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Buescher State Park

TPWD Photo
The Blanco River at Blanco State Park.

PO Box 75
Smithville TX 78957-0075
512/237-2241
Park locator map

History: Buescher State Park, a scenic area, is 1016.7 acres just north of Smithville in Bastrop County. Between the years 1933 and 1936, Mr. Emil and Mrs. Elizabeth Buescher originally deeded 318 acres of land to the state. After Emil Buescher's death, his heirs donated 318 more acres. The rest of the parkland was acquired from the city of Smithville. The original park totaled 1738 acres and opened in 1940. Approximately 700 of the acres were later deeded to MD Anderson and UT Cancer Center.

El Camino Real (King's/Royal Highway) once ran near the park, connecting San Antonio de Bexar with Spanish missions in East Texas and generally followed present-day Texas State Highway 21 and Old San Antonio Road. This park land was part of Austin's colonial grant, and the original park improvements were made by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). A scenic park road connects Buescher State Park with Bastrop State Park and travels through a part of the lovely lost pines, a remnant of what is thought to have once been an extensive pine-oak forest covering much of Central Texas, during the time Ice Age glaciers reigned to the north.

Activities: Activities are non-motorized boating permitted (no ramp/small lake); fishing in a stocked lake; nature study; hiking; interpretive tours (call park or check Calendar of Events) and biking (The scenic, 12-mile-long, winding, and hilly, paved road between Buescher and Bastrop State Parks is ideal for biking, but should be used only by experienced cyclists.) Approximately 6 miles between the parks is private land; no camping between parks or trespassing on private land.

Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include Bastrop State Park, Monument Hill/Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, Lockhart State Park, Lake Somerville State Park & Trailway, and McKinney Falls State Park. Lake Bastrop, and the cities of Bastrop, Smithville and Austin. You may want to refer to nearby Lower Colorado River Authority parks.

Scenic Drives (Field Trips on Wheels) - Get in the car and go for a leisurely drive along Park Road 1C between Buescher and Bastrop State Parks. This scenic 12-mile drive will take you through the beautiful Lost Pines of East Central Texas. Turn down the radio and enjoy the serenity of the forest along this quiet drive. Call the park for more information.

Facilities: Facilities include restrooms with and without showers; campsites with water; campsites with water and electricity; screened shelters; picnic sites; 7.5 miles of hiking trails; a dump station; a playground and group picnic pavilion (for day use only, capacity 75) with a fireplace, picnic tables, and a restroom with showers in the area. A recreational hall (for day and night use - capacity 100) with a full kitchen, heat, air-conditioning, fans, a patio, a fireplace, and a restroom. Limited Use Cabins (sleeps 4) with 2 sets of bunk-beds, a table, chairs, AC/Heat, microwave, ceiling fan, refrigerator, kitchen counter top, and curtains. Be sure to visit the Texas State Park Store.

Flora/Fauna: The beautiful wooded setting, that includes a tranquil lake, makes an excellent area from which to observe the seasonal distribution of some 250 species of birds. Mammals include white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, bobcats and armadillos along with rabbits, squirrels and small rodents. Enjoy fishing for catfish, bass, crappie, perch and also rainbow trout in the winter.

More information on the wildlife mentioned here:

Elevation: 324 feet
Weather: Average rainfall of 36.5 January minimum 38 degrees and July maximum 96 degrees.

Schedule Information: Open: 7 days a week year-round. Gate: Locked at 10 p.m.; late arrivals should call the park for the combination.

Directions: The park is located 2 miles northwest of Smithville on State Highway 71 to FM 153, then north on 153 for .5 mile to enter Park Road 1. Buescher location map media download(PDF 21.5 KB)

Current conditions including, fire bans & water levels, can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.