This blog will be different. Instead a breakdown of what you can expect to find if you visit Punctuated by dad jokes, puns, science, and history trivia. This will likely, all to soon, be little better than an obituary for Lake Fairfield state park as it is set to be ground under the heel of corporate greed with very little hope of saving it.
I am not going to attempt to be a journalist here, many have reported on this already. I am just going to link a few for those curious about what has happened and what is likely to befall this park.
For reference as to what hope there is, a bill has been proposed and sent to the governor that would allow the state to declare imminent domain. A slim hope at best as Governor Abbot has nothing to gain politically at this point and his track record would indicate he would favor big business.
Appallingly some of those articles list that Fairfield state park isn’t the only park on leased land. We need more parks not less. While there are many places that would make great state parks, some parks already, some private land, the lack of public lands is one factor that makes the “Great State of Texas” not as great as it once was.
On To The Park
The park was opened to the public in 1976 and for the nearly 50 years since it has welcomed the public to come and relax. There are 10 miles of trails to hike, bike or ride horses. There is camping, and fishing. While you’re on the water there are all the typical water activities one could enjoy. Below are pictures I took while on the trails. The grey dismal weather the day these photos where taken would match the tone of this post… However the park is beautiful and vibrant even when the world is drab and grey. These photos are proof of that.
History Shmistory. We’ll Bulldoze That Too.
The pictures below are of the Chancellor Union Cemetery. A historic cemetary within the Fairfield state park park grounds. It contains the graves of many early area settlers and veterans of the Civil War, WWI, and WWII.
Now logically they can’t legally bulldoze the cemetery, but they could have it relocated. I wouldn’t put it past them…
The Texas historic marker text reads: Reuben and Mary Chancellor moved to Texas from Wilcox County, Alabama in the 1850s with their ten children and eleven slaves. They settled on 576 acres in the rural community known as Brown’s Creek.
The Chancellor family donated four and one-half acres of land for church, education and burial purposes. The Regular Predestinarian Primitive Baptist Church was organized in 1854. The church structure also served as a school and a community center, and was the site of many gatherings for area residents. The Chancellor Union Cemetery was established here. The earliest marked grave is that of an infant child of J. B. and Sarah Chancellor Lee in 1857. A separate section of the cemetery was dedicated to the former slaves. The earliest marked grave in that section is that of John E. Ingram in 1915.
Among the 90 marked and unmarked graves are four generations of Chancellors, pioneer settlers to the area, many infant burials, and veterans of the Civil War and World War II. The Chancellor Union Cemetery continues to serve the vicinity as it has for more than 140 years and is maintained by an active association of descendants of people that are buried here. (1996)
Coming Soon A Golf Course And Urban Blight.
I can’t recommend highly enough that Shawn Todd or anyone that buys a house developed around the lake switch to the plant below for toilet paper(I kid. I don’t wish anyone any harm).
Pretty, isn’t it.
A Little Brown skink, who was none too certain about being picked up. Understandably so, but was such a cute little bugger. Also he was none too certain about being put down either since my hand was warm.
Mushrooms!
Fairfield state park’s Facebook page will soon be Irrelevant, it’s true, but show some support anyway. To the park staff this is a tragedy.
Are you looking for a location for some relaxation or outdoor recreation? Check out my Destinations page for an interactive map of parks and more.
