Mother Neff State Park and F. A. S. 21-B(1) Historic District
Also known as: Mother Neff State Park and the Old River Road Historic Distr
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.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district reflects New Deal-era park development in Texas. The CCC built the park's major buildings and structures in the NPS Rustic style using local limestone and heavy timbers. The park drive, trails and the scenic Old River Road were planned so visitors could experience the landscape by car.
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 92001303, listed October 2, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of TX 236 and the Leon R., Moody |
|---|---|
| County | Coryell County |
| Listed | October 2, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001303 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1934-1939 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: National Park Service Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Park remains in use as a state park; the Clubhouse serves as park headquarters and the Caretaker's House as the superintendent's residence. |
| Acreage | 330 |
| Coordinates | 31.34330, -97.49383 (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 92001303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q98095008
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.