Davis Mountains State Park
Encyclopedia
Davis Mountains State Park is a 2709 acres (1,096.3 ha) state park
located in the Davis Mountains
in Jeff Davis County, Texas
. The closest town is Fort Davis, Texas
. The park elevation is between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level. The original portion of the park was deeded to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family. Original improvements were accomplished by the Civilian Conservation Corps
in 1933 and the park was opened to the public around 1938. Campground facilities were added in 1967.
and the two are connected by four miles of hiking
trails. Within the park is the "Indian Lodge", an adobe
motel
with 39 rooms that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
The park has seven miles of equestrian
trails in the special use Limpia Canyon Primitive Area, the section of the park north of Texas State Highway 118.
and hosts a variety of trees such as pinyon pine
s, Ponderosa Pine
(Pinus ponderosa), Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi), Gray Oak (Quercus
grisea
) and One-seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma
). Shrubs such as Scarlet Bouvardia (Bouvardia
ternifolia), Little-leaf Leadtree (Leucaena
retusa), Trompillo (Ipomoea hederifolia
), Evergreen Sumac (Rhus
virens), Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica
), Apache Plum (Fallugia paradoxa
), Little Walnut (Juglans microcarpa
), Tree Cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata), Torrey Yucca (Yucca
torreyi
), Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii
), and Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata
) abound.
are regularly observed in the park. Western Scrub Jay
s, White-winged Dove
s, Curve-billed Thrasher
s, and Rock Squirrel
s are among the most common wildlife seen. Collared Peccary
, Cougars and bear
s have also been recorded in the park.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in the Davis Mountains
Davis Mountains
The Davis Mountains are a range of mountains in West Texas, located near Fort Davis, after which they are named. They are a popular site for camping and hiking and the region includes Fort Davis National Historic Site and Davis Mountains State Park...
in Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County, Texas
Jeff Davis County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America. It is one of the nine counties that comprise the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. In 2000, its population was 2,207, and 2,258 by 2009...
. The closest town is Fort Davis, Texas
Fort Davis, Texas
Fort Davis is a census-designated place in Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,050 at the 2000 census and 1,041 according to a 2007 estimate. It is the county seat of Jeff Davis County...
. The park elevation is between 5000 and 6000 feet above sea level. The original portion of the park was deeded to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by a local family. Original improvements were accomplished by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
in 1933 and the park was opened to the public around 1938. Campground facilities were added in 1967.
Features
The park is next to the Fort Davis National Historic SiteFort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in unincorporated Jeff Davis County, Texas. Located within the Davis Mountains of West Texas, the historic site was established in 1961 to protect one of the best remaining examples of a United States Army fort in...
and the two are connected by four miles of hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails. Within the park is the "Indian Lodge", an adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
motel
Motel
A motor hotel, or motel for short, is a hotel designed for motorists, and usually has a parking area for motor vehicles...
with 39 rooms that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
The park has seven miles of equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
trails in the special use Limpia Canyon Primitive Area, the section of the park north of Texas State Highway 118.
Flora
Fort Davis State Park receives more rain than the surrounding desertChihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
and hosts a variety of trees such as pinyon pine
Pinyon pine
The pinyon pine group grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. The trees yield edible pinyon nuts, which were a staple of the Native Americans, and are still widely eaten...
s, Ponderosa Pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
(Pinus ponderosa), Emory Oak (Quercus emoryi), Gray Oak (Quercus
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
grisea
Quercus grisea
Quercus grisea, commonly known as the gray oak, shin oak or scrub oak, is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or medium sized tree in the white oak group and is endemic to the south central montane regions of North America. It hybridizes with four other oak species where the ranges of each overlap, the...
) and One-seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma
Juniperus monosperma
Juniperus monosperma is a species of juniper native to western North America, in the United States in Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, western Oklahoma , and western Texas, and in Mexico in the extreme north of Chihuahua...
