Henry S Mcneil Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Henry S.
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Summary
McNeil Park is a beautiful park located in College Station, Texas. The park is named after Henry S. McNeil, a local businessman and philanthropist who donated the land to the city. There are several good reasons to visit this park, including its natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and historical significance.
One of the main attractions at Henry S. McNeil Park is Lake Atlas, which provides opportunities for fishing, boating, and other water activities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and playgrounds. Another popular feature of the park is the historic McNeil House, which was built in the mid-1800s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Some interesting facts about Henry S. McNeil Park include its role in the Civil War, as it was used as a Confederate training camp and later as a Union hospital. In the 1930s, the park was developed as a Works Progress Administration project, which helped to create jobs during the Great Depression.
The best time of year to visit Henry S. McNeil Park is during the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the park is at its most beautiful. However, the park is open year-round and offers something for visitors to enjoy in every season.
In conclusion, Henry S. McNeil Park is a wonderful destination for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty, history, and recreational opportunities of the College Station area. With its scenic lake, hiking trails, picnic areas, and historic McNeil House, this park has something for everyone.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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