Atlanta State Park
category : State Parks
Atlanta State Park is 1475 acres on Lake Wright Patman Dam in Cass County, a few miles southwest of Texarkana. Caddo Indians, the most culturally advanced tribe in Texas, once made this area their home. The Caddos settled the area peacefully as farmers, unlike their nomadic and warlike brother, the Apaches and Comanches. Excavations conducted by the Smithsonian Institute produced many graves and artifacts, and archaeologists found evidence of a house pattern with post molds still intact.Facilities include restroom with and without showers; pull-through and back-in campsites with water and electricity; and pull-through and back-in campsites with water, electricity, and sewer; and trailer dump station. All campsites have tent pad, picnic table, water, a fire pit, and grill. There is group picnic pavilion with tables under shelter and tables adjacent, with grill, electricity, water, and restrooms nearby (accommodates 100); two playgrounds with swings and slides; sand volleyball courts; basketball court; horseshoe pits; 3.8 miles of hiking trails; 1.2 miles of nature/interpretive trails; amphitheater with the capacity of 50; a trailer dump station; concrete launching ramps; and a covered fish-cleaning shelter. Special rates are available October - March for senior citizens. Be sure to visit the Texas State Park Store.
The park offers swimming in a designated sandy beach area (no lifeguard on duty) on Wright Patman Lake, a nature trail and a hiking trail of five miles, water skiing, boating, and fishing. Wright Patman Lake is also a popular fishing spot. The reservoir covers 20,300 acres and has an average depth of 7.6 feet. There are 170 miles of shoreline. On shore, the activities include walking, nature study, hiking, camping, picnicking, or jogging along roads, trails or shorelines. Bicycling is popular along the hilly park and area roads.
Contrasting seasonal colors of terrain, the lake, sunsets, and pine forests are breathtaking. Abundant bird and wildlife species and woodland plants offer excellent opportunities to observers. Crappie, largemouth bass, white bass, and several species of sunfish are present in good numbers, with quality-size fish available for recreational anglers. Catfish - channel, blue, and flathead are also available in large numbers.
Address: 11 miles northwest of Atlanta
Phone: 903-796-6476
Directions: To reach the park, which is 11 miles northwest of Atlanta, exit from US Highway 59 onto FM 96, and go west 9 miles to FM 1154, then north 2 miles to Park Road 42 entrance, (FM 1154 dead ends at the park).
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