). Shrubs such as Scarlet Bouvardia (Bouvardia
Bouvardia
Bouvardia is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It contains about 30 species of evergreen herbs and shrubs native to tropical America. The genus is named in honor of Charles Bouvard , physician to Louis XIII, and superintendent of the Jardin du Roi in Paris.-Description:They grow...
ternifolia), Little-leaf Leadtree (Leucaena
Leucaena
Leucaena is a genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae. It contains about 24 species of trees and shrubs, which are commonly known as Leadtrees. They are native to the Americas, ranging from Texas in the United States south to Peru...
retusa), Trompillo (Ipomoea hederifolia
Ipomoea hederifolia
Ipomoea hederifolia is a species of herbaceous annual vine native to the Americas. It was first described by Linnaeus in 1759.It is commonly known as Scarlet Morning Glory, Scarlet Creeper, Star Ipomoea, Trompillo or "Ivy-leaved Morning Glory" .Ipomoea × multifida is a hybrid between I...
), Evergreen Sumac (Rhus
Sumac
Sumac is any one of approximately 250 species of flowering plants in the genus Rhus and related genera, in the family Anacardiaceae. Sumacs grow in subtropical and temperate regions throughout the world, especially in Africa and North America....
virens), Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica
Rhus aromatica
Rhus aromatica is a plant species in the family Anacardiaceae native to Canada and the United States....
), Apache Plum (Fallugia paradoxa
Fallugia
Fallugia is a monotypic genus of shrub containing the single species Fallugia paradoxa, which is known by the common names Apache plume and ponil...
), Little Walnut (Juglans microcarpa
Juglans microcarpa
Juglans microcarpa, known also as the Texas Walnut and the Little Black Walnut is a large shrub or small tree which grows wild along streams and ravines in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. It produces nuts with a width of 1/2—3/4 in. The pinnately compound leaves bear 7—25 untoothed...
), Tree Cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata), Torrey Yucca (Yucca
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
torreyi
Yucca torreyi
Yucca torreyi is an evergreen shrub of the genus Yucca, known by the common names Spanish-dagger, Torrey's yucca, or Torrey Yucca....
), Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii
Acacia greggii
Acacia greggii is a species of Acacia native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, from the extreme south of Utah south through southern Nevada, southeast California, Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas to Baja California, Sinaloa and Nuevo León in...
), and Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata
Mahonia trifoliolata
Mahonia trifoliolata is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae that is native to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the United States and northern Mexico. Common names include Agarita, Agrito, Algerita, Currant-of-Texas, Wild Currant, and Chaparral Berry...
) abound.
Fauna
Montezuma QuailMontezuma Quail
The Montezuma Quail is a stubby, secretive New World quail of Mexico and some nearby parts of the United States. It is also known as Mearns's Quail, the Harlequin Quail , and the Fool Quail .-Description:At about 22 cm , it is one of the shortest quails of North America, although it weighs 180 g...
are regularly observed in the park. Western Scrub Jay
Western Scrub Jay
The Western Scrub-Jay , is a species of scrub-jay native to western North America. It ranges from southern Washington to central Texas and central Mexico. It comprises three distinct subspecies groups, all of which may be separate species...
s, White-winged Dove
White-winged Dove
The White-winged Dove is a dove whose native range extends from the south-western USA through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In recent years with increasing urbanization and backyard feeding, it has expanded throughout Texas and into Louisiana...
s, Curve-billed Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher
The Curve-billed Thrasher is a perching bird of the thrasher group native to the southwestern United States and much of Mexico....
s, and Rock Squirrel
Rock Squirrel
The rock squirrel is a species of rodent in the family Sciuridae. It is found in Mexico and the United States. It is 43–53 cm long.-External links:**...
s are among the most common wildlife seen. Collared Peccary
Collared Peccary
The collared peccary is a species of mammal in the family Tayassuidae that is found in North, Central, and South America. They are commonly referred to as javelina, saíno or báquiro, although these terms are also used to describe other species in the family...
, Cougars and bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
s have also been recorded in the park.