S-Parks, August 1957 Page: 2
8 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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MONAHANS SANDHILLS STATE PARK
Monahans Sandhills meant nothing good to early Texas settlers. Trails and
roads avoided the sandhills. Maurading Indians and perhaps some badmen of the
time found the sandhills a good hiding place. Tracks to it soon were obliterated,
and beneath the sand water could be found, potable if not palatable.
In 1947, Dr. Roy Bedichek of the University of Texas had a year's leave. He
spent it writing of his travels and observations in the state. The narrative was
published by Doubleday & Company, Inc. The book was titled: "Adventures with
a Texas Naturalist."
Adventuring with Bedichek in August, 1946, you would have driven out of
Dallas early in the morning, have lunched at Sweetwater and then faced a burn-
ing sun for a 200-mile journey with still enough energy to make camp in the sand
dunes near Monahans.
Pages 116 and 117 of "Adventures with a Texas Naturalist" tell of the ad-
venture this way:
"I left the highway following an old road which led me to the site of some
wildcatter's dream and disillusionment, a cleared-out space among the dunes lit-
tered with oil-drilling debris.
"I found myself in the midst of a miniature forest of oak and mesquite. Each
dune is crowned by an oak tree, ten to twenty-four inches tall, loaded with acorns.
Interspersed among the oaks and towering above them is scrub mesquite, heavy
with clusters of long yellowish beans hanging nearly to the ground.
"I venture the statement, without research, that in no other forested section,
Amazon Valley not excepted, is there to be found a higher proportion of fruit to
wood than in this Lilliputian jungle in the northern part of Ward County. Vegetative-
ly considered, it is as much a natural curiosity as the Painted Desert or the wonder-
areas of Yellowstone. THIS HUMMOCKY EXPANSE OF STUNTED GROWTH,
OR AN AMPLE SAMPLE OF IT, SHOULD BE RESERVED AND PROTECTED
AS A STATE OR NATIONAL PARK."
Ten years elapsed from the time of that publication until this year when
Monahans Sandhills State Park became a reality. It had been a number of years,
after publication, before Dr. Bedichek's observation was brought to the attention
of the Texas State Parks Board.
Meantime oil had been struck in West Texas. One of the important fields was
in the Monahans Sandhills. Owned by the Smith-Sealy Foundation, the sandhills
had been leased for oil production. Even if the land had been available, the Texas
State Parks Board had no authority to purchase land.
Others, like Conrad Dunagan of Monahans, thought the sandhills worthy of
preservation. He read Bedichek's observations and did something about it. A state
or national park seemed a big suggestion but to West Texans bigness was only a
challenge. The State Parks Board was asked to investigate. This was done, with
a favorable report. The National Park Service, too, was asked for and furnished a
report. It too was favorable. A site of six sections of land was recommended. One
half section was purchased and a 99 year surface lease obtained from the Sealy-
Smith Foundation for the rest. A county bond issue financed the deal.
A park association with Tom Meacham as president, Mr. Dunagan as vice-
president, and Leo Butler as secretary was formed. The association has worked out
a plan of operation until the state appropriates funds for continuation. Robert G.
Larson, who has been staff artist at the Missouri Resources Museum in Jefferson
City has been selected for director by the Monahans Sandhills Park association,
and approved by the Texas State Parks Board through Executive Director Bill
Collins. Director Larson was selected from a list of 32 applicants. He was graduated
from the Layton School of Art at Milwaukee and formerly was employed by the
Milwaukee Public Museum. A museum will be an important part of the Monahans
Sandhills State Park.
Entrance to Monahans Sandhills State Park is approximately five miles east
of Monahans. It is reached by turning north off U. S. Highway 80 and crossing the
Texas and Pacific Railway tracks.
Chief structure is an air-conditioned masonry, steel and glass administration
building. The ends of the building rest on two sand dunes and the structure spans
the space between the dunes. An oilwell derrick transformed into an observation
tower makes it possible for visitors to see over a wide area of the incessantly moving
sands. Paved roads lead to some of the larger dunes and to picnicking areas. Movable
steel shelters provide shade for picnic tables and for a large group table. There are
convenient rest rooms. A well and windmill provide the park water supply.
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Texas. State Park Board. S-Parks, August 1957, periodical, August 1957; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1524842/m1/4/: accessed June 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.