Update on Bastrop State Park

[Sergeant D]

Took a ride out to Bastrop State Park on Sunday.  First time I've been there since the fire in September.  Sad to see all those glorious pines down but the land is making a recovery.  Good news, Bueschler State Park, about 7 miles away was unaffected by the fire.  Bad news, Bastrop won't be the same again for another 100 years.  The cabins were saved as well as most of the other building.  A few of the trails are open again and people were fishing.  I accidentally left the camera at home, or I'd include some photos.  Looks like a logging company went in and cut just about every tree that couldn't be saved down at the stump.  Some logs were somewhere between 130-150 years old (actually counted the rings).  The roads are pretty torn up from all the heavy machinery but passable at low speeds.  The road that connects Bastrop to Bueschler is closed, but you can navigate most of it from Bueschler to Bastrop.  In the grand scheme of things, it's amazing how fast nature can recover.  They just need some consistent rain this year to green things up.

[Bandit]

We worked for 6 weeks in Bastrop on the trees    so so sad!             Bandit

[hubcapsc]

We worked for 6 weeks in Bastrop on the trees  :'(  so so sad!             Bandit

I agree about so sad... but since you worked on the project I have to ask, did it look like
there was a bunch of awesome tight and straight grained boards in those big pine logs?



-Mike

[Bandit]

Yes Mike the pine did not make good 2by4,s becose of the grain.       Bandit

[flamingobabe #44]

serveral Lion clubs have been working in the area planting trees....

hubcapsc...it is getting difficult to find good straight boards...most are junk.....

[Dino]

My wife and I stayed at Bastrop State Park last week.The campground is partially open ,and the area we were in was full. All  the roads had just been newly blacktoped.A lot of the trees were burned black,and then some right beside them were still fine. The area behind the campground was totally gone ,completely burned out and being stripped. Here are some pictures close to our site.What a beautiful park,and area around Bastrop!,very sad,  ,http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=519825622507%3A1602965701

[f-Stop]

I've driven through there numerous times and still can't believe the devastation.  The "burn" smell was strong for a long time.  The area is called the "Lost Pines" because of their separation from the Piney Woods of East Texas.  The economic impact goes far and wide -- even to my industry!

Every year we get a couple of jobs around this time of year from someone looking for "green" in order to shoot commercials for their new product line in time for spring.  Last year it was Evinrude and the year before it was Chevy.  Bastrop State Park has always been the go to location.

On the other hand, I got a call last week from some folks looking to shoot a music video near Bastrop.  They were looking for a burned out area with a slab and a bunch of burned out trees. 

[Dino]

I just saw on the news ,where they are asking for volunteers to help clean up the park this weekend. After the rain and thunder storms ,the park was destroyed again from lack of vegetation and trees, and bridges and banks were washed out. This is a shame,for a beautiful area,can't catch a break!,

[Sergeant D]

Man, I didn't even think about what those storms would do to the park.  Sounds aweful.  Might be a good way to spend some free time this weekend.  I keep hearing about how the TPDW is in need of another 4.6 million dollars. 

[jarale]

Glad to see things coming back to normal. Our firefighting crew came out of Dallas area and spent a week in Possum Kingdom and Bastrop. Nature cleans itself with fires, and then is reborn.  Sad for now, but good for the long run.

[Disco]

Welcome jarale! 

[jarale]

Thanks Disco, by looking at my post, and comparing them to yours, I am quite the rookie. Am in the process of looking for interstate.  Totaled my out last month. Know of any in the Dallas area?

[Disco]

Don't worry about being a rookie.  We are generally a friendly and inviting group.  I trust you are OK if you are looking for a replacement.  Off the top of my head I only know of one.  PM sent.