Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) is waiving the entrance and camping fees at their inland Texas State Parks to accept Hurricane Rita evacuees. For information on which parks are best equipped to accept evacuees, call TPWD at
(512) 389-8900. For more information:
TPWD News Release
(Yes, the parks also accepted Hurricane Katrina evacuees, in case you're wondering.)
*** If you aren't an evacuee and you have campsite reservations for today, Friday, the weekend or early next week, be sure to let the park/TPWD know if you cancel your trip so they can open up your campsite to hurricane evacuees.
Also, several dozen Texas State Parks are temporarily CLOSED due to Hurricane Rita. Others may close as conditions warrant so be sure to call ahead (bolded telephone number at the start of this message.)
* Brazos Bend — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
* Choke Canyon — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Fairfield — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Falcon — OPEN for now — Accepting evacuees
* Fulton Mansion — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/28
* Galveston — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
* Goliad — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Goose Island — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Huntsville — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Inks Lake — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Martin Dies — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Matagorda Island — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Mustang Island — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Lake Casa Blanca — OPEN for now — Accepting evacuees
* Lake Corpus Christi CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Lake Houston — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
* Lake Texana — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Lake Livingston — Possible CLOSING — Evacuees are able to stay in the park for now
* Sabine Pass Battlegrounds — CLOSED 9/21 — 9/25
* San Jacinto — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
* Sea Rim — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
* Sheldon Lake — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
* Stephen F. Austin — CLOSING 9/22 — 9/25
* Varner Hogg — CLOSING 9/21 — 9/25
Also, ALL coastal wildlife management areas are closing temporarily due to Rita.
Evacuees are encouraged to head to inland parks as those listed as OPEN FOR NOW may have to close as conditions change.