State: Texas
Address 1: 228 State Park Road 61
City: Jacksboro
Zip: 76458
Phone: 940-567-3506
Open all Year: Yes
Number of Sites: 80
Electric Water: 40
Full Hook: 13
Camp URL: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/fort_richardson/
Full Hook: Yes
About: Fort site structures include seven of the original buildings which have been restored: the post hospital; the officers’ quarters (Commanding Officer); a powder magazine; a morgue; a commissary; a guardhouse; and a bakery, which baked 600 loaves per day. There are also two replicas: officers’ and enlisted men’s barracks. The officers’ barracks houses the Interpretive Center. Activities include historical study, picnicking, camping, fishing, hiking, biking, day-use equestrian, nature study, wading in the creek (seasonal), and swimming (accessible via Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway or by road). Tours/Events: Guided historical tours are held daily at 10 am and 2 pm; tour fees apply. Special events held throughout the year include Military Reenactments (pictured above), Bar-B-Que Cookoff, a Trout Fishing Tournament, and Living History Presentations.
The Lost Creek trail was funded through the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the City of Jacksboro and Jack County as partners and shared in the matching funds for this grant program. It was authorized for construction in 1994. The cost for the trail was $442,000.00. The grand opening ceremony of was held on National Trails Day, June 6, 1998.
Located at Fort Richardson and Jacksboro, this approximately 10-mile hike, bike and equestrian trail runs adjacent to Fort Richardson and along Lost Creek, which is the main watershed for the two city lakes. The trail follows scenic Lost Creek and travels the east side of Lake Jacksboro and Lost Creek Reservoir. The trail crosses the dam at Lost Creek Reservoir and winds along the west side until you enter the trail head. This is a linear trail system that winds with the terrain and abounds in scenic beauty. It travels through the park with many shaded areas of pecan and oak trees. Most of the trail travels by the creek or lakes which provide numerous opportunities to fish and swim. This is a beautiful trail, abundant also in wildlife and wild flowers. There is a trail head at Fort Richardson State Park &Historic Site and a trail head on Lost Creek Reservoir. This trail is 10 feet wide and has an improved surfacing of base material and a topping of approximately 4″ of screening materials. This type of surface creates a smooth trail for all types of use.
There are screened shelters; campsites with water and electricity; hike-in primitive sites; picnic sites; a lighted group picnic pavilion; restrooms with and without showers; volleyball court; horseshoe pits; a trailer dump station; Prickly Pear Trail for hiking in the open prairie land for 2 miles; a nature walk, which follows Lost Creek for 1/4 mile; the Lost Creek Reservoir 10-mile hike, bike and equestrian trail; Swimming beach on Lost Creek Reservoir, and a Texas State Park Store. Fishing is allowed in the 8-acre Quarry Lake located by park headquarters.
