Bonham State Park, State park in Bonham, Texas, US
Bonham State Park is a recreation area in Fannin County, Texas, built around an artificial lake surrounded by open grassland and patches of woodland. The park's facilities, including its shelters, restrooms, and lakeside structures, were all constructed in the WPA Rustic style using local light-colored limestone.
The Civilian Conservation Corps Company 894 built the park between 1933 and 1936, constructing the earthen dam that created the lake and putting up all the main stone buildings. The work was part of the federal New Deal programs that put unemployed men to work across the country during the Great Depression.
The park is a regular destination for families from northeastern Texas, who come to fish, paddle, or simply walk the trails around the lake. The stone buildings scattered along the shore give the place a look that feels different from modern parks.
The park has campsites, hiking trails, and boat rentals on the lake, making it easy to fill a full day or a weekend stay. Groups can book dedicated facilities in advance, so it is worth checking availability before arriving.
The park contains bois d'arc trees, also called Osage orange, whose wood is so hard and rot-resistant that Native peoples across the region traditionally used it to make bows. In fall, the trees drop large, bumpy green fruits the size of a grapefruit that land on the trails and are hard to miss.
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