Atlanta State Park
State park in Texas, United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atlanta State Park is a 1,475-acre (597 ha) state park in northeast Texas in the United States that opened in 1954. It is located on Wright Patman Lake in northern Cass County and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.[4]
| Atlanta State Park | |
|---|---|
A day use area in Atlanta State Park | |
   | |
| Location | Cass County, Texas, United States |
| Nearest city | Atlanta |
| Coordinates | 33°13′55″N 94°14′58″W[1] |
| Area | 1,475-acre (597 ha) |
| Established | 1954 |
| Visitors | 44,819 (in 2025)[3] |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Website | Official site |
Location
Atlanta State Park is on the south shore of Wright Patman Lake, about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of Atlanta, Texas. This is about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of Texarkana, Texas. The entrance to the park is off Farm to Market Road 1154.
History
In past centuries, the Caddo Indians settled in this area and worked the land as farmers. Many pioneers traveled across the area to use the ferry that crossed the Sulphur River. The State of Texas acquired the land for Atlanta State Park in 1954 under a long-term lease with the Department of the Army.
In spring 2016 Wright Patman Lake flooded the park and destroyed bathrooms and the amphitheatre. Texas Parks and Wildlife closed the park for more than two months.[5] An old-growth pine forest was inundated with ten feet of water that killed many of the trees. Reforestation efforts are in progress with trees that can better tolerate flooding.[6]
Nature
Animals
Visitors can see woodland birds like the pine warbler, pileated woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker and brown-headed nuthatch. There are also waterfowl such as American white pelican and double-crested cormorant. White-tailed deer, Mexican long-nosed armadillo, grey fox, eastern gray squirrel, northern cottonmouth eastern copperhead, and timber rattlesnake are some of the land animals in the park.[7]
Plants
Trees dominate the landscape of Atlanta State Park. Loblolly and shortleaf pine, white oak, black hickory, mockernut hickory, American Sweetgum, eastern redbud and flowering dogwood grow in the park. American beautyberry, wild grape, farkleberry, redring milkweed and poison ivy are found in the understory.[7]
