TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE LIMITING ACCESS TO STATE PARKS, HISTORIC SITES

  

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is limiting the public’s access to facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

All visitor centers and historic buildings at all 31 Texas Historical Commission State Historic Sites are currently closed until further notice.  This includes Washington-on-the-Brazos, the Fanthorp Inn in Anderson, and San Felipe de Austin.  The grounds and open spaces at many agency sites, though, will remain open for visitors.

For Washington-on-the-Brazos, attractions such as the Star of the Republic Museum and Barrington Plantation have been closed.  The park’s Living History Saturday and farmers market, set for April 18th, have been cancelled, as well.  Visitors are still allowed to take self-guided tours of the park, as its walking trails, picnic area, restrooms, and Independence Hall are still open.

Officials from the Lake Somerville State Park Nails Creek Unit say only the park headquarters is closed to the public, while Birch Creek Unit officials say the camping areas and boat ramps remain open.

At Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill, all public programs, group tours, field trips, meetings, and special events have been suspended through April 30^th.  However, the grounds, trails, and scenic overlooks remain open.

State parks have suspended all cash transactions, so visitors are encouraged to use either self-pay stations, credit cards, or the online reservation system.

The Texas Historical Commission says it will restore all programming as soon as possible, while continuing to ensure the safety of visitors.  Staff are working to maintain clean and healthy facilities in parks, according to guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

Further updates are available online at http://thc.texas.gov/publichealth.