Shannon

If you had camping plans over the next couple months, be sure to double-check that a.) the park you intended to visit is open and accepting visitors and b.) that the park you intended to visit is not at or over capacity due to hosting hundreds or thousands of hurricane evacuees.

Many Parks have been closed or otherwise affected by Hurricane Ike. Go to TPWD's continuously updated Emergency Notices page for more information.

• Atlanta
• Battleship Texas
• Brazos Bend
• Caddo Lake
• Daingerfield SP
• Fairfield Lake
• Fanthorp Inn
• Fort Boggy
• Fort Parker
• Galveston Island
• Goose Island
• Huntsville
• Lake Bob Sandlin - Scheduled to reopen at 8 am on Monday , September 15.
• Lake Livingston
• Lake Tawakoni - Scheduled to reopen at 8 am on Monday , September 15.
• Lake Texana
• Martin Creek
• Martin Dies Jr.
• Mission Tejas
• Mustang Island
• San Jacinto Battleground / Monument
• Sea Rim
• Sheldon Lake
• Stephen F Austin
• Tyler - Scheduled to reopen at 8 am on Monday , September 15.
• Village Creek
• Washington on the Brazos / Barrington Farm

TPWD has posted a growing archive of their Hurricane Ike-related photos - TPWD: News Images

Go to the "Emergency Notice: Hurricane Ike" page for more information.

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Shannon

I just found a confirmed report that the historic Bolivar Lighthouse is destroyed, its top sheared off leaving little more than splinters sticking up -- Source: abc13.com Blog: Bolivar lighthouse destroyed - Wayne's report

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

Troop198

Today, four Texas State Parks in northern East Texas have restored power and reopened, although some are only open for day use. This drops to 13 the number of state parks closed due to Ike, down from 37 closures at the event’s height.

The current list of parks closed due to Ike is online (TPWD: Parks Affected by Hurricane Ike)


Two coastal parks, Galveston and Sea Rim, suffered catastrophic damage.Facilities at Sea Rim near Port Arthur appear to be a total loss. At Galveston Island, Ike caused heavy beach erosion and swept awaystateparkfacilities. The San Jacinto Battleground and six other state parks in Southeast and Northeast Texas suffered significant damage ranging from downed trees and power lines to storm surge flooding and wind damage to buildings and facilities.

Both parks will be missed

Shannon

I haven't had time to check but I am concerned about the city and county park assets in the disaster zone as well as the National Wildlife Refuge (Anahuac, etc.) I'll have to put together a summary if I get a chance of the status based on what my Google searches turn up.

I'm saddened by the losses families and businesses have had most of all, but it also saddens me to lose park(s) that in some cases I've never visited (Sea Rim SP).

Thanks for the update. I need to set up a routine to auto-post TPWD news releases to a News forum here on WildTexas.com, now that TPWD allows unrestricted republication of their news releases.

__________________
- Shannon Moore
Your Host @ WildTexas.com

Purchases in the Wild Texas Gear Shop support our continued operation. Thank you!

Choderus

Not Ike-related but an update nonetheless:

Balmorhea State Park
2008/09/15 - Due to heavy and consistent rains, the swimming pool is currently closed for safety concerns regarding low visibility. Contact the park for more information.

Particularly a bummer for me because I have reservations there next Sunday & Monday before heading down to Davis Mountains State Park. They said it could be closed 1-3 weeks, depending on how much rain they get in the meantime. We can't change our plans so I'm hoping for sunny days and possible a clear-up of the pool by the end of next week before we have to come home. Oh well, maybe that will free up enough time to finally make a drive down to see Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Choderus

A couple of more updates:

2008/09/22 - San Solomon Springs has reopened for swimming and scuba diving. Visibility is 10 ft. and improving daily. Contact the park for the latest information.


However, I called Big Bend Ranch S.P. and as of now the park is virtually inaccessible due to the flooding of the Rio Grande. The only way in as of now is to take Ranch Road 169 off 67 south of Marfa, which turns into a very rough dirt road halfway there. I've traveled this road (not to the park--back to 118) and I can very highly NOT recommend it to anyone.

Here is a story from the Alpine Avalanche:
Mexico continues to release its water

Also, the event planned there in October is no more:
Floods cancel Big Bend Ranch Fiesta

riverrat

The Bolivar Peninsula Lighthouse is still standing. Not destroyed as earlier reported.
Take a first-hand look Hurricane Ike's devastation left on Bolivar Peninsula - 9/18/08 - Houston News - abc13.com