Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site
&
Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
228 State Park Road 61
Jacksboro TX 76458
940/567-3506
History: Ft. Richardson State Park, Historic Site & Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway, located northwest of Fort Worth in Jack County, contains 454.16 acres. The property was acquired in 1968 from the City of Jacksboro and was opened to the public the same year.
Fort Richardson was established in November 1867. Fort Richardson was named in honor of General Israel B. Richardson, who died in the Battle of Antietam during the Civil War. The fort was the northernmost of a line of Federal Forts established after the Civil War. The soldiers arrived in Jacksboro in 1866 with orders to establish a fort at Buffalo Springs, 20 miles north of Jacksboro. Due to unhealthy conditions at Buffalo Springs and the constant Indian raids, the fort was abandoned. The soldiers returned to Jacksboro and eventually received orders to establish a fort on the South Bank of Lost Creek. Expeditions sent from Fort Richardson arrested Indians responsible for the Warren Wagon Train Massacre in 1871 and fought Comanches in Palo Duro Canyon. The Fort was abandoned in May 1878.
Activities: Fort site structures include seven of the original buildings which have been restored: the post hospital; the officers' quarters (Commanding Officer); a powder magazine; a morgue; a commissary; a guardhouse; and a bakery, which baked 600 loaves per day. There are also two replicas: officers' and enlisted men's barracks. The officers' barracks houses the Interpretive Center. Activities include historical study, picnicking, camping, fishing, hiking, day-use equestrian, nature study, wading in the creek (seasonal), and swimming (accessible via Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway or by road). Tours/Events: Guided historical tours are held at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and by appointment; tour fees apply. Special events held throughout the year include Military Reenactments (pictured above), Bar-B-Que Cookoff, a Trout Fishing Tournament, and Living History Presentations.
- Check the Calendar of Events for this park.
- More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page.
Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway:
The grand opening ceremony of Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway was held on National Trails Day, June 6, 1998.
Located at Fort Richardson and Jacksboro, this approximately 10-mile hike, bike and equestrian trail runs adjacent to Fort Richardson and along Lost Creek, which is the main watershed for the two city lakes. The trail follows scenic Lost Creek and travels the east side of Lake Jacksboro and Lost Creek Reservoir. The trail crosses the dam at Lost Creek Reservoir and winds along the west side until you enter the trail head. There is a trail head at Fort Richardson State Historical Park and a trail head on Lost Creek Reservoir.
This trail is 10 feet wide and has an improved surfacing of base material and a topping of approximately 4" of screening materials. This type of surface creates a smooth trail for all types of use.
The Lost Creek trail was funded through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the City of Jacksboro and Jack County as partners and shared in the matching funds for this grant program. It was authorized for construction in 1994 and will be completed in 1998. The grand opening will be on National Trail Day June 6, 1998. The cost for this trail is $442,000.00.
This is a linear trail system that winds with the terrain and abounds in scenic beauty. It travels through the park with many shaded areas of pecan and oak trees. Most of the trail travels by the creek or lakes which provide numerous opportunities to fish and swim. This is a beautiful trail, abundant also in wildlife and wild flowers.
Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include Possum Kingdom State Park, Lake Arrowhead State Park, and Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Jack County Museum, Lake Jacksboro and Lost Creek Reservoir (both within 4 miles of the park), the City of Wichita Falls, and the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex area.
Facilities: There are screened shelters; campsites with water and electricity; hike-in primitive sites; picnic sites; a lighted group picnic pavilion; restrooms with and without showers; volleyball court; horseshoe pits; a trailer dump station; Prickly Pear Trail for hiking in the open prairie land for 2 miles; a nature walk, which follows Lost Creek for 1/4 mile; the Lost Creek Reservoir 10-mile hike, bike and equestrian trail; Swimming beach on Lost Creek Reservoir, and a Texas State Park Store. Fishing is allowed in the 8-acre Quarry Lake located by park headquarters.
- Park & Facility Fees
- Facility & Trail
Map
(PDF 440.8 KB)
Flora/Fauna: Quarry Lake is stocked with catfish, bass, and trout periodically during the year.
More information on the wildlife mentioned here:
Elevation: 1100 ft.
Weather: Average January minimum 32; average July maximum
97; average annual rainfall 28.
Schedule: Open 7 days a week year round; no gate. Busy Season: Spring and fall.
Directions: To reach the park, travel 1/2 mile south of Jacksboro on US Highway 281.
Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744