Mother Neff State Park and F. A. S. 21-B(1) Historic District
Why it's listed
Mother Neff State Park and the Old River Road form a rural historic district along the Leon River in Coryell County, Texas. The park began as a six-acre tract in 1921. In 1934-1938 a Civilian Conservation Corps company built its main features from local limestone and heavy timbers in the NPS Rustic style: the Clubhouse, Tabernacle, Picnic Shelter, Caretaker's House and Water Tower. The CCC also laid out a winding park drive and interconnected hiking trails, and left remnants of its camp site. Park planning centered on a formal entrance and on experiencing the terrain from a car. The Old River Road, built in 1939 as a federally assisted secondary road, follows the river for almost six miles past large old trees and 12 concrete culverts with bronze highway department shields. The district was recognized for its associations with government work programs, its architecture and its landscape design, with a period of significance of 1934-1939. The park is still used for recreation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1934-1939 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Other: National Park Service Rustic |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Acreage | 330 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Mother Neff State Park and F. A. S. 21-B(1) Historic District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.