Rusk and Palestine State Parks

RR 4, Box 431
Rusk TX 75785
903/683-5126
Park locator map

History: The Rusk Unit is located adjacent to the Texas State Railroad Rusk Depot in Cherokee County; Palestine Unit is located adjacent to Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot in Anderson County. The properties, totaling 135.9 acres were acquired and opened in 1982.

Activities: Activities include camping, picnicking, fishing, and nature study. Added attractions include tennis courts and a playground, in addition to the Texas State Railroad train rides in restored passenger cars.

More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page.

Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include Jim Hogg Historic Site, Mission Tejas State Historic Site, Fairfield Lake State Park, Lake Livingston State Park, and Texas State Railroad State Park. Other attractions within a 1 ½-hour's drive of Rusk are Toledo Bend Reservoir, which is located on the Texas/Louisiana state line, and Lake Livingston, which is south on US Highway 59.

Facilities:

Rusk Unit: Facilities include restrooms with showers; picnic sites; campsites with water and electricity; campsites with water, electricity, and sewer; an open-air, gazebo-style pavilion with a fireplace, and a dining area; a screened group dining hall complete with a kitchen; playgrounds; a fishing pier; a trailer dump station; old Rusk depot building; tennis courts; a 15-acre lake; and a .25-mile nature trail. Be sure to browse through our Texas State Park Store.

Palestine Unit: Facilities include restrooms (no showers); picnic sites; campsites with water; a trailer dump station; and two open-air group picnic pavilions with picnic tables, cooking grills, a .5-mile nature trail, and a playground.

Park & Facility Fees
Rusk/Palestine Facility & Trail Map (PDF 321.3 KB)
Texas State Railroad Route Map & Rusk/Palestine Location Map(PDF 120.9 KB)

Flora/Fauna: The vegetation of Rusk and Palestine State Parks is representative of the transition from the Prairies, Cross Timbers, and the East Texas Forests. Some species found in both parks include loblolly pine, sweetgum, dogwood, redbud, cedar-elm, willow, trumpet creeper, blackjack oak, Spanish mulberry, flatwood plum, and osage orange. Some of the bird species found year-round, which include residents and migratory visitors, are belted kingfisher, cardinal, bluejay, pileated woodpecker, whip-poor-will, killdeer, black capped chickadee, and the cedar waxwing. Some mammals found in the park are armadillo, beaver, raccoon, gray squirrel, opossum, white tailed deer, coyote, and cottontail rabbit.

More information on the wildlife mentioned here:

Texas Wildlife Factsheets.

Elevation: 489 ft.
Weather: Average rainfall 44.6; January average low is 35 degrees; July average high is 94 degrees.

Schedule: Rusk is open 7 days a week, year-round. No gate. Palestine is open 7 days a week except for annual closure December 1 through February 28 to correspond with the closure of the Texas State Railroad for maintenance purposes. Busy Season: Spring and Fall.

Directions:

Rusk Unit: located 3 miles west of Rusk, adjacent to the Texas State Railroad Rusk Depot off US Highway 84.
Palestine Unit: located 3 miles east of Palestine on US Highway 84, adjacent to the Texas State Railroad State Park Palestine depot.

Rusk/Palestine location map & Texas State Railroad route map media download (PDF 120.9 KB)

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

Related Information:

Information on the Kids Ride Free promotion at the Texas State Railroad.

Kids Ride Free on the Texas State Railroad from June - September when accompanied by a paying adult. Share the experience of riding on a historic steam train through the Pineywoods of East Texas. Kids 12 and under ride free with paying adult, limit five kids free per paying adult, applies to families, school and youth organizations. Ticket reservations recommended. Call (800) 442-8951