Colorado Bend State Park kmz data

Historical Context of Colorado Bend State Park
1. Native American Presence
The area was inhabited by Tonkawa, Comanche, and Lipan Apache tribes, who used the caves for shelter and hunted bison and deer in the region.
Evidence of flint tools and pictographs have been found in some of the caves.
2. Early Settlers & Ranching
In the 1800s, settlers arrived and began ranching and farming in the area.
Cattle ranching and goat farming were common, though the rocky soil limited large-scale agriculture.
Some caves were used by settlers for cool storage or as hideouts during conflicts with Native Americans.
3. Conservation & Park Formation
The land was used for ranching until it was acquired by the state in 1984.
Texas Parks and Wildlife turned it into a state park in 1987, emphasizing wildlife conservation and cave preservation.
Today, the park is managed with limited development, focusing on hiking, caving tours, and river activities.