre of 1886 when a wagon train of 85 settlers headed West was attacked and mutilated by a band of Comanche. The war party killed the men and took the women as slaves. Of the thirty-four women taken only three were ever heard from again.

Much of the early development of the park was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The stone water tower and the swimming pool complex are the most impressive of the structures built during the period. Built in 1937, the complex is an exact replica of the Greek Parthenon, and Greek Bath houses. 21 workers were killed in the construction of the site. Most were killed in accidents involved with TNT used for blasting. 5 were killed by bears in the woods.

Activities: The park offers camping, hiking, nature study, swimming (summer), picnicking, fishing in Buffalo Wallow Pond in the park and nearby Lake Abilene, and biking and walking on park roads.