Lake Mineral Wells S.P., 12/24/19 - 1/2/20

73.  Scampsite #20, we stayed 9 nights here!  It was really nice to not be moving the trailer around, but just to be at a "home base" and explore the area from there.  Lake Mineral Wells State Park has an interesting history: the lake was dammed up to provide drinking water for the town, but eventually the town found a better source, so the lake and its surrounds were given to the Army, which turned it into Ft. Wolters.  Ft. Wolters was a helicopter training facility, most active during the Vietnam War.  There were helicopter landing sites all around the Mineral Wells area that had the geographically-correct (in relation to each other) Vietnamese names so the pilots wouldn't have any trouble with that aspect of navigation once they got to Vietnam.  When Ft. Wolters shuttered, it gave the property to the state to be a state park, although parts of the old fort are still used for National Guard training.  Lake Mineral Wells SP has numerous trails, including vast equestrian trails and an equestrian camping area.  The lake is abundant with fish and there's a small island in the middle of it with an old fireplace on it, similar to the old stone fireplaces which are scattered throughout the park.  The dam rises above the road, which is sort of creepy to think that right next to one's shoulder is tons of water.

Scampsite 20.

Below the dam, Lake Mineral Wells. 

The road next to the dam, Lake Mineral Wells.

Ft. Wolters and some Eastern Bluebirds.

Waterfront trail.

Lake Mineral Wells. 

The waterfront bird blind. 

The wooded bird blind.

One of the many stone fireplaces around the park.

Mineral Wells: the old Baker Hotel, in the process of restoration, possibly done by 2022.

Mineral Wells is known for its mineral water, which supposedly cured a crazy lady. 

Famous Mineral Wells Water Company. 

Mineral Wells Fossil Park, just northwest of town.

There is a lot to see and do while in Mineral Wells State Park: the town has many old buildings, several of which are being restored.  There are murals downtown as well.  There is a gravel trailway, called the Lake Mineral Wells Trailway, that connects the town of Mineral Wells to Weatherford along an old railroad bed. We didn't bicycle it this time, but maybe in the future. 

Nearby is the Mineral Wells Fossil Park: once the town gravel pit, until they realized it was full of fossils!  Mineral Wells is also near Palo Pinto, a county seat with an old, historic jail which is open for tours every day except the one we were there.  Weatherford is the county seat in the opposite direction and has numerous antique shops, a brewery, and a gorgeous historic courthouse.