Bastrop State Park
Why it's listed
Bastrop State Park is a 2,054-acre historic district just east of Bastrop, Texas, set within the isolated Lost Pines forest. Planning began in 1933 as an early Civilian Conservation Corps project, partly on land earlier used as a private resort. Most facilities were built by CCC recruits, while the swimming pool and golf course were Works Progress Administration projects. The park has a single controlled entrance with a sandstone gatehouse, a loop drive with scenic overlooks, trails, a large refectory, a bathhouse and pool group, a nine-hole golf course, and a group of lakeshore tourist cabins. Roughly worked local sandstone, heavy timbers and peeled logs give the buildings a unified 'NPS Rustic' character, with more refined masonry near the entrance and rougher work in remote areas. Design was overseen by Herbert Maier, and the park became a showcase and model for CCC state parks. It retains excellent integrity to its original New Deal development.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Bastrop as the showplace of CCC state park design in Texas and an early model for CCC parks in other states. Its buildings, roads, and landscape are outstanding examples of 'NPS Rustic' design, overseen by Herbert Maier, and the park retains excellent integrity to the historic period.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001242, listed September 25, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | East of Bastrop, bet. TX 21 & 71, Bastrop |
|---|---|
| County | Bastrop County |
| Listed | September 25, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001242 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | NPS/CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps); Herbert Maier oversaw design as regional director; gatehouse by NPS/CCC/Arthur Fehr |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman; NPS Rustic |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated September 25, 1997 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Park retains excellent integrity and remains in use as a park; the swimming pool has been reconstructed and part of the picnic ground is abandoned and overgrown. |
| Acreage | 2054 |
| Coordinates | 30.11414, -97.26624 (NPS GIS) |
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.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001242.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4868377
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.