Copyright: Texas State Parks & Historical Sites View of Lake Brownwood

Description - Lake Brownwood State Park, in Brown County, is 537.5 acres acquired by deed from the Brown County Water Improvement District No. 1 in 1934 that was opened in 1938. The central feature to the park is the 7,300 surface acre Lake Brownwood and its tributaries.

Near the geographical center of Texas, the park is situated on Lake Brownwood, a 7300-surface-acre reservoir created by damming Pecan Bayou, which is a tributary of the Colorado River. Many structures in use today were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the early 1930s, from timber and native rock found in the park.

Attractions - Lake Brownwood State Park provides visitors a wide diversity of attractions. The central focus to the area is the lake itself where users can participate in water based activities.

The park offers an atmosphere of rustic beauty and tranquility, with miles of shoreline where wildflowers, white-tailed deer, ducks, raccoons, armadillos, squirrels, and birds can be observed in a natural setting. Popular fish include crappie, perch, catfish, and bass.

The park has some beautiful displays of Bluebonnets and Indian Paint Brushes. High concentrations are inside the park including the lake road and Park Road 15. Highway 279 coming to the park also has a good display. Peak displays should begin in April and usually last throughout the month.

Facilities include restrooms with and without showers; picnic sites; campsites with water in the area; campsites (back-in) with water and electricity; campsites (back-in) with water, electricity; and sewer; screened shelters (picnic table, electrical outlet, water, interior light; no pets; tents only, no RV's allowed adjacent to the shelters); a Texas State Park Store; trailer dump station; fish-cleaning facility; a fishing pier with lights; launching ramps; a floating boat dock with boat slip rental and courtesy fuel dock; 2.5 miles of hiking trails; and a .5-mile nature trail.

There is a group camp with a group dining hall and 4 bunk houses (the dining hall is a 30' x 70' screened building, with a kitchen and dining facilities). Bunkhouses are rented only in conjunction with the dining hall; no beds or bedding are provided. There is no air-conditioning or heating in the dining hall or bunkhouses (each sleeps 8 - 32 maximum). The recreation hall with 3 rooms; restrooms; tables; chairs; air-conditioning and heating; a kitchen; and a lighted, outdoor patio, is a day-use facility with a capacity of 100 (also known as the Clubhouse or Visitor Center). Also available are cabins constructed from native stone from the surrounding area, which offer accommodations for 2 to 9 people. There are 2-person cabins, 3-person cabins, 4-person cabins, 5-person cabins, and a 9-person cabin. The Cabins have kitchenettes, a dining table and chairs, double beds, a bathroom with a shower, air-conditioning/heating, and a fireplace.

In addition, there are three individual lodges: Beach Lodge consists of two bathrooms with showers and a large dormitory bedroom on each end; a center room which serves as a kitchen/living/dining room with a large fireplace (26 maximum); Fishermen's Lodge has five bedrooms, a kitchen, two baths, and a dining room with a fireplace (10 maximum). Oak Lodge has 2 beds, kitchen, bath, dining area, and fireplace (4 persons maximum). Note: Linens, blankets, bedspreads, towels, and wash cloths are furnished in the above cabins and lodges. Bring your own firewood, and if occupying a cabin, bring your own cooking utensils, pots, pans, dishes, silverware, and detergent; pets are not allowed in or around cabins. No trailers, tent trailers, or tents permitted to setup for overnight by cabins or lodges.

Recreation - Recreational opportunities offered by the Lake Brownwood State Park includes picnicking, camping, hiking, boating (motors allowed), water skiing (jet skis allowed), fishing, nature study, swimming (in an unsupervised swimming area); and bird watching.

Climate - Located at an elevation of 1342 feet, the State Park has an average July high temperature of 94 degrees and a SE breeze. In January the average low temperature is 34 degrees. The first/last freeze is usually November 7/April 5. Current weather conditions can vary from day to day. For more details, call the park or Park Information at 1-800-792-1112.

Location - Situated within the Panhandle Plains area of Texas, the park is located 16 miles northwest of Brownwood on State Highway 279 to Park Road 15, then east on Park Road 15 for 6 miles.

LAT: 31.8557042
LONG: -99.0233875