| History: Ft. Richardson State Park, Historic Site & Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway, located northwest of Fort Worth in Jack County, contains 454.16 acres. The property was acquired in 1968 from the City of Jacksboro & was opened to the public the same year.
Fort Richardson was established in November 1867. Fort Richardson was named in honor of General Israel B. Richardson, who died in the Battle of Antietam during the Civil War. The fort was the northernmost of a line of Federal Forts established after the Civil War. The soldiers arrived in Jacksboro in 1866 with orders to establish a fort at Buffalo Springs, 20 miles north of Jacksboro. Due to unhealthy conditions at Buffalo Springs & the constant Indian raids, the fort was abandoned. The soldiers returned to Jacksboro & eventually received orders to establish a fort on the South Bank of Lost Creek. Expeditions sent from Fort Richardson arrested Indians responsible for the Warren Wagon Train Massacre in 1871 & fought Comanches in Palo Duro Canyon. The Fort was abandoned in May 1878.
Read why Fort Richardson was the TPWD October 2003 Park of the Month.
Activities: Fort site structures include seven of the original buildings which have been restored: the post hospital; the officers' quarters (Commanding Officer); a powder magazine; a morgue; a commissary; a guardhouse; & a bakery, which baked 600 loaves per day. There are also two replicas: officers' & enlisted men's barracks. The officers' barracks houses the Interpretive Center. Activities include historical study, picnicking, camping, fishing, hiking, nature study, wading in the creek (seasonal), & swimming (accessible via Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway or by road).
Tours/Events: Guided historical tours are held at ten a.m. on Saturday & Sunday & by appointment; tour fees apply.
Special events held throughout the year include Military Reenactments (pictured above), Bar-B-Que Cookoff, a Trout Fishing Tournament, & Living History Presentations.
Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway: The grand opening ceremony of Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway was held on National Trails Day, June 6, 1998.
Located at Fort Richardson & Jacksboro, this approximately 10-mile hike, bike & equestrian trail runs adjacent to Fort Richardson & along Lost Creek, which is the main watershed for the two city lakes. The trail follows scenic Lost Creek & travels the east side of Lake Jacksboro & Lost Creek Reservoir. The trail crosses the dam at Lost Creek Reservoir & winds along the west side until you enter the trail head. There is a trail head at Fort Richardson State Historical Park & a trail head on Lost Creek Reservoir.
This trail is ten feet wide & has an improved surfacing of base material & a topping of approximately 4" of screening materials. This type of surface creates a smooth trail for all types of use.
The Lost Creek trail was funded through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, with Texas Parks & Wildlife, the City of Jacksboro & Jack County as partners & shared in the matching funds for this grant program. It was authorized for construction in 1994 & will be completed in 1998. The grand opening will be on National Trail Day June 6, 1998. The cost for this trail is $442,000.00.
This is a linear trail system that winds with the terrain & abounds in scenic beauty. It travels through the park with many shaded areas of pecan & oak trees. Most of the trail travels by the creek or lakes which provide numerous opportunities to fish & swim. This is a beautiful trail, abundant also in wildlife & wild flowers.
Facilities: There are screened shelters; campsites with H2O & electricity; hike-in primitive sites; picnic sites; a lighted group picnic pavilion; restrooms with & without showers; volleyball court; horseshoe pits; a trailer dump station; Prickly Pear Trail for hiking in the open prairie land for two miles; a nature walk, which follows Lost Creek for 1/4 mile; the Lost Creek Reservoir 10-mile hike, bike & equestrian trail; Swimming beach on Lost Creek Reservoir, & a Texas State Park Store. Fishing is allowed in the 8-acre Quarry Lake located by park headquarters.
Flora/Fauna: Quarry Lake is stocked with catfish, bass, & trout periodically during the year.
Directions: To reach the park, travel 1/2 mile south of Jacksboro on US Highway 281.
Elevation, Weather, & Schedule Information: Elevation: 1100. Weather: Average January minimum 32; average July maximum 97; average annual rainfall 28. Open: Open seven days a week year round; no gate. Busy Season: Spring & fall.
Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include Possum Kingdom, Lake Arrowhead, & Lake Mineral Wells State Parks, Jack County Museum, Lake Jacksboro & Lost Creek Reservoir (both within four miles of the park), the City of Wichita Falls, & the Fort Worth/Dallas metroplex area. |
Ft. Richardson State Park, Historic Site & Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway Campground Web Site
Driving Direction GPS Coordinates:
33.218220, -98.157349
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Campground: Ft. Richardson State Park, Historic Site & Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway in Jacksboro Texas *