{{short description|State park in Texas, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Meridian State Park | alt_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Overlook Meridian State Park Texas 2024.jpg
| image_size = 250 | image_alt = | image_caption = Overlooking Meridian State Park | map = Texas#USA <!-- or | map_image = --> | map_alt = | map_width = | map_caption = | relief = yes | label = | label_position = | mark = | mark_width = | type = | motto = | location = Bosque County, Texas | nearest_city = Meridian, Texas | nearest_town = | coordinates = {{coord|31.890791|-97.697566}} | coords_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Meridian State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en}}</ref> | area = {{convert|505.4|acres|ha}} | elevation = {{convert |1040|ft|m}} | authorized = | created = | established = 1933 | designated = | founder = | designer = | etymology = | owner =Texas Parks & Wildlife Department | administrator = | manager = | operator = | visitation_num = 41,199 | visitation_year = 2025 | visitation_ref = <ref name="Park visitation">{{cite web |author=Christopher Adams |publisher= |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/most-visited-texas-state-parks-2025// |title=What is the most visited state park in Texas? Here's the top 10 countdown for 2025 |work= |website=KXAN.com |access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> | governing_body = Texas Parks and Wildlife Department | website = [https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian Official site] }}
'''Meridian State Park''' is a {{convert|505.4|acres|ha}} state park in Bosque County, Texas, United States. The park opened in 1935 and is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meridian State Park History — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian/park_history |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en}}</ref> The park is named for its proximity to the city of Meridian, Texas.
==History== The State of Texas acquired the land in 1933 from private owners. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian/park_history|title = Meridian State Park History — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department}}</ref> The park's facilities were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).<ref>{{Cite web|author=Fenstermacher, Sam |url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TRIPS/Meridian-State-Park.htm |title=Meridian State Park, Texas |publisher=Texas Escapes LLC}}</ref> CCC Company 1827 developed the park using local materials of limestone and timber from National Park Service designs. The CCC constructed a rock and earthen dam across Bee Creek that impounds 72-acre Lake Meridian. Other infrastructure built at the time included the entrance portal, roads, water crossing, vehicle bridges, and culverts most of which are still in use.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Look of Nature: Meridian |url=http://texascccparks.org/parks/meridian/ |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>
==Recreation==
The park has over 5 miles of hiking trails some with limestone ledges and outcroppings. There are opportunities for swimming, fishing, and paddling in Lake Meridian. There are various types of sites for camping, as well as screened shelters and three cabins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meridian State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en}}</ref>
==Nature== The park is located in a transitional zone between Texas Blackland Prairies and Cross Timbers ecoregions.
===Animals=== The park has a wide variety of wildlife such as white-tailed deer, Mexican long-nosed armadillo, common raccoon and gray fox.<ref name="tsha">{{cite web |author=Yancy, Karen |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/meridian-state-recreation-area |title=Explore Meridian State Park: Nature, History, and Recreation |work= |website=tshaonline.org |access-date=March 12, 2026}}</ref> Among its bird species is the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, which nests in Ashe juniper trees during the summer. Fish species in the lake include bluegill, white crappie, channel catfish, and largemouth bass.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meridian State Park Nature — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian/nature |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=tpwd.texas.gov |language=en}}</ref>
===Plants=== The limestone soils of the area support not only Ashe juniper but Buckley's oak, Texas live oak, prickly pear cactus, and pale yucca. The predominant grasses are little bluestem, Indian grass, and river oats.<ref name="tsha"></ref>
==See also== * List of Texas state parks
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Meridian State Park}} * {{Official website|https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/meridian}} * {{Gnis|2029813|Meridian State Park}} * [http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/historic_sites/ccc/ Civilian Conservation Corps work on Texas State Parks] * [http://texascccparks.org/parks/meridian/ Meridian State Park] at ''The Look of Nature: Designing Texas State Parks During the Great Depression''
{{Protected areas of Texas}} {{Bosque County, Texas}}
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Category:State parks of Texas Category:Protected areas of Bosque County, Texas Category:Protected areas established in 1935 Category:Civilian Conservation Corps in Texas Category:1935 establishments in Texas