Rusk State Park
Rusk/Palestine State Park:
Rusk Unit is located adjacent to the Texas State Railroad Rusk Depot in Cherokee County;
Palestine Unit is located adjacent to Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot in Anderson
County. The properties, totaling 135.9 acres were acquired and opened in 1982.
Park Activities:
Activities include camping, picnicking, fishing, and nature study. Added attractions
include tennis courts and a playground, in addition to the Texas State Railroad train
rides in restored passenger cars.
Rusk Unit
The Park's Facilities:
Facilities include restrooms with showers; picnic sites; campsites with water and
electricity; campsites with water, electricity, and sewer; an open-air, gazebo-style
pavilion with a fireplace, and a dining area; a screened group dining hall complete with a
kitchen; playgrounds; a fishing pier; a trailer dump station; old Rusk depot building;
tennis courts; a 15-acre lake; and a .25-mile nature trail. Special rates are available.
Be sure to browse through our Texas State Park Store.
Directions:
The Rusk Unit is located 3 miles west of Rusk, adjacent to the Texas State Railroad Rusk
Depot off US Highway 84.
Palestine Unit
The Park's Facilities:
Facilities include restrooms (no showers); picnic sites; campsites with water; a trailer
dump station; and two open-air group picnic pavilions with picnic tables, cooking grills,
a .5-mile nature trail, and a playground. You'll enjoy our Texas State Park Store.
Directions:
The Palestine Unit is located 3 miles east of Palestine on US Highway 84, adjacent to the
Texas State Railroad State Historical Park Palestine depot.
Flora/Fauna:
The vegetation of Rusk and Palestine State Parks is representative of the transition from
the Prairies, Cross Timbers, and the East Texas Forests. Some species found in both parks
include loblolly pine, sweetgum, dogwood, redbud, cedar-elm, willow, trumpet creeper,
blackjack oak, Spanish mulberry, flatwood plum, and osage orange. Some of the bird species
found year-round, which include residents and migratory visitors, are belted kingfisher,
cardinal, bluejay, pileated woodpecker, whip-poor-will, killdeer, black capped chickadee,
and the cedar waxwing. Some mammals found in the park are armadillo, beaver, raccoon, gray
squirrel, opossum, white tailed deer, coyote, and cottontail rabbit.
Elevation, Weather, and Schedule Information:
Elevation: 489 Weather: Average rainfall 44.6; January average low is 35 degrees; July
average high is 94 degrees. Open: Rusk is open 7 days a week, year-round. No gate.
Palestine is open 7 days a week except for annual closure December 1 through February 28
to correspond with the closure of the Texas State Railroad for maintenance purposes. Busy
Season: Spring and Fall
Area Attractions:
Nearby attractions include Jim Hogg and Mission Tejas State Historical Parks and Lake
Livingston and Fairfield Lake State Parks. Other attractions within a 1 ½-hour's drive of
Rusk are Toledo Bend Reservoir, which is located on the Texas/Louisiana state line, and
Lake Livingston, which is south on US Highway 59.
Camping fees vary; entrance fee. For reservations, call 512/389-8900. For more details,
call the park or Park Information at 1-800-792-1112.