Daingerfield State Park

Daingerfield State Park was built by two Civilian Conservation Corps companies between 1935 and 1939: Company 2891, a white unit, and Company 1801(C), a Black unit. Private owners deeded the land to the state in 1935. The enrollees built the lake's dam, Bass Lodge, the group hall and the pavilion, and the lake they created is the park's focal point. Texas Parks and Wildlife lists it as 74 acres.

The land is much older. Texas Parks and Wildlife says nearby sites carry traces of people from the Paleoindian period, about 9500 to 6000 BC, through the Caddo, between A.D. 800 and 1680. Local iron ore was mined to make weapons during the Civil War. The department closed the park for a year in 2011 for a major remodel.

Walk the Rustling Leaves Trail, an easy 2.4-mile loop around the lake, or climb the 0.8-mile Mountain View Trail to the park's highest point. Two four-person cabins, one six-person cabin and Bass Lodge, which sleeps up to 15, all have bathrooms and kitchens. The entrance fee is $4 for adults, and the gates are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The park store opens Thursday through Sunday, and reservations are wise in busy seasons.