Support Bastrop State Park Tomorrow After Last Year's Devastating Fire

Volunteer Firefighters fighting 2011 fires in Texas

Volunteer firefighters gathered from across the country to fight the Bastrop fires of 2011

Click Play on the podcast player above to listen to this week’s episode of the Austinot Podcast!

Back in April, we reported that Bastrop State Park had reopened most of its acreage after the devastating fire of September 2011.

Because the fire destroyed over 96% of the park, the road to recovery has been long. But no one has given up on Bastrop State Park. There’s an exciting event tomorrow to celebrate the recovery. Park visitors will be able to learn all about what it has taken to protect the park, and why it’s worth saving!

Visit Bastrop State Park tomorrow, September 1st, from 1-4 PM for free.

Bastrop Fire Department firefighters in action

Here’s what you’ll get to experience when you visit Bastrop State Park tomorrow:

Meet firefighters who fought the fire of 2011. Hear their stories and see the firetrucks and equipment they use to protect us every day.
View artifacts recovered from the fire.
Learn how to make a Toad Abode for the Houston Toad (we have a lot of fun talking about this little guy in our podcast episode, so make sure you listen in).
Experience a guided hike through Bastrop State Park. There are three time slots: 2 PM, 2:30 PM and 3 PM.

The Houston Toad had critical habitat area destroyed in the fire

In addition to these special events, Bastrop State Park is the perfect settings for many outdoor activities all the time:

Camping
Backpacking
Picnicking
Canoeing
Swimming
Golfing
Wildlife viewing
Fishing (the park takes part in the Tackle Loaner Program, where you can borrow fishing equipment on the spot)

The park even rents out canoes and BBQ pits. So seriously, you can make an extremely fun day of this!

State parks are worth supporting and preserving, so we really hope you’ll visit tomorrow from 1-4 PM.

If you’d like to learn about a group of people who are working tirelessly for Bastrop State Park, check out the Friends of the Lost Pines State Parks.

@QuasiBrit asks:

Have you ever been out to Bastrop State Park? If so, what did you do there?

Photos via Flickr CC, courtesy of BFS Man, GalgenTX and mlhradio.