Explore Garner State Park: 11 Facts You Should Know!

Garner State Park is located in Texas, and is a center of attraction due to its Iconic view, and historical and cultural aspects:

• Recreational activities:  Park’s major attraction is its outdoor activities which attract the majority of families for hiking, fishing, camping, and boating
• Cultural events: Park area hosts several cultural and heritage events to attract travelers.
• Natural beauty: Due to the park’s natural geology it is home to a variety of flora and fauna, offering scenic views to its guests.

History and Facts

• For thousands of years, the Frio River has drawn visitors by providing a steady source of water and chilling the canyons, and then later in the 16th century, Spanish explorers with their horses made forays into the Americas.
•  The region was inhabited by Native People until the mid-1800s when Anglo immigrants began to arrive west of San Antonio
• The Magers and Streibs, two German immigrant families, settled in the area that became Garner State Park.
• Garner was built between 1935-41 by the CCC company, along with roads, lodges, and cottages.

Location

• Address: 234 RR 1050 Concan, TX 
• Location: Texas, United States
• Pin Code: 78838

                                                       Google Maps

• Geologically location of Garner State Park is  Edwards Plateau’s southern section
• There is a 100 million years ago Glen rose formation of the late Cretaceous period on which the park is situated upon.
• The forces of erosion, particularly water, formed the limestone structures in Garner State Park throughout time. Many streams and the Frio River run through the park, carving steep canyons and gorges into the limestone rock. Hiking and swimming are common activities in these canyons.
• Old Baldy, a 1,930-foot mountain with expansive vistas of the surrounding hills and valleys, is a significant geological feature of Garner State Park. 
• Old Baldy is made of limestone and was most likely produced by erosion and uplift. A hard but rewarding trek leads to the peak of Old Baldy.

Weather Conditions

• Summer average low temp. – 37 degrees.
•  Summer average high – 97 degrees. 
• Rainy months –  May and October.

Wind Range

Snow Range:

Flora & Fauna

Plants:

• Ashe juniper
• Texas oak
• Mesquite
• Prickly pear cactus
• Agave
• Sotol
• Yucca
• Cedar elm
• Texas persimmon

Animals:

• White-tailed deer
• Rio Grande turkey
• Armadillo
• Raccoon
• Coyote
• Gray fox
• Bobcat
• Mexican free-tailed bat
• Texas horned lizard
• Diamondback rattlesnake
• Black-chinned hummingbird
• Golden-cheeked warbler

Activities

Hiking:

Visitors can experience the scenic beauty of Garner state park via different levels of trails.

Camping:

if visitors are planning to stay overnight and have fun, camping is the best option inside the park as it offers varieties of amenities and accommodation services.

Full Hookup Campsites (New Garner) – $35/night

• Number of Sites: 12
• People per Site: 8
• Amenities- 
• Pull-through
• Picnic table
• Water hookup
• Sewer hookup
• Lantern post
• 20/30/50-amp electrical hookup
• Fire ring with grill

Campsites with Electricity (Old Garner) – $26/night

• People per Site: 8
•  Number of Sites: 39
• Amenities- 
• Picnic table
• Outdoor grill
• Fire ring
• Water hookup
• 20 amp hookup
• 30 amp hookup
• Lantern post
• Restrooms nearby

For more info on various campsites visit – Garner State Park Campsites — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Adventures

• Summer Dance: Visitors have been gathering at the park’s concession building for a jukebox dance since the 1940s but arrive early as parking lots can be full. Picnic: There are several picnic tables and grills in the park where guests can eat while seeing the Hudson River.
• Star Equipment Rentals: Boats, kayaks, inner tubes, seats, BBQ pits, heaters, blowers, and a locker near the boathouse are available for rent.

• Swimming at Concan Swimming Hole: The Concan Swimming Hole is located five minutes from downtown Leakey and has its own Frio River frontage.

• It provides a reprieve from the touristy regions and the sweltering heat, as well as a relaxing setting with plenty of indoor and outdoor space. 
• It also boasts cold and soothing natural springs that flow into the river, making it an ideal location for family photographs..

• Go birdwatching: The park is a popular location for birdwatchers as it is home to over 300 kinds of birds.
• Horsriding at  Elm Creek Stables: Elm Creek Stables provides pony rides, horse petting, and hiking on high and low terrain. The stables, located two miles from Garner State Park, provide care and compassion for multiple horses. Riders must be patient to acquire how to ride a horse, but the rewards are immeasurable.

Fooding

• Picnic places: Throughout the park, there are several picnic spots where guests may bring their food and enjoy a meal while surrounded by nature.
• Grill and barbecue locations: There are various areas in Garner State Park where guests may grill and barbeque their cuisine. Some sites even supply charcoal and grilling tools.

The Shop at the Park: The Park Store offers varieties of munchies options including chips, snacks, and ice cream.

The Snack Bar: situated in the park near the pavilion offers a variety of fast food options.

