| Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center | |
|---|---|
| Sheldon Lake State Park | |
 The John Jacob Observation Tower | |
  Location in TexasShow map of Texas Location in United StatesShow map of the United States | |
| Location | Houston, Harris County, Texas |
| Nearest city | Jacinto City, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°52.22′N 95°10.37′W / 29.87033°N 95.17283°W / 29.87033; -95.17283 |
| Area | 2,789 acres (11.29 km) |
| Established | 1955 |
| Visitors | 48,491 (in 2022) |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center is a 2,800-acre outdoor education and recreation facility in northeast Harris County managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The site is located along Sheldon Lake reservoir. The federal government constructed the reservoir on Carpenter's Bayou in 1942 in order to support growing war-related industries along the Houston Ship Channel. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired the reservoir in 1952 to provide a refuge for migratory waterfowl, a public fishing lake and a fish hatchery. It opened in 1955 as the Sheldon Wildlife Management Area. The hatchery closed in 1975, and the land began to revert naturally to forest, ponds and marshes. The site was designated a state park in 1984.
Features
The park features recreational opportunities including group camping, picnic areas, hiking trails, wildlife viewing, fishing, and an environmental learning center. Alternative energy technologies and green building techniques were used during construction of many of the parks structures, including the Pond Center, an open-entry pavilion the formerly housed the site's office, lab, and garage.
The John Jacob Observation Tower is an 82-foot wheelchair-accessible structure, allowing park visitors opportunities to view the surrounding wetlands and prairie, as well as the skyline of downtown Houston.
See also
References
- Christopher Adams. "What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown". KXAN.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- "Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center: History". Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
- "A Guide to Alternative Energy and Green Building at Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center" (PDF). Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 2007. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
External links
- Sheldon Lake State Park and Environmental Learning Center
- Sheldon Reservoir from the Handbook of Texas Online
- U.S. Geological Survey Map at the U.S. Geological Survey Map Website. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
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