Mother Neff State Park

Transcription

[birdsong] It all started here, on a small plot of land near Waco. Pat Neff grew up around this area. His mother was very popular out here. She provided 6 acres along the Leon River for special public functions, religious revivals, and things of that sort. People really came to love this woman. When Pat Neff, her youngest son became governor, he wanted to preserve these beauty spots of Texas for others to come out and enjoy. [singing] [birdsong] And so Mother Neff State Park became the first official state park in Texas. Cross the bridge! We have a real nice trail system. There's some interesting stops a hiker would want to visit. You'll actually see some remnants of one particular rock shelter that was used by Native Americans. So do you think maybe they had their campfire right here? We do have a unique situation in this park. We've got actually 3 ecosystems, the river bottom, the limestone escarpment and then you get up to the prairie. [kids take pledge] As a Junior Ranger, I pledge that... Kids who love exploring can become junior rangers through a free, self-guided nature program. We're gonna pin a badge on you. Congratulations! The legacy of Mother Neff gave birth to our state park system, giving Texans of all ages a chance to experience the great outdoors. Assemble upright poles... I think people need a little balance in their life. We're really tickled there's a market of people that still like that kind of outdoor experience. Oh yeah, we got a tent! I love camping. [laughter] [music] Most people are attracted to the natural beauty of the park. People come from all over just to get away from some of the hectic things in life. [music] We love it down here. You could go 500 miles and not find a prettier place. [music] For more information on Texas state parks and historic sites, visit our website or call 1-800-792-1112.