Nearby Restaurants: 

Based on best ratings and closeness below are some of the recommendations- 

Garner Grill

#3 of 4 Restaurants in Concan

Park Road 29 Garner State Park

1.5 miles from Garner State Park

Bent Rim Grill

#1 of 9 Restaurants in Leakey

657 W RR337

Mill Creek Cafe

#2 of 9 Restaurants in Leakey

849 US Hwy 83 S

7.7 miles from Garner State Park

Lodging

• Cabins: The park has a wide range of cottages, from little one-room cabins to bigger ones that can sleep up to eight people. The rental fee includes tax and is based on up to four persons. When you check-in, a $100 housekeeping deposit is collected. Tents and RVs are not permitted at the cottages.

For further info: Visit Official Site

Cabins (with Fireplace) – $150/night

• People per Site: 4
• Number of Sites: 13

Cabins (Without a Fireplace) – $130/night

People per Site: 4

Number of Sites: 4

 Group Camp (Cypress Springs) – $400/night

People per Site: 40

Nearby Hotels: Based on best ratings and closeness below are some of the recommendations- 

4J Riverway Cabins – $89-$280/night

Seven Bluff Cabins – Size 5 to 16 people

 Zubers River Camp–

• 12 cabins,
•  6 shelters
• 31 full RV hookups,

Facilities

It offers a variety of recreational facilities and amenities for visitors to enjoy. Some of the facilities available Park include:

• Picnic Areas: Many designated picnic spots with grills and picnic tables are scattered throughout the park.
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Camping
• Boating
• Grills
• Laundary
• Food Service – Seasonal
• Group Day-use Facilities
• Hot Showers
• Park Store
• Parking
• Restrooms
• Scenic Overlook
• Swimming – River
• Trails – Hiking
• Tubing
• Visitor Center/Museum
• Watercraft Rentals
• Wildlife Viewing

Best Time to Visit

• Summer  – the busiest and crowded season with activities including tubing, kayaking, swimming, and more.
• Winter – the least crowded season, with fewer campsites and few people on the trails or the lake.

Sightseeing

Briscoe-Garner Museum:

The Briscoe-Garner Museum, situated in the home of John and Ettie Garner, chronicles Franklin D. Roosevelt’s life. It was created by Atlee Ayres and allows kids, families, history aficionados, and historians to discover more about these remarkable people.

Adventure at Happy Hollow Frio River:

Happy Hollow Frio River Outfitters is a full-service river outfitter that offers tubing and kayaking activities for people of all ages. It is situated on the Frio River’s cypress-lined banks, offering beautiful views of the river.

Gift Shop:

The Garner State Park Gift Store is a historically significant structure with original flooring, doors, and ceilings. It sells shirts, stylish jewelry, footwear, clothes, one-of-a-kind gift, and home products, as well as candy and toys. Plush skunks, travel games, and animal toys will appeal to children.

Uvalde Grand Opera House:

Uvalde County has conserved the Uvalde Grand Opera House to improve the lives of its citizens and tourists by providing high-quality live theatre programming.

River Oaks Resorts:

River Oaks Resorts has a pool and splash pad with 71,000 gallons of water, a tanning ledge, rings next to the splash pad, and a 9-hole miniature golf course for guests to rest and unwind. The pool and splash pad also includes a tanning ledge.

Aviation Museum at Garner Field:

Garner Field was established in 1941 and functioned as a pilot training facility during WWII. Hangar #1 today houses the Aviation Museum, which preserves everything related to military and civil aircraft. Visitors may witness repaired and flying WWII planes, including a Fairchild PT-19 cadet training plane, an L-4 Piper target spotting plane, and items from the 1944 USS Uvalde.

Reservations

Opening hrs: 

8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fees: 

$8/Day

Busy time: 

Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day weekend, + holidays

Follow the below steps for a reservation:

• Step 1:Visit Garner State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
• Step 2: Click on “Reservations” from the main menu bar.
• Step 3: Proceed with the reservation of choice
• Step 4: Choose the period (day/time) of reservation.
• Step 5: Ifill the requested info.
• Step 6: Pay the admission fee using any card online.
• Step 7: Validate your booking and wait for an email confirmation.
• Step 8: Bring your email confirmation and any necessary equipment or materials on the day of your reservation.

Rules for Pets

Pets are permitted in the park with all liability towards their owner.

Specific Rule or Restriction

The following broad guidelines and limitations may be present in the State Park:

• Every day from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the park is accessible.
• Except for in specific places and during activities that are allowed, alcohol is not allowed in the park.
• Except in specific areas, smoking is not permitted anywhere in the park.
• All animals must always be in control and on a leash.
• In authorized sites and with a current New Jersey fishing license, fishing is permitted.
• The water in the park is not suitable for swimming.
• Only approved routes and roads are bicycle-friendly.
• The park does not allow camping or open burning.

Ritika Vaishnav

Greetings Everyone!
I’m Ritika Vaishnav a freelance content writer with a passion for creating educational and engaging content on a wide range of topics. I love to travel and write about